Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-12-11
From the Boston Journal.
From the Boston Journal.
Maine.
The Aroostook Lands-Good Chance for
settIers-Its Products-The French and
Swedish Colonies.
Aunr.n. Mn Nnr Il lA--
AUGUSTA, Me-, Nov. IL, 1877.


Aroostook county is at this time attract
ing greater attention than any other por-
ton of the State. The hard times and
lack of employment in cite. has had the
effect to drive men back to the abandoned
farms. Many are leaving the older sec
tions of the State and coming from other
parts of New England and buying farms
or taking up State lands in that county.
For the last four years there has been a
steady increase of immigration, and this
year it has been unusually large. The
more desirable State lands, heretofore sold
for 35 and 80 cents per acre,payabe to the
State on roads and improvements, have been
nearly all taken. There are, however, some
10000 acres still unsold, offered at 80
cents per acre, payable IN labor on the
State roads, and there are many places,
with greater or less improvements, that
can be purchased at reasonable prices,
some even at figures below the cost Of
buildings or value Of other improvements.
The narrow gauge railroad-a branch OF
the road that Is being built from Frederic
ton, New Brunswick, along the eastern
bank of the ST John river 10 the river Dc
Loup 10 Canada-recently opened TO Fort
Fairfield and Caribou, on the ArooStook
river, pierces the finest tract OF land for
agricultural purposes in the State OF
Maine. Taking Caribou, the present ter
minus of the road, for q central point,
there is, within a radius of fifteen miles
in each direction, embraced a tract Of
country absolutely indispensable in fer
tility of soil AMI natural advantages for cul-
tivation. This section embraces Pressure
Isle, Fort Fairfield, Maysvile, Caribou
Washburn, Woodland, Limestone, Perham
plantation, Common plantation, New Swe-
den plantation, Mapleton plantation and
portions of Eastern Castle Hill and Let
ter +. plantations. The tract is well wat
cred, the Aroostook river flowing through
it in tortuous course, into which at inter-
walls fine streams empty, making excellent
privileges sufficient for all necessary uses
There is very little waste land very
large proportion probably seven-eighths
of the whole tract, could be cultivated to
advantage, and it could be made to sup
port population FIVE times as large as at
present, which must be about 10000 in
le7O it was 6S10. This part of the
country has improved rapidly since the
war, and will undoubtedly continue to do
so for years to come. as the railroad con-
tributes greatly to its Importance and busl-
ness interests. Caribou is now but 70
hours from Boston, by rail. | do not
write of this particular tract to the dis
paragemeut of other parts Of the county,
but it is doubtful whether in any other To-
cality there is SO large contiguous tract
of such excellent land.
Governor Conner recently made his first
visit to Aroostook County, spending near
ly two weeks travelling over nearly every
part of it. He was greatly pleased with
what he saw, and speaks in enthusiastic
terms of its prosperity, present and pro-
spectlVe. POTATOES are Ouc vi tne liupOI-
tant products of the county. Last year
l72,000 bushels were transported by rad
from the town of Houlton. From Fort
Fairfield, Danforth and Bancroft, other
points whence AroostOok grown potatoes
were shipped probably enough were for
warded to make the amount fully 100000
bushels. There were also nine starch fac
tories in operation, using from 5000 to
$4,000 bushels each, or at least 10000
bushels more. The crop was unusually
heavy, the price high, and the result was
so satisfactory that the acreage Of last
year was fully doubled this season; yet
on account OF the drouth, which was this
year more severe in Aroostook than any
other portion OF the State, it is quite
doubtful whether the aggregate yield was
much larger than last year. Eleven starch
factories have been in operation with fair
success, paying 20 and % cents per bush
ell for potatoes. Formerly the great sta
pie crop was oats, large quantities being
demanded for feed for teams in numbering