Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-19

the company by the officers of the Maine Gen.
trail, even to billeting them at the various
hotels in Bangor, and settling the 'little bill"
At a late hour we reached Bangor, and soon
were distributed in our appointed quarters,
patronizing all the better class Of hotels
Bangor is thrifty city. More than hum
dred vessels are now loading with lumber at
its wharves. Its arrivals and clearances are
only exceeded in number by about half a
dozen other ports in the United States the size
of vessels however is small. Acres Of RATS
of lumber float upon its waters, and millions
of logs are on the way to be manufactured
The amount of lumber exported annually is
about two hundred and fifty million feet of
long, and fifty millions of short. Of course
men rich, and circulating through all the
community. And there is likewise enterprise,
without which money is useless to people
The attention of Bangor is now wisely d.
rected to railroads. 1t has wide field to OPP
crate in and a paying one. The Maine Cen
trail, European and North American, and
Piscataquis are in operation, and the Winter
port and Aroostook roads are certain to be
built. The two first of these form the grand
trunk line of the State, and are part of the
cisco. By invitation of President Jewett of
the European and North American Railroad
the excursionists continued their trip over this
road to Mattawamkeag, a distance of So
miles from Bangor, to which point the cars
now run daily. Starting Wednesday morn
ing at o'clock we took our way up the river
on its western bank until near Oldtown,
where the road crosses to the eastern shore.
On the bridge and beyond we catch a fine
view of the falls at Oldtown and the mills
upon them: milford and Oldtewn are busy
places, manufacturing the largest part of the
lumber that finds market at Bangor. Be-
yond Oldtown the country to Mattawamkeag
is unsurpassed in the eastern States for the
building Of railroads. There is not cut or
fill the whole distance worth mentioning. The
country is nearly level the grade almost perfect.
There is one stretch of eight miles as straight as
line can be drawn, over which our conductor
put on speed at the rate of $3.50 # per minute
about 20 miles per hour. The road rides
admirably. The bridge over the Mattawam-
keag is nearly completed. A large jam Of
logs rests against it. Across the river short
distance is heavy cut which is nearly con
quered, but has drawn heavily upon the pa
tence and funds of the builders. From Malta
wamkeag to the line of the State at Vanceboro
the distance is &c miles. The road will soon be
completed, and about next October look out
for the grand opening os the completed road to
travel by the European and North American
and Maine Central to and from the other CONT
nent.
Mattawamkeag is little more than large
public house, nice looking store with hall
above it, and the depot buildings. The land
there and on the way looks favorably for farm
ing, with some exceptions. The fields are be-
ing ploughed, sown and planted, and the
bee. A simple fact will show how the rail-
road will help farming. The cost of trans
porting potatoes to Bangor to market before
the road was built was 80 cts per bushel, now
the cost is 10 cts. Here is 30 cts saved to
the farmer on one bushel of potatoes; allow
ing the yield to be 300 bushels to the acre and
on single acre and a single crop he saves
$50. So with everything else he produces.
But there is no necessity of multiplying proofs
that railroads benefit farmers. Mills have
been built upon this route since it was started.
We saw such on the way. 1t has also made
an immense forest of hemlock lumber beyond
VIM available for tanning purposes, and
large tanDeries are being erected along the
line. When Arosstook is fairly opened up
with good railroad communication the value
of the country will be increased a good many
per cent.
But we had almost forgotten the excursion
in reviewing the solid advantages of the rail-
road. We arrived at Matt awamkeag about
noon, strolled over the works and fields and
enjoyed the bright sun and refreshing breeze.
Soon solid repast was prepared in one Of
the cars by Pre- sident Jewett and his asso-
ciates and the whole company feasted Rail-
road men are noted for being men of large
capacity; we think they are not overrated.
Having dined and viewed the land sufficiently,
one portion of the party stepped aboard
company steamer, called the John A. Peters
familiar nance and steamed down the river
to Lincoln, where they rejoined the cars. At
three o'clock all were aboard and the train
started homeward. On the journey the train
stopped at the Basin Mills just above Bangor,
where logs are split into lumber of all sizes
in the most artistic fashion. We reached
Bangor about half past six. All enjoyed the
trip and felt gratfed for the courtesies and
favors extended them.
Thursday morning we were in the hands of
the Maine Central, and at s 80 again took
seats in the splendid Pullman cars. The at
tentions here were of the most generous and