The Portland daily press., 1873-04-14
WiscasSet Letter.
WIscAssET, April 10, 1873.
LAND OIL


WIscAssET, April 10, 1873.
LAND OH!
''Hoary Snow Father" who with chill and
grim visage, surprised ''De Monts' upon the
coasts of Maine in 1904, is really gathering
up his skirts to be gone. The fences are all
out, the headlands and hill-tops showing
their evergreen surroundings, and the entire
face of nature, is patched and bronzed, with
the touches of spring.
BUSINESS.
With the renewal of the life of nature, the
thrill of reviving business sounds here and
there pulsation, as a prelude, it is hoped, to
coming rush.
Since the last of February the little coasters
with brick and hay for Boston, have kept the
harbor lively, which, with the outgoing lum-
Der from Hohson's wharves, and occasional
shipments South of hay from Lenox's store
house, have stirred our wintry solitudes with
quite a commercial air; ten days ago
counted some eight or ten cargoes afoat,
or in process Of shipment, in our harbor, most
efwhich were brick and hay; and five or six at
fuckers yard are now about ready to sail. So
WiscasSet has had an unusually brisk winters
export trade; and it is to be hoped harbin-
ger of better times.
The brick trade here is increasing. In
quality, the clay of this region, impregnated
with peculiar chemical elements from the
washings of the sea water, imparts special ex-
ceence of color and tenacity. The manufac-
ture will probably be increased one third part
the present season.
TOWN AFFAIRS.
The 'annual disturbance here, enuncia-
ted in, recent extract from the Sea Side
Oracle, must be received-oraculum express
lone sed non certisstn,e
sExagserations' may sometimes be tolerated
as poetic license to eke out an idea, or fill
in a mental vacuity. .-.,
Be assured, Wiscasset has not for long
time held a calmer, more deliberate, resolute,
and determined bearing in conference over
annual affairs, than in the last town meet
ing; and as result, the call of the Knox &
Lincoln r. r. for further use of the towns
credit was denied; the town determining
hereafter to handle its oWn credit itself. It
therefore instructed and empowered it's treas
urer to meet and provide for its bonded labili-
ties with cash, or otherwise, as they accrue.
Wiscasset is not wont to hold 'sbear gar
dem for its town affairs, or get up shows for
public contempt.
RAILROAD PROGRESS.
Xenophon,s Legions, as they pressed for
the shores of Greece, over the arid plains of
Persia cried, so Thalassa! Thalassa! Oh
the seattle sea!' expressing their intense
interest, in the joyous prospect, and the de-
sire which had moved their efforts, to reach
the goal of their hopes of success.
This is the cry we hear from the towns
cr6wning the interior highlands of Maine.
st. Albans, Hartland and Canaan, have an
swered back to Wscasset and voted to open
their way to the sea; and it is now Thought
that in sixty days ground will be broken in
construction of the "narrow gauge road"
which will open to the sea, belt of fifty |
miles of the fattest land in the heart of |
Maine. ..s
INTERIOR RESOURCES.
In Whipple's Acadia A. D., 1916, it is
said, "the section of Maine, comprised be-
tween the Peuobscot and Kennebec, and ex- |
tending northerly ''to the height of land. |
has a higher reputation than any other |
division of Maine;'' it is about sfiftv |
miles in breadth by one hundred miles |
IN length, aud contains all the variety |
OF soil, which is found in Maine. The richest |
part Par OF TINS land is between the upper part of
seeks short cut to the sea; and of which.
Wiscasset is the natural seaport and this
section the Wiscasset and Noosehead railroad
will open directly to the best facilities of com.
merce with all parts o. the world.
MAYFIELD.
The mineral resources of this section are Of
no inconsderable importance. In ''Mayfield''
extensive and valuable quarries of slate Stone
for roofing, are now opened and wrought with
success to which the proposed railroad, will
give cheap and rapid transit for export.
and to market.
wHITEFIELD. s5
In Whitefeld on Heath's farm and on Jew
ett's, are beds of limerick. The lime, saws
DR.. Jackson, is of good quality. ssThe rock is
white. fine granular limestone, shaded with
blue clouds and will make good lime."* To
render these grounds valuable, easy and rapid
transit to the sea, is all that is wanted and
which the proposed railroad will give, when
the town Of Whitefied may rival Rockland
and Thomaston in the product of the best |
qualities of lime. - - ~
WOODS.
In the upper portions of this section the |
best OF cedar for shingles and railroad ties, |
birch for foor-timbers abound in forests, |
winch thrive on the black muddy soil, and |
inely timDered margins of hard woods border
the streams and the hills are covered with
much good pine intermixed.
PRISON REFORM.
Lincoln county officials are carefully deyel-
oping systematic and practical application
ofthe reforr1atory provisions of the at of
last winter to our system Of prison Discipline.
and do not intend that the experiment shall
fail for want of due diligence, and intelligent
and liberal action. It is proposed to be-
gin with the manufacture of leather
work, to which may be added basket
and oser-works and such other simple
and economical industries as circumstances
may justify-and the county and civilization.
are under great obligation to the faithful
and intelligent efforts Of the clerk, G. B. Saw
yer, Esq, in this behalf.
TEMPERANCE.
Your citizen Murphy, has delighted our vii
layers, and greatly stimulated the cause of
here by his earnest, modest, dis
Greet and eloquent appeals. The friends of
can do no better service, than to
keep him in the field. ..-.. 5.