Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-22

has rather roomy public house and sta
bic, a mill and one or two more dwellings
and throws about seven votes. The pub
lie house is st the head of Rangeley Lake,
and a daily sail boat takes passengers who
wish it, to the foot of the lake, said to
be about seven miles. We preferred tray
cling with our own teams as far as prac-
ticlble.
RANGELEY.
Rangeley plantation lies along the north
side of the lake, and contains many fine
farms, where hay and oats are raised in
great abundance, and most of it sold on
the spot to lumbermen at good prices
The houses look neat and prosperous. and
the fields and pastures are as green as in
June. There has been no lack of rain in
this region. There are some farms and
farm houses on the south side of the lake,
| and large patches of cleared land where
| hay is cut and housed to be hauled across
the lake in winter. The road along the
north shore of Rangcley Lake is AS smooth
and hard, and as well made as any road
in Kennebec.
After cir, nit of nine or ten miles along
the north side of the lake. heightened out
by the lake widening towards the north
until you get about half way of its length,
and then narrowing again, we reach the
end of the public road AT the centre
of the lake, just where the road turns from
northwest to south west, is small but
growing village, with store, public no Use,
mechanics shop, and a hail forpublic and
religious meetings. Here the Free Bap-
fists recently held a yearly meeting.
Leaving the public road, wepass through
a private road of mile or more, to Bow
ley's, the stopping place for teams. Here
every body leaves teams and horses, sure
they are in good hands, and will receive
all necessary care.
From Bowley's the road to Indian Rock,
is very rough Tor horses and carriages, and
seldom travelled in that mode, except by
teams kept here for the purpose, and con-
stantly accustomed to rough it. Our la
dies preferred to walk, although the dis
lance is about three miles through dense
forests, uneven, tortuous and often some
what wet. Fortunately for them, we got
row boat by which we crossed the foot
of the lake, and thus spared them nearly
Il fourth OF the distance. We took it
leisurely and beguiled the WEAKNESS of
our journey by such pleasant talk as the
occasion and surroundings suggested The
grand old forests had not been meddled
with by the hand OF man, except in the
vicinity of an ancient mill, of which the
ruins remain, near the foot of Range
ley Lake. Here we are told. was
once cultivated land, and besides saw
mill, a potash and other buildings. They
have now mostly disappeared; only
the dam remains, and few of the bottom
Of tho mill Tho la~l ;c
up to trees of considerable height Such
are the changes which time makes, even
in this new country. Thus man and his
works pass away, and leave scarcely II
vestige behind,-''The cloud capped tow
ers, the lofty pyramids" etc, you know
the rest. The handiwork of a mightier
Architect remains, in these forests which
grow and decay, but ever grow again
forever old, and yet forever new.
INDIAN ROCK.
We arrive at last at the paradise of fish
ermen, the headquarters of the Oquassock
Club or Association. When we were here
few years ago, this place and its sur
roundings were owned by various parties,
but the timber land mostly by Coe & Pin
gree. 1t is understood now, that the new
club have obtained the right to enough of
the land to control the fisheries in these
lakes. Indian Rock is a small clearing on
the stream running from Rangely lake to
the chain of lakes below, with various I'M
pronouncable names, hard to spell, hard to
write, and hard to read 1t is at the june
ton of the Rangeley stream with the Ken
nebago. a stream of some size which
comes from the Kennebago lake and
mountains furtl g. north.
The first question that you might ask on
reaching the spot probably would be,
where is the rock ?" Every one natural
ly expects from the name to see some sim
gular or striking rock but there is moth
ing of the kind, onlya ledge visible at
the surface of the ground on the south side
OF the stream.
The club has made many improvements
on the north side OF the stream, where
their clearing lies. They have built long
building for dining and lodging purposes,
with all necessary appendices for cook
ing. 1t Is IN style somewhat rough, but
corresponds well with its surroundings
The outside is even painted, an unexpect-
ed refinement. The dining room would
would accommodate nearly hundred
guests. The dormitory contains, in one
| iooiil, eouic lhiity Single DEUS, sometimes
temporary curtains are put up but usual
ly the guests sleep ina common room
This is intended tor gentlemen only
There is another house, built the presen
season, with three or four rooms intended
for ladies. The club has fifty or seventy
five members, and they intend to accom-
modate themselves first, and outsiders ai
forwards, if at all. The price of member
ship is 5000 each, and the members pay
the same price for their entertainment
that they exact of others. The camps have
been very full for some weeks, and We
were told at every stopping place from
Phillips to Indian Rock, that we could no
get even dinner, much less IA night,
lodging, at the camps. But, although we
did not belong to the royal family, we had
a friend at court, and we got an excellent
dinner of trout and its Accomplishments.
and were very kindly cared for. party
had left that morning, and we might have
stayed all night, but. as the weather BODIED
a storm, we preferred to return to the head
OF the lake. Our ladies stood their five or
SIX miles walk very well. We again crossed
I