Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-21
o the Editor Of the Journal

GREENvALE, Sept. 10Th, 1871.
The ride from Philips to Madrid is d.
yersitied by crossing the rocky bed of the
Sandy river quite number of times on
bridges of various construction. but most
of them liable to Indictment for unsafe
ness, for want of rails or for general I'M
satisfactoriness. The same fashion pre-
walls with regard to bridges on most of
these roads.
| At Madrid village, we diverged to the
northward, toward the base of Mount Sad
dleback. This mountain, nearly 1000 feet
in height, we had frequently passed, but
had not got very near it. Soon after leav-
ing Madrid village, we found ourselves
on the verge of an immense basin or am
phitheatre, environed with gigantic noun
tains on every side. To the South rises
Mount Blue, towering in lofty serenity
above the adjacent elevations; to the
East. Mount Abram with its double
crown; to the North Saddleback lifts its
bare rocky walls, forming an almost i'm
passible barrier, and these are connected
by chains of lesser elevations, appearing
to constitute a continuous range of noun
tain SUBMITS. The sides of most of them
are clothed with primeval forests, in ver-
dure varying from the dark green of the
spruce and fir to lighter hues of the beech
es, birches and naples. 1t is worth while
to penetrate into the interior of Madrid,
to feast the eyes upon such views as we
obtained of this stupendous amphitheatre.
The roads are smooth and hard, although
soniew hat billy and not very straight.
A ride of some three miles brought us
very near the foot of Saddleback. You
know, Mr. Editor, that we have climbed
some little heights in our day, such as
Mount Blue, both from Avon and from
Weld. Mount Abram, Bald Mountain near
Rangeley, Mount Zircon, Puzzle Mountain
and Speckled Mountain, and last and
highest of all, Mount Bigelow at Dead
River. We think we are able to climb
another But Saddl eback, after all, we
did not ascend; why? Well, shall we say
that it was too cold and windy for the la
dies of our partyp Or shall we say that
the grapes were sour, and there is nothing
to be seen from Saddlebackp Or perhaps
that we had climbing enough to do on our
excursion without going 50 far out of our
way for it ? whatever the reason, we miss
ed OF it. And though reasons are plenty
| as blackberries," as Falstaff says, we are
not obliged to give them.
We will return then to Madrid village
and begin to ascend towards Rangeley
whoever wants climbing to do. will get
enough of it on this road. Up, up, up
hill for three or four miles, (some say
eight,) you begin at last to despair of ever
reaching the height of land. The worst
of it is, that the road has not improved of
late, Notwithstanding the annual increase
of travel. Only three classes of persons
would ever cross these hills-the business
man, the sportsman and the sight-seer-
OF the first class, there is constant sue
cession of teams hauling produce to mar
ket, and returning with supplies. OF the
second, there are multitndes at certain
seasons, especially June and September.
or the third, there are few like our par
ty. Suffice it to say, we started with the
intention Of roughing it, and We got here
all that we bargained for.
The head waters of the Sandy river are
found in three small ponds. famous for
fishing. all in Sandy river plantation. 1t
is curious that the head waters of the cas-
tern branch of the Androscoggin are with
in forty or fifty rods west of the western
most Sandy river pond. This branch of
the Androscoggin rises in Long Pond, and
runs thence into Rangeley Lake, passing
subsequently into chain of larger lakes,
the least of which is Lake Umbagog,
rol, Berlin and some other towns in New
Hampshire, entering Maine by Glead and
, Bethel. The water level of Long Pond is
from 40 to 60 at feet least below that of
: the Sandy river ponds. 1t would be curl
y Gus experiment to cut a canal from the
: Sandy river ponds, the distance being so
; short, into Long Pond, and thus drain the
: head waters of the Sandy river into the
e Androscoggin, and send them on jour
| ney opposite to their natural course
= Long Pond is some three miles in length
II and on its southern shore rises a gradual
l. slope of woodland to a great height. A
few years ago we were here about the
y first of October, and the whole of this
g slope was in blaze Of autumnal splendol
of the most brilliant and varigated colors
= 1t looked like an immense flower garden
on magnificent scale exhibiting the Grim
son glories of the maple, mingled with the
paler hues of the beach and birch, while
: many patch of deep evergreen gave tt
the picture variety and contrast.
SENIOR