Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-28
HOME WARD BOUND.


COOP BYE 70 HALlrAx-A New RoUrE-
WNDso. AND ANNAPOLIS RAILWAY
THROUGH AcADIA-CLAssIC GROUND
Across THE BAY OF FuNpy-, IoME FROM
HALIFAX IN TwENrY-EIGHr HotRs.
Tuesday morning were up bright and
early to commence the journey homcward.
Delightful as was our stay in Halifax, the con-
slant strain of body and mind IN travelling and
observing new objects in our trip Of more
than 700 miles was wearsome. and we turned
our faces towards home with pleasure, though
not without feeling of regret a, being oblig-
ed to part so soon with our new found friends.
At7.30 a special horse car provided by the
Press of Halifax, drawn by four grey horses,
whose heads were adorned with small English
and American flags, conveyed our party to
the depot. Ats we were ''sll aboard, still
attended by large body of the Press, sever
al of whom accompanied us some distance on
our way BY rail- Oar parting with these
brethren was like leaving old and tried friends.
They had won the hearts of all our members
by their unbounded hospitality ard courtesy.
We hope to meet them again in Maine, where
they will be warmly welcomed for ''anld lang
syne." May happiness and prosperity attend
them in all their lsbors and undertakings.
Good bye, generous, gentle. and gallant Hall
gonians! And good bye Halifax, thou grand
gateway Of this western contnent'
1t was decided to take new route back to
St. John, going through Nova Scotia, by the
Windsor and Annapolis Railway and crossing
nn.v sc - =,
lance by this route betwee St. John and Hal
flax is but 100 miles, while by the Intercol-
onial Railway it is 276 miles, but the time of
making tue journey on both routes is about
the same. Thirteen miles of this new route,
the distance from Halifax to Windsor june
ton, is over the Iniercoionial road. AT
Windsor Junction we leave the Intercoonial
" and take the Windsor branch which leads to
Annapolis where we take the steamer
special car was provided for US by Mr..
lnnes, the Superintendent of the Windsor and
Annapolis Railway, who kindly accompanied
us on our passage and courteously pointed ont
matters of interest on the way, and gave 9th
er Information of Importance. Mr.. lines is
Scotchman by birth, gentleman in man
ners and conversation, and a thorough rail-
road man, having been engaged in the bust
ness since he was eight years of age Our
party was under many obligations to him
We also had in our car Mr. Smith, the former
Superintendent of the road, an intelligent
and pleasant gentleman, who is now engaged
in pushing the building of the Windsor ant
Annapolis Road to Yarmouth, where lines o
steamers will connect with Portland and Bos
ton, making the trip from Halifax to Boston
it 10 calculated, in about twenty-fnur hours
look at the map will show that this is no
an unreasonable calculation. How success
full that route may be in attracting travel j
not SO readily seen.
The road from Halifax TO Annapolis il
owned by two parties. The first thrteci
miles, to Windsor junction, il the intercoo
mai, which the government owns; from
windsor junction to Windsor, distance OF
~ miles, is also owned by the government
and from Windsor to Annapolis 81 miles, the
road is owned by the Windsor and Annapo.
lis Railroad Company The latter com
pany however leases the governmen,
road to Windsor Junction, and the RICH,
to run its cars over the intercolonial
and so has control Of the whole route. l2c
miles, from Halifax to Annapolis.
We started from the depot at Halifax a
eight o'clock. The first thirteen miles O
road on our way home we passed over goin!
to Halifax. At Windsor junction we swunl
to the West, leaving the Intercoloniai, an,
were upon a new track, bound into a countr
we had not yet seen. For considerable dis
lance the surface is rough, rocky and billy
and large tracts of forest are seen. As "
pass along we see at distance the place for
merly occupied by the Dnke of Kent, tn
present Queens father. We also the ter
ritory where the freestone quarries are locit
ed which supply the handsome fronts to man
of our buildings in the United States. Tn
gold diggings are likewise in sight, now brinl
worked Systematically and proftaby, we wer
told, averaging about two ounces of gold to
ton of quartz. As we advance the face o
the country improves in appearance. A
Windsor we find handsome village Here
we are permitted ten minutes to leave the
cars and visit Fort Edward, the remains Of an
old French fertilization, the trenches and en-
bankments Of which may still be seen This
village is situated on the river Avon. The
railroad bridge at this place is fine structure
having cost 100000. Tides have been
known to rise at some points in this section
OF country az feet, while from 40 to GO feet is
ABOUT the average rise. Here was the resi-
denee Of Judge Halliburton, the author Of
Sam Slick, who died, not long since In Eoo-
..nu allow ude the deep muddy bays aud
eoxes, with their simy reddish look, give an
uniosoioding appearance to the country, hu,
sne uoe was up as we passed along At
windsor, the American Consul. Hon u II
Hobart, and lady, formerly Of Dennysyilie
in Maine, and we'll known TO many az onr
4. readers, came into our car, with treat for
US and accompanied us several miles Mr.
Hobart is doing an extensive lumber business
in Nova Scotia, besides attending to the dr.
ties of his Office