Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-09-22
A RIDE INTO TIE INTERIOR.

A RIDE INTO TIE INTERIOR
CONNECTICUT LAKE, Sept. lG, 1873.
To the Editor of the Journal:
| Monday morning rose clear and cool, and
we resumed our journey up the river. The
air was somewhat chilly from the recent rain
but the sun shone brightly, and no better
roads could be found out of doors. We soon
reached the village of West Stewartstown,
which is the last village in New Hampshire
towards the north. 1t is a small pleasant
place. The only noticeable public building
was large one of four stories used as
county poor house, that is, for the support of
| the poor of the county who have no settlement
IN any town. The scenery on the upper Con-
! necticutis charming. Fine farms, neat build.
ings and wide expansc of fertile meadow land,
are its prevailing characteristics, whilst the
hill slopes furnish abundant pasturage. At
the village just named, the road crosses to the
west bank of the river, and as we pass the
| bridge, we enter the town of Canaan, Yer
mont. The village is directly opposite to
|
further on, the State of Vermont comes to
an end, or rather to its north east corner.
Here it is but few rods into Canada. But
following the west bank Of the Connecticut,
which here comes in from the northeast, and
from the central part Of New Hampshire. we
proceed in the latter State until we reach the
hotel near the lake. With the exception of a
few miles next to the lake, there is not a hill
from Colebrook here, up which horse may
not easily trot, and the valley of the river
exhibits the same soft and lovely features as
below. Even the newly cleaned land has not
that rough and rocky look which is often found
in the new settlements in Maine.
CONNECTICUT LAKE.
But now, where is Connecticut Lake? VIZ
arrived at the hotel, and stopped an hour O,
more, without even seeing any lake. The
lake was two miles further NORTH In order
to see much of it we must proceed by water
: There is a road along the west shore of the
lake, and some seven or eight families reside
there. But even by pursuing this road, we
could obtain but limited view of the lake,
which is Eve and u half miles long and two
and half wide. There was party of lum.
bermen desiring to explore the timber lands
on the shores of the lake, and our party unit
ed with them in chartering a steamboat.
professor Wise's balloon was not there, or
we might have preferred voyage in that.
1t is true the boat was not very large nor very
swift, but what did we carer We came to
see the lake and we saw it, The obliRipR
captain fred up his engine, and our two par
ties went on board and whilst the lumbermen
landed, and peramulated the forests of spruce
we steamed around the lake, viewing the
scenery and enjoying the wild landscape.
The wild ducks and looms were frightened
out of their customary security, and iuttered
north and east Of the lake. of which the high.
est is situated in Canada. There is a second
lake about four miles north, and a third still
further in the same direction; and these are
the head waters of the Connecticut river.
These lakes abound in in trout, and the for.
ests with game, with which the hunters and
fishermen have lot meddled. An immense
extent of spruce lumber is found in the vi.
cinity of the lake, which has never been
culled. Some gentlemen have recently pur.
chased two townships, of about sc, 900 acres,
and propose to cut large quantity to be
foated down the river by the spring freshets.
After spending most Of the afternoon, float.
ing around the lake, we returned to the hotel
at night, somewhat fatigued, and with good
appetite for supper. Here in this wild region,
so TAR up to the north, We had at dinner dish
OF green peas just mature enough for the
J table; also fried trout, and sauce made of high
bush cranberries, very palstable, although of
different favor from ordinary cranberries.
# II ever you visit Connecticut Lake, do not
fail to charter the steamer "Honest John "
with her crew Of two men and small boy,
her machinery with the holes in it plugged
up with wooden plugs, her pump kept at work
to keep the water out of the hold and her
supplies of wood lying so conveniently all
along the shore, whenever we chose to land
in the wilderness.
| We have been into the Queens dominions
| Victoria probably did not know of our com
ing, or she would have given US an ovation.
We turned our horses heads, and rode few
rods more or less to and around the boundary
stone marked with the names of the commits
sioners who established the line at the time OF
the treaty Of Washington. Just beyond the
line was building with sign, Licensed to
sell spirits" As our party did not choose to
purchase, we retarDed into the United States
without making any prolonged stay in the
Queens country. The nearest village in
Canada was about fifteen miles from the line,
and we did not attempt any further inroads
into her Britannia msjesty's territory, but tax.
ing the Vermont side Of the river, returned
to Colebrook. Srxron