Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-21
The Maine Press Excursion to
AroOstOOk.
ORIGIN OF THE EXCURSION.

Inc IVdIne ITcSS LACuTSlOu "
AroOstOOk.
/ ORIGIN OF THE EXCURSION.
10 1858 large party of editors and representa-
tves of the press of Maine made an excursion to
Aroostook, to see the country, and gave a great
impetus to the settlement and growth Of the sec
ton which they visited by the accounts which
they published in their respective Journals, after
they returned home. of the beauty and fertility Of
the land and the advantages offered by the locality
to new settlers.
In 1877 a suggestion was made in the Maine
Farmer, by DR.. w. B. Lapham, then one of Il e
editors Of that paper, that another excursion Of
representatives of the press should be made to
Aroostook in ls7s,-twenty years from the time
of the former excursion--to see and report the
condition of affairs 10 the northern part of the
county at this time. The suggestion was noticed
generally in the columns of the papers. and last
winter, at the annual meeting of the Maine Press
Association. that body received, through the
agency Of Mr.. Daniel Stickney Of Presque Isle, a
formal invitation from the Northern Aroostook
Agricultural society, to visit Aroostook this fall
The invitation was accepted and Daniel Stckney,
w. B. Lapham and E. II. Elwell, were then ap.
pointed q committee to make arrangements for
and conduct the projected excursion.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE PARTY.
The time fixed for starting was Monday, the
9th inst, and In accordance with arrangements Of
the committee the members of the party with
their ladies' met the evening Of that day, at the
Franklin House in Bangor. kept by WIN. Thay-
err, formerly the popular landlord of the Man
|
and with few additions afterward comprised the
following persons:
| II. x. Morrel, Home journal, and wife.
X E. Stone, Vox Populi, Lowell, Mass, } and
wife.
+. HhElwell,s Portland Transcript. and wife.
NJ. n. Rich, Price Current, and wife.
George S. Rowell, Portland Advertiser, and
| wife.
| f. Rowells and wife.
| @. A. Hawess and wife.
| Brown Thurston.~
Rev. DIR. Quinby, Gospel Basner, and wife.
| J, A. Homsn, Maine Farmer, and Mrs. p. o.
Vickery.
| f.. Allen. Literary Companion, and sister
| w. b. Lapham,s Oxford Democrat and Miss
Perhsm.
George E Richardson, Thomaston Herald.
Samuel w. Lane aud wife.
W. H. WsldroD,s Lewiston Gazette, and wife.
Alden Sprague. Kenuebec journal, and wife
| w. A. Pidgin, Lewiston Journal, and wife.
| C. w. Keye'. Pennington Chronicle, and wife.
C.P. Roberts" and Miss George White.
A. g. Tenney.s brunswick Telegraph
| II. X. Baker, Hallowell Register, and wife.
| E. w. Morrell,. Home Journal,
| II. S. Burrsge, Zioa's Advocate.
Rev. DIR. Warren, Christian Mirror, and wife.
Hon w. w. Thomas, Jr.
| Manley II. Pike, Maine STANDARD.
| Charles r. F. Caldwell, Kennebec Reporter
| J. r. Upton, Bath Times, and wife.
Joseph Wood, Wiscasset.
W. s. Gilman and wife.
D. Stckney.
| Or. +. A. Parker, and wife.
| f. A.. Lypde and wife
Miss Lydia A. Whitney
members of the Aroostook Excursion Party of
r ON the RoAD TO HouLroN
On Tuesday morning, after a night of good rest
and an early breakfast at the Franklin. the ex-
cursionists started at o'clock. from the depot of
the Europesn aud North American Railway,
bound for Houlton that day. They had special
car to themselves, and q merry company they
were as they sped swiftly over the RAILS up the
Penobscot aud away across the country through
| the dreary tract of land that lies between Malta
wamkeag and McAdam junction and even well on
the way toward the boundary of Houlton. The
last town before passing into the Dominion OF
Canada is Vsnceboro where we took dinner at a
we'll kept restaurant. At McAdam junction we
changed cars, leaving the European and North
American Railroad and taking special car on the
New Brunswick and Canada Railway, which ex
tends from Calais and st. Stephens to Honlton
and Woodstock. We arrived at Houlton at P.
NJ, having travelled 1862 miles since leaving Ban
| =
party, aud all were soon comfortable quartered Al,
the Smell House and Exchange House, two hotels
which are large, well-kept and prosperous.
HoULToN.
1t was a great pleasure after the ride through
tho monotony and desolation of the Wilderness
to witness the beautiful village and green feds of
| Houlton. Houlton is the shire town of Aroos-
took. Twenty years ago its population was about
1900; now its population is 5000 and its valuation
| about 500, 900. Its streets are broad and kent
in good condition; the buildings are generally
neat, while some of the houses and grounds won Id
be creditable to much larger and more ambitious
towns. The residence of Hon. Lleweilyn Powers
attracts attention for the good taste which appears
| in the buildings and the grounds. That OF Hon.
j. c. Msdigan is conspicuous also for similar
qualities, and the well cultivated and extensive
fields with which it is connected. Mr.. Madigan
visited our parry at the hotels and made the &C.
qusintance Of many of our members; also did
| Mr.. Eben Woodbury.. representative elect. one OF
the most worthy citizens of the town. Many
other prominent men of the place took an interest
in our party, and did what they could to make our
tsry agreeable. Beside the immediate large ag.
r'eultDral resources of the town, it has a large
trade with the interior of Aroostook, in conse-
quence Of it, railroad CONNECTION, sad has some
manufacturing aud other business advantages. II
is we'll supplied with churches and schools, has
two weekly newspapers, and Is in oil respe cts q
thrifty, prosperous town. H.. Z tr..
EDITORIAL RECEPTION.
The pleasantest feature of our visit TO Houlton
was q reception in the evening TO the party by
Mr.. and Mrs. w, S. Gilman at their neat residence
In the village. The grounds were illuminated by
Chinese lanterns, and after the fornslites Of the
occasion, all repaired to the lawn where seats
were placed, and were entertained With serensde
| by the Houlton Band, which plays exceedingly
| veil Refreshments also were served, and the Il