Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-29
DIN ISLAND CORRESPONDENCE.

DIX ISLAND, July %, 1873.
10 The Editor Of the Journa1:
We are still here, alive, and enjoying the
delightful breczes which sweep over this rock
bound Island. We read about hot days III
your city, Boston, New York and elsewhere,
but here we know nothing about it. Perhaps
there isn't single day during the season that
| could be called uncomfortable warm in truth
| may say that it is uncontortably cool here
at times, and an overcoat in the evening does
not cone aniiss, nor does fire in our Office
stove; and as for lying outside Of the bed
clothes, kicking and rolling about through the
llve-long night, as is apt to be the case in
warm ATTITUDES, we are only too glad to cover
ourselves up in warm blankets and snooze
away comfortably till morning. o! you DEN
liens Of low valleys, you who live in houses
nesting under sheltcring hills--for although
very handy in keeping off the blighting North
winds of winter, only helps to hold the hot
concentrating rays of the summers sun, and
is a barrier against the only breezes which
chance to wait over hills and vales-how |
coolest breezes, the lOycieSt sunrses and
the grandest sunsets that can be imagined
Don't accuse me Of exagg in this matter
for only paint it as | find it. Old Ocean,
too, wears Il grandeur that one never gets
tired OF admirng, and the prospect is ever de
llBhuui anu extensive, being bounded only by
dlm distance. But this is not all Penob-
| scot BAY winch stretches away fer miles and
miles to the Nor'ard is one of the largest and
most beautiful bays ON the coast o. America;
and Tor beauty and scenery il is without ri.
'"i 'h'S sue OF the Bay of Naples, of which
III my eyes 1t Is almost counterpart /
""uiu taa, you could be with me now and take
a san up TINS beautiful bay ; know YOU would
JON with me in pronouncinp il the Nnnlos ot
America. But the resemblance comes more
especially Ia the llarbor of Rockland, which
| Is really but branch of this great BAY. The
| shore o! this harbor is almost semi circuIarin
shape, and Roekand although much small
er town. and without the historical and archi
tectural prctensions of Naples. stretches
around tins crescent shaped shore the same.
while hundreds Of white sails dot the waters
| in front, the blue tips of the Camden Monnt
aims, the highest land on the coast OF Maine.
and the first to BE- deserted by approaching
mariners, fills in the back ground and gives
a finish 10 Il picture, which, although plainly
drawn, is a miniaturc Of that loyeiest of all
bays. the bay and city Of Naples.
Hon. a. Is. MuIett, Supervising Architect,
is contemplating the erection Of quite a num-
Der Of government buildings in the larger cit
les of our Union the coming season. A Gus
tom House in ST. Louis is already under con-
tract and he has advertised for bids for the
erection Of one in Cincinnati, another in Phila-
delphia and still another in Hartford, Conn.
They have already removed buildings pre-
paratory to the erection of one in Rockland.
Mr.. Dixon, Treasurer Of the Dix Island
Granite Co., will probably make bid for one
or more Of them, and if the lucky bidder,
work will be lively here for few years to
come. The completion Of the cutting of
stone for the New York Post Office will be
about Sept. lst proximo. Should there be
no new contract to take the place of it, Dix
Island will subsi2e into its usual quie,ness.
and instead there being heard the hammer