The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-03-14
For the Republican Journal
Sometime about Deer Isle,


This pleasant island town is situated
about twenty-five miles southeast from
| Belfast, and about the same distance east
from Rockland, and consists of quite a
number OF islands, the principal of which
are Deer Isle, Little Deer Isle, and Isle au
Haut. Deer Isle is about twelve miles
square, and contains not far from $500 in
habitants. There are thirty-one school
| districts in town, which | think is the
| largest in the State, seven or eight
churches, several stores, public houses,
&c. There are four or five quite little
villages with excellent harbors, viz =
North West Harbor, South East Harbor,
Burnt Cove and Green's Landing. which
by the way, is only about half mile from
the celebrated CLAN City" Mormon set
Element, about which the New York Sun
was humbugged 50 last summer; and the
Suns article was copied quite extensively
in Maine papers.
Perhaps q few words in regard to the
place might be interesting This large (?)
settlement, consists OF about four houses,
and perhaps twenty inhabitants, that fol-
low the humble vocation OF fishermen.
Father Ames, the white headed patriarch.
is a man Of perhaps 50 years of age,
whose hair, by the way, is black, who oc-
casionally explains some passages of the
Good Book to his neighbors, and such
others az choose to come in.
In conversation with him concerning
polygamy, during NY transient stay on
the island, he said that he never advocat-
ed it, and he thought it crime against
which there ought to be severe legislation
Fishing has been the principal occupa-
ton heretofore, but fishing now is one of
the things of the past. There was time
when the Deer Isle fishermen were quite
a fleet, but / doubt il single vessel Is
fitted ont from there the coming summer
Good water all around the islands, good
anchoring grounds, good harbors, good
fishing grounds near and afar oif-thev
afford some Of the best advantages for
carrying on this important branch OF bus
mess that are to be found on the coast of
Maine, But now the wooden wharves
are rotting, the splendid fishing vessels
are either sold or employed in the coast
ing business, and the men who used to
Tread their decks in the days OF Demo
cratic rule. are now obliged to seek other
employment.
But new branch Of business has
arisen to take the place OF the old one,
one which promises to continue as long
As cities are built, or men acquire the
skill OF artizans and the knowledge of
mechanics. allude to the granite bust
ness At Green's Landing, whore most
of the quarries are situated, large bust
ness will be done the coming summer
Five quarries are now open which will
give employment to four or tive hundred
men this season. By the wav. one or
two Belfast parties are quite largely in
terested in these quarries, Eben Newell
and Charles A. Russ, the latter Of whom
has store and Is doing \ tlourishing bus
mess here. Deer Isle Thoroughf4re st
his place is a nice harbor, and the granite
bluffs terminate so abruptly that they
form excellent natural wharves for the
quarries, with good water right along
side Further up the island is the marble
quarry Of which think you have publish
ed description. And on Little Deer
Isle il is claimed that grindstone quarry
has been discovered, but have seen no
specimen Of the rock.
Quite a business is also done at canning
Holsters. There are two factories, one on
Deer Isle, and the other on the Isle au
Haul, Upon the whole | think it well
worth ones time to visit these islands and
take 4 look around. enjoy the sea breeze,
ana the beauty and sublimity OF rugged
ness OF shore, quiet iulets and safe re-
treats from the ocean
Yoa can have pleasant voyage from
Rockland in the Lewiston, or from Belfast
in the Argo if she runs this season, or from
either place il packet 50 throw aside
business cares, Mr. Editor, and 60 down
to the good old Democratic town of Deer
Isle on little excursion, and meet with
some Of those old Democrats such as Hon.
Charles 4. spofford, Seth Webb, Sullivan
Green, Eben Field and d score Of others
and my word for it you will feel amply
rewarded by the pleasure Of the trip