Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-10-08
The AroOstOOk Excursion.
CARIBOU.

The reception of the editorial party
which at Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle
was right cordial and hearty, was emPha-
sized at Caribou. We had not come here
to tarry for night and then depart, as
at the other places. but wo were to tax
the hospitality of the citizens for three
nights, and yet our greeting was so cor
dial as 30 leave no doubt of its genuine
ness a committee of ladies and gentle
men was in attendance at the hotel and
as fast as the members OF the party ar
rived they were assigned to places and
waited on 10 their temporary homes.
Great discrimination was used IN making
these assignmsn,s. age, political views
and religious sentim ents all having their
due weight. We found quarters with
our old friend n. s. Lutkin, formerly OF
Rumiord, whom We had not met before
since he came 10 this county nineteen
yoars ago. We shall havo occasion to
speak of him again. farther along.
This village and town OF Caribou Is a
marvel, even To ihe veterans who visited
aroos,ook twenty years ago. We knew
there was such place. but OF the size
! aad beauty OF the village. and the gresi
importance Of ,he town as an agricultural
community. we had formed no adequate
idea. The village is situated near The
confluence OF the Caribou stream with
the Aroostook river, and when approached
from the south. by the Fort Fairfield
road, is one OF the prettiest little hamlets
we have anywhere seen. The principal
ornamental trees. and these are numer-
ous, are the fir (a6tes 6alSGmeJ. and such
hrs, so thrifty and with such richuess o!
tint, can be found nowhere south oil this
latitude. Here mills were erected for the
manufacture OF lumber many years ago,
and few settlers came, but the greater
part OF tho village has been built up
wiIhln few years. There are iwo
churches. high school building, public
hall, with all the accessories for religious
and intellectual culture. The future oil
this village is well assured. The water
power forms the basis OF permanent
business. the railway connects 1t with ihe
.outside world" and large and fertile
agricultural region finds its natural ousi-
ness center here.
In the evening a public meeting was
held at the hall over which your CORE
spondent had the honor TO preside
Speeches were made by Messrs. Morrill,.
Stone. Wood, Sprague, Burrage, Stick
ney, Elwell, Rich. Homan, Keys and
Thomas of the editorial party, and by
Messrs. King and league of Carlton. Ii
was matter OF surprise to US TO lind 50
many Oxford County people here. Mr..
ID. +. Adams. formerly OF Rumford. u
one OF the old settlers and has become
torehanded. de owns the principal hotel
In the village which he leases, is engaged
in trade and owns several farms and a
broad area OF unuccupied lands. l.. 4.
King, Esq who will be remembered AZ
crier OF the Courts In Paris twenty years
ago, who studied law with Judge Virgin
and was for time his partner in business,
and who came here q dozen or more
years ago, is one OF the leading men OF
the place. He practices law. does some
numbering and IL no small farmer, rails
ing this year thousand bushels OF grain
He is President OF the Company OF Carr
bon citizens who built the railway from
Fort Fairfield 10 Caribou and has always
held strong hand In Aroostook politics.
N. S. Lufkin, once in trade in Rumiord,
has been here nineteen years. He owns
4 about four hundred acres OF lsnd with
not waste acre in the whole. He has
cleared hundred acres since he came
here, and is adding to bis area OF cleared
land every year. This year he cut iorty
tons Of hay and will have three thousand
bushels OF grain OF various kinds. de
has often been in the employ of The State
in surveying land and looking after the
building of roads and is perfectly familiar
with the entire region Of northern Aroos-
took. He and his excellent wife and
family with whom we spent the three
nights We were here, are contented and
happy, and we'll they may be for they
have all the essentials of life in abun-
dance. Geo. F. Sampson and his brother,
and Perez Thomas who married their
sister, all from Hartford, were among
the early settlers here and have been
prosperous. One Of the Sampson broth
ers has recently deceased. We also
found hero Milton York formerly a car
penter in Bethel Ezra d. Stiles from
Greenwood, E. s. Brown our old friend
and schoolfellow from Hanover. Geo
Ellingwood from Bethel, and others toe
numerous to mention, from various parts
Of the county. They all seem to be pros