Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-09

| baggage anu saloon 10
Engines, 81
| Six of the locomotives are coalers, and the
rest burn wood. Many others will be trans
ferred to coalers soon, as these are found to
be servicable for freight trains. The compa-
ny has more than years supply Of fuel on
hand, having about 10000 cords of wood and
$500 tons Of coal. They will purchase during
the year some Il. 900 or 5000 cords of wood,
to keep up their trade with regular customers.
The company can buy fuel advantageously
when they have a good stock on hand to fall
back on.
But we will stop giving facts and figures
here, and step aboard the excursion
train, which started from Watervlle
at 20 minutes to ~ NJ. Novel writers always
make "the resplendent sun come forth from
feecy Clouds" but there was "nary" a feecy
| cloud to be found, and it was one of those
| bright, bracng, winter days that sends the
blood coursing through the veins at two
forty gate, and rushes the thermometer of ones
| spirits high above zero. We passed rapidly
| through Belgrade, Readfeld, Winthrop and
| Monmouth, to Leeds Crossing; which was
| reached at one o'clock. Snow, Winthrop,
| Annebescook, and other ponds whose names
we forget, stretch along the line of the road.
Where the waters are shoal and turbulent,
| the dark cold waves have thus far laughed at
| the frost king, and refusing to be bound by its
| letters, look like little islands in the midst of
the wintery scene.
Here at the Crossing the company is sum-
moned to dinner; and that it was enjoyed by
all, and that all ate heartily, may be judged
from the fact that at Livermore Falls, the next
hating place, several of the members of the
party were weighed, and the average weight
was four hundred! SO we were told by the
man who held the s.eelyards. We pass on, and
soon notice at North Jay the extensive granite
quarry, which is leased by the company, and is
being constantly worked, furnishing the found
for the construction Of culverts. The huge
blocks of granite, all "square work." were
piled up near the track, where they are
loaded on the cars by derrick. One block
at the quarry is 80 feet long and about 80 feet
wide. As we rode into Pennington, old
Mount Blue, rising coldiy but grandly at the
left, gave us seasonable salute in the shape
of driving snow storm, and we found that
in the Sandy river valley snow ploughs
have been called into requisition this season,
and there is excellent sleighing. We arrived
at Pennington at three o'clock, entering the
business part Of the town by the long, curved
bridge. built somewhat in the form of a horse
shoe. Our stay here was necessarily brief.
company and short stroll up the business
street Of the thrifty town that looks beautiful
even In its wintery dress, but superb in sum-
mer, the trusty iron horse was headed towards
Leeds Crossing. This station reached. the
light of the pleasant day had gone out, the
twilight shadows heightened, until the moon
cast its silvery light over the frosty scenery
through which our even road lay.
The rest Of the story is briefly told. We
reached Lewiston at seven, took tea at the
tables of the dining cars, and then started for
the Dewitt House, which was the headquar-
tiers Of the party for the night. Saturday
morning witnessed the dissolution Of the party
those from the west continuing on in the
special train to Portland, and our eastern
friends taking the most direct route for home
by the Androscoggin road. Five hundred
miles Of road were travelled, the bridges,
shops and road bed were inspected, the Su-
perntendents, other railroad men, and master
workmen had the opportunity of closer &C
quaintance with each other, compared notes,
and got many new IDEAS that will be wrought
out in their future work. No accident occur
red to break the pleasure Of the trip, which
must be partly due to the vigilance and atten-
tons of Mr.. c. NJ. Darrell, the Oldest conduc-
tor on the road, who acted as conductor of the
train. Besides, it was an excursion of unal
Logged enjoyment, to be remembered for many
a day by those who participated in it.