Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-05-22


reaching the city OF Lewiston. to whose
many manufactures they furnish an am
pie and exhaustless power. This function
taken in connection with the extended
timber lands which envelop them on
every side, gives the chain great i'm
porlance in commercial point of view.
and the busy numbering life of which in
winter they form the centre might very
properly engross our attention 10 the ex-
clusion of other aspects. But it is with
these lakes as resort OF the sportsman
and the tourist that we are now chiefly
concerned. As such. they are coming
into wide and deserved notice. This
northwestern corner of Maine is II lesser
Adirondacks. "No part OF the world.
says the Second Annual Report upon the
Natural History and Geology of the
State, "ailords iiuer trout-ishing. or a
greater variety OF trouts. than Maine y
And no part OF Maine is richer in this
particular endowment than this upper
half of Franklin and Oxford Counties.
The wilderness is practically limited and
unbroken. The scenery is always pic
turesque. and often grand. The Usher
man and the hunter may find constant
exercise in season for rod aud gun. Low
ers OF nature in her wilder moods are
already beginning to make their way into
the region in considerable numbers. And
nothing is needed but time and meas
urable degree OF enterprise on the part
of those who have the handling OF this
vas. estate to effect its development
into one OF the most delightful summer
resorts which the country contains.
As one notable feature OF this lake re-
gIon, among many that commend 1t TO
seekers of health and pleasure, let me
mention its altitude. compared with other
localities that are better known. Thus
the romantic Lake Winnipiseogee. in
New Hampshire. is but sol feet above
the level of the sea, and the waters oil
Lake Superior itself are only go But
the figures of the Androscoggin Lakes
are as follows:
Unbagog. 1856; Richardson, l4jG
Mooselucmaguntic. 1856; Raugeley,
l5lI.
Rangeley Lake itself being thus the
highest OF the series. as it is also the first,
we may very properly begin our survey
with II, and floas down stream. The
wish may well be cherished that the
ancient Indian name had been retained
Tor this beautiful sheet OF water. This
was "OquoSsoc." or Arg-'CaS-Suc, as by
tradition an old Indian named Matalluck,
~ no once had his haants upon its shores,
gave the pronunciation. Rangeley per-
peiuAtes the name ol an eccentric but
thrifty English squire who penetrated the
wilderness thus tar many years ago, aud
laid the foundations OF the prosperous
plantation which is his monument to-day.
His story is romantic and interesting
one.
Mr. Rapgeley, tor a time after coming
10 this country, was merchant in Phlia-
de phia, and later land Speculator IN
Virginia. with all parts OF which State he
was very familiar. He is described AS
having the substantial build and florid
coun ntenance OF the traditional English
squire, with Il corresponding hearty man
ner, but an exceptional degree OF polite
ness and polish Tor a man of his kind {;
be also dressed well, and was given to
hospitality.
TO his early life he seldom referred.
aud what led him to this remote corner
OF the wilderness OF Maine can only be
conicctured. Perhaps il was the scent OF
mineral values, for he was known to
Gain the existence OF gold ore upon his
township; aud he wss man who knew
what iron py rites were. The township
as he owned it comprised somewhere
from o., 200 to 40 600 acres, aud he had
large plans for its development. The
present extensive and growing system
q
to have been u dream OF his own, for he
fully ioresaw The resources and capa-
bilities of his domain. lie built various
mills, some of which remain 10 this day.
These were superintended by his sons,
who had the look of huntsmen; and he
lived with his wife and two daughters in
what was then the only good house oI
the region. This house is believed to be
still in existence. but in decayed and
sqnalid condition.
Mr.. Rangeley and his wife were re-
puted to possess between them a cCnsid
erable fortune, but his plans were on SC
great scale. and bis ability to deal with
the rude and the shrewd SO limited. that
he worked at no small disadvantage. st
heavy coS., and finally with serious loss
This led him to sell his plantation foT
$4,000; but financial disturbances SC
crippled the purchaser, who had made
but part payment, that the property fell
back into Mr.. RAnge.ey's hands. Subse.
quenlly, with the return Of better times,
he succeeded, however, in disposine oI