The Portland daily press., 1871-09-27

,ceanic and trans coHtlueuIal railroad lines.
mt we can see that this iron track down yon-
Ter in the forests is destined to be the grand
Medium over which, aided by such powerful
oadjutors as self interest and commercial
we shall-perhaps within the next
lecade-steal away from John Bull those
'rovlnces and add them to Jonathan's do
main, giving place on the blue field of our
national standard, to the States of New Bruins
wick and Nova Scotia. A few years since
when the prospects of the E. & N. A. Rail
way were not brilliant and no other combina-
ton of capital and enterprise seemed ready 10
build railroad to Aroostook, it really looked
as though the valuable trade OF Aroostook
would seek its outlet through foreign
country and add little to the power of Aroos-
took in so doing. But our people have never
taken kindly to that way of getting into the
world and it seemed but little better than
the old way to Bangor with teams. Now we
have better; as we have stated,-the Eu-
ropean and North American connecting with
the st. Andrews and Houlton railway "a little |
circuitieus, to be sure, but far better than the
old way-far better we think than that way |
through the Dominion 10 st. Stephens and
St. Andrews. 1t is more than probable, too
that there will be sufficient competition be-
tween the two lines from their junction to
Calais and Bangor to give Aroostook produc-
es fairly cheap transportation. This will be
sure to follow unless one line leases to the
other or consolidation, which in plain English
means monopoly or combination of railroad
interests to prevent cheap tariffs, should be
effected. If those lines fall into the hands of
single corporation, Aroostook will be yet
measurably out of the world. Already meas
ures have been taken to secare some legisla-
ton next winter by those interested in the
st. Andrews line living in Calais. What the
project is we know not, but the people of
Aroostook and the merchants of Calais and
Bangor had better watch these railroad kings,
for
"For ways that are dark and tricks that are vain
I hese Railroad Kings are peculiar"
BY the first of November the freight and
passenger trains will be running regularly be-
tween Houlton and Bangor.
THE EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN
RAILWAY.
Some how we got the impression that the
road built by this company was second or
third rate affair.
The reason for this impression, we suppose
may be from the fact that the road has been
constructed with dispatch and was built by
public money for speculation. But we were
wrong. Without being railroad man from
riding over it aud examiningit as thoroughly as
one unskilled can, we should say that if there
is first Class road in Maine this is the one.
Over its whole length it is very smooth, and
having continuous rail, is one of the easiest
riding roads in the State. Its local business
is immense, particularly in the freight depart
ment. Aroostook contributes large quanti-
ties of freight. Friday night, one item was
thirteen cars of sheep and we met enough
| more to fill dozen cars on our up in the
stage. Then all along the line Of the railroad
| answering to the forts on the frontier are
monster tanneries, emploring hundreds of
men, and making towns, as il by magic in the
woods. These afford large amount of
| freight. Immense quantities of short lumber,
| of all kinds find a new road to market over
the railroad. On its local business, so far it
is success, what it will be when completed
to st. John we shall not pref end to predict.
THE BEST STAGE LINE IN MAINE.
People nowadays speak in contempt of the
old stage coach, and judging it from the few
sorry specimens we find at the end of our
railroad lines the depreciation may in some
degree be just. But those who have travelled
from Houlton to Bangor will remember the
line that has for years sustained the reputa.
ton of those splendid cid lines of which Dick
ems has written in England, and which Thur.
| low Weed describes in his recollections q
Western New York. From Mattawamkeae
to Houton we now 60 by stage; but don't
think of it as rheumatic old cart drawn by
a pair of dilapidate6 anatomies Of the genus
horse. Rather conjure up fine coach, capa-
BILE OF quite comfortably seating fifteen per.
| sons, nicely hung ON springs, and drawn by
four well-matched, heavy, young, sleek, fat
spirited horses, that all day long did not feel
the lash. Imagine a driver that will when
| the railroad takes the place of this line make
an excellent conductor for passenger train.
All these you have on the line from Malta
wamkeag to Houlton. Then the ride this
season of the year, with the rare condition of
| the roads and the ripeness of the season is
one OF the treats Of lifetime always to be
remembered. At Mattawamkeag, good eff
cient Mr.. Wiley, the clerk of the Mattawam.
keag House, whom you mistake for a model
Methodist Minister, quietly calls you at half.
past three in the morning. You come down
and warm yourself by the generous hard wood
fire that roars from jam to jam in the four
feet fireplace, while the driver and his al.
tsndants are loading the coach. Every piece
is put on strong, and packed with the expe-
rience of years. We did not take an inven-
tory, but we should not be surprised to hear
that there was on this load circular saw
mill, moving machine, thrashing machine
with the latest patent separator attachment,
four boxes of axes, irons for dozen ploughs,
fourteen band boxes, as many trunks, as
many valises and boxes as of both, and sixty
sundry packages which the driver will deliver
without mistake and without memorandum.
WV, oaS uiifCi iclully surveys
the whole, then mounts his box and carefully
takes up his reins. In the dark, the stage,
filled in every seat, crawls up the long hill and
plunges into the woods which hold sway most
OF the way to this place.
There is now and then farm cut awav in
the woods, but more frequently there are but
the log houses of shingle makers, and others
who are so shiftless that they do not live and
manage to stay but in the poorest manner.
There are two or three quite little settle
ments, bat of the forty-five miles from Malta
wamkeag to Linneus, not over six or seven
have settlements on either side of the road
The land is not adapted to it; and one who
judges of the usefulness of this world by what
comes under the scope of his vision, would
say that this forty mile strip, with large part
of the sixty below it for that matter, was in.
serted here merely to fill up the circumfer. |
ence OF the earth to the $4,000 miles or more,
and might just as well have been omitted, |
saving distance in travel and transportation.
But aside from the purposes of settlement, it
has been and still is one of the most valuable
tracts OF land in the State. Much of it has
been burnt over, but still there are millions
Of acres covered with valuable timber, now
tenfold more valuable that a railroad brings it
weeks nearer the market The roads moro |