Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-21


OK TUE ROAD AGAIN.
Wednesday morning we were awake ned at 5
O'Clock, TO get breakfast and make ready for the
trainat7. We were at the pot at the hour, but
owing TO some unavoidable detention of the loco
motive intended for the train on which we were
going we were kept waiting two hours beyond the
time appointed for the start. The time, however,
was passed In singing and conversation. Manv
of the citizens sttended us TO the depot, aud
of them entced certain of our ladies into
their carriages and gave them short rides TO view
the country. One oil gentleman said he was pres
ent al the invasion Of the town twenty wears ago
by the editors and expected 10 them twenty
years hence al their third comlg Soon we were
"sll aboard the car provided for us, and ran back
to Dcbec Junction, 3 miles, where we took the
main track to Woodstock. The road to Honltor
from Debec Junction is a branch and not he main
road. From the Junction to Woodstock il II
miles and there endeth the New Brunswick and Can
ada Railroad
NEW BRUNSWICK RAILWAY.
A. Woodstock a specialtran on the New Runs
wick Railway was waiting to receive rs aud take
rs 10 Fort Fairfield, go miles from Woodstock.
Thiss the first narrow gauge road ! have ever
seen. The gauge y 3 feet 9 inches. The loco
motive ia much lighter than those on the common
roads hut well and strongly built. Entering the
passenger cars we find them fitted up like cars
other roads but less in height, with seats inches
less in length and the aisle inches narrower.
They suggest economy and vet are comfortable.
But il is in the building Of the road and the cost of
the rails that the greatest economy comes in.
These narrow gauge roads allow sleeper grades
and sharper curves than the broad grtage roads,
bending here there TO avoid bad and expensive
places for construction, as lodges m srshes etc.
they also make the fills and cuts less; and thus
grea' saving is effected. Then the he'd il narrow
err, the sleepers shorter, and the ras lighter than
those of the old roads. told that this road
was built and eqnipped from Fredericton TO Grand
Falls, q distance of 100 miles, for the sum OF
$4,000 per mite, snd il is amoe for large
freightipg and passenger business The usual
speed run on the road is Is lies per honr. but our
train 81 miles An hour with ease, comfort and
safety The road lie owned and managed nv
James Gibson. E,q, cf Gibson, New Brunswick
just opposite Fredericton on the st John river.
He is marvel Of genns, enterprise and success,
having grown fgom poor boy and common dsy
laborer, without education or friends, TO ne one of
the most successful and westhiest business men
of his time, solely through his natural abilities
and great energy. The government gave him
10000 acres OF wild land to the mile. in New
Brunswick. to build the road, and he will maze a
large sum by the operation.
UP THE ST JOIN.
At Woodstock we cross the st. John 10 the
eastern side and run to Andover upon that side,
with the river in sight nearly all the wav. AT An.
dover, where the roostook river empties into the
ST. John, cross the latter and follow the
Aroostook to Fort Fairfield The country upon
the st. John the entire distance from Woodstock
to A udover. IL fine agricultural region, bnt the
people lack Yankee enterprise and thrift, though
il is said thew are beginning 10 follow Yankee
industry and methods Quite a number Of corn
fields were seen on the wsv. and several orchards.
Grain and grass looked WELL and large patches
Of turnips were frequent. At the mouth of the
Tohique is an Indian. settlement. whichlooks neat.
though the denzens had become quite civil
lied.
THE ARoosTooK FALLS.
m, f,1l h;ch in ~, e q
the car, the train storped and were allowed
a few minutes 10 step out and get good iook at
them. The water passes through deep. ns row,
rocky gorge, descent Of some distance, but at
this the water being low tie falls have not
the power and attraction thew have in the spring
when the river hanks are full. heavy jam of
logs lay on the falls grim reminder Of the perils
of river-drving.
AT FORT FAIRFIELD.
Fort Fairfield is the gateway 10 Northern
Aroostook. We reached there at | O'Clock p. NJ.
Daniel Stickney, Esq, and Mr.. Lynde Of the
the St. John, pointing out the places of interest
as passed along and answering the numerous
questions with which they we've piled.
They had the whole party assigned to good
quarters among the citizens Of Fort Fairfield be-
fore we reached that place, and when got out
at the depot there was crowd Of hosptabls people
to receive us and carriages TO carry all to their
appointed places. DIR. Lapham and myself and
our ladies found quarters. with Mr.. Drew during
our tarrv Mr.. Drew went to Aroostook some
twenty years ago, from Oxford county, seeking
health rather than a fortune He has found both.
He went into business at first at Lyndon Centre
with Washington Lang. He prospered and is
wealthy He ranks as of the best and
most public spirited citizens of Aroostook. He
has recently moved into a new house, not vet fin
ished, which will be fine residence when com.
pleted II has ample grounds The prospect
from it Of the village, the fields and woods far
and near, and the beautiful Aroostook river and
valley is charming. We heard Mr.. Drew spoken
of often in the various localities which we visited,
and always with the highest respect. To bin and
his excellent daug hter we are indebted for the
kindest attentions.
In the afternoon we visited the site of the old
fort, named for Governor Fairfield. n is only in
teresting for ts history, and the comm snding
view which it affords. The government house,
the officer quarters we believe, is stsndiug, and
occnpied by private family as dwelling. Z
After the visit to the fort, carriages brought
and a loug ride was taken up the valley. Every
where appeared feds green in June, splen-
did crops of grain being harvested, and large
herds of cattle literally Giving in clover to their
eyes: SHEEP, are abundant and the mutton sweet
and juicy. Horses abound. Buckwheat Is much
sown and yields bountifuv. Oats seen
everywhere, and Of the best quality. Large mum.
bers of beehives are seen.
The plough can be run miles in some places
without touching 4 stone. Fruit is not plenty.
with apples, bnt orchards the exception and
not the rule. At Fort Fairfield the land slopes
up from the banks of the Aroostoek, and rolls
gently back to the forest which skirts the farms in
the rear. To hear the farmers tell of the crops
they raise. exctes at first incredu ous feeling,
but the story is repeated so often and with such
evidence of truthfulness that it is impossible to
doubt it after brief experience. There is no
granite. Stones in many localities difficult to
be obtained even for the building of cellar walls.
During the afternoon the editors were out in all
directions to see and learn what they could, and
when they met in the evening, all agreed that this
is a magnificent country
Fort Fairfield had population in 1850 of 40l
now it has about 1000 Inhabitants and valuation
of about 100000. 1t has l6 stores, hotels,
churches, starch factories. good schools. and
manv new buildings are being erected this season.
1t is finely located and has every appearance of
thrift. II is connected with the New Brunswick
Railway marrow euage) by branch for the build
ing OF which the town raised and gave Sli. 900 to
the company the distance built being six miles.
In the evening meeting of the editors and cit
liens was held in apnblic hall Mr.. Lynde, OF
the Sunrise, called thelneetng to order and Mr.
Stckney read the listo visitors with very Hatter-
ing comments upon eAth. A very cordial address
Of welcome was read by John B. Trafton, Esq,
most respected and old citizen of the town. Their
came remarks from the veterans of 1858 and
fa wht tpfa attn ths