Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-07-19
From Andover Corner it is thirteen mile.

boasts of a dozen or more ofthese vehicles
made for two horses and carrying six pas
sengers with ease. Ten miles OF the thir-
teen are through woods, traversing An
dover North Surplus and township c. An
occasional logging camp in ruins along
the way, is the only sign of civilization.
The scenery for portion of the way Is
very grand and the road follows Black
Brook, famous for its fine fishing, nearly
all the way While seated upon log at
the South Arm enjoying lunch which our
thoughtful hostess had provided, we no
ticed lone potato bug crawling upon
the ground, an incident which illustrates
the irrpressible character Of this pest. lie
was Mt least ten miles from any potato
patch and from his natural forage. There
is no easier or more expeditions way OF
reaching the lake region than by way of
Andoycr, the distance from the railway be
ing only thirty-threc miles, and for most OF
the distance over very level and well
constructed road.
But the scream OF the steam whistle took
our attention from the lone beetle aud put
an end 20 our speculations as TO the proba-
I bilities OF his ever finding his way out Of
his present dilemma, and we were soon
steaming down the lake in as snug little
craft as we ever care 10 be aboard Of This
boat belongs TO the company which has
the sole right TO navigate by steam this
aud the Umbagog lake, aud which has
two Tine boats on each lake. Mr.. Chas.
A. J. Farrar of Boston, formerly connected
with the press of that city, Is the com
pany's general manager and runs the
boats on the Umbagog, while Mr.. Samuel
Emerson has charge of the two on Rich
ardson's lake. They are both gentleman
" aud accommodating aud entitled to the
full confidence of ihe'traveling public.
In about an hour we were at the middle
Dam distant from our starting point by
water, nine miles. Since our last visit here
more than twenty years ago, 4 convenient
| hotel has been erected and under the charge
of Mr.. Aldana Brooks, tourists are well
served. After brief delay, we again
mounted a buck board TO cross the famous
carrying place between this point and Um'
bagog lake, distant five miles. The road
formerly followed the river which runs be-
tween the two lakes, but new way has
been made which dverges from the river
when two or three miles down, and reach
rs Umbagog at Sunday Cove. We made the
five miles In an hour and n half. We have
nothing TO say against the team or driver,
but we have ccrtainly travelled over
smoother roads. 1t Is improved more or
less every year but the extreme limit OF
Improvement will not be reached for some
time.
4, Sunday Cove we were met by the
steamer on its return trip from the Maeal-
loway. and taken around 10 Upton, distant
twelve miles The trip across this lake is
most delightful, the scenery being diversi-
fled and beautiful. Broad stretches of
forest meet the eye whichever way 1t is
turned, while LOFTY mountains wooded clear
TO the summit tower up in the distance.
Much Of this territory Is rocky and unit
for cultivation and will doubtless remain in
It's primitive state for long time. On the
south shore Of the Umbagog Is Upton, for
merly township B. This was settled about
fifty years ago, but large proportion OF 1t
Is still wild land. Among the early settlers
were two brothers named Abbott, who
came In from Andover and built q set OF
mills At the mouth OF the Cambridge river.
They cleared up n good farm which Is still
occupied by one of the sons, Mr.. William
Abbott, who also keeps hotel, the Um-
bagog House. He has many guests during
the summer season, OF those who either go
to the lakes by this route or return. II is
not modelled after the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
but is q good home for the tourist and
furnished at moderate price.
At Upton we were met by Mr.. James
S. Lane, the proprietor OF the stage line
from this point to Bethel, who had kindly
come through TO take us down with light
buggy. We enjoyed this ride very much.
The day was clear and comfortably cool,
and the road in most excellent condition.
We spent nearly the whole day in travell-
ing the distance Of twenty-seven miles,
stopping frequently to admire the scenery
along the route, and calling on severel old
friends whom we were wont to see when
travelling to the lakes before the war, and
had not seen since. The scenery in pass
ing through the Grafton notch Is scarcely
surpassed by any thing around the White
Hills. "Old Speck" with his head among
the clouds is on the right and saddle-back
on the LEFT, there being only rocky gorge
between with room enough for the road
and Bear river which rises short dis
tance above the notch but soon materially
increased by the addition of several noun
tain torrents. Grafton is mostly wilder
ness, having only a few scattered settlers
along the road, and leaving this we came to
the old town of Newry, which has much
good land along Its two rivers, Bear and
Sunday, and much woods back from the
rivers and roads. The farm OF Orrin Fos-
ter, esq, is one of the most notable along
the no ad, this being the homestead Of his
father and well cared for through two
generations. These Fosters are natural
born farmers and are thrifty and fore
handed.