The Portland daily press., 1883-06-26
SUMMER SAUNTERINGs.
Opening of the Green Mountain
Railroad at Mt. Desert.
A Very Enjoyable Excursion to
Witness It.

ride at Mt Desert. II predict" said the
Senator in substance, that whoever lives
twenty years will see this coast the great
resort of the people of the country, seeking
recreation and recuperation. am not an
enthusiast in this matter" continued the
Senator, "for | have watched its progress and
have made myself familiar with the desires
of people of other sections to whom the in
vigoration of our climate and sea breezes
during the hot months is not only luxury but
TO many an absolute necessity" Far seeing
railroad and steamboat men, as well as capi-
talists, evidently share in the Senator's idea
for energetic exertions are being made and
good deal Of money invested.
To "hold the mirror and reflect for the
general public concerning these efforts, the
pleasure to be enjoyed and the sights to be
seen, party of newspaper men was organ
lied last week by Mr.. Lucfhs futile, he
popular general passenger and ticket agent of
the Eastern Railroad, and Mr. F. e. Boothby
who so acceptably fills like position on the
Maine Central.
Mr.. Tuttle's party reached Portland by the
Flying Yankee train Friday afternoon.
They were George Alfred Townsend fGath)
New York correspondent of the Cincinnati
Enquirer; Geo. H. Smith, of the Boston Ad-
vertiser; e. H. Clement, OF the Boston
Transcript; Z. A. Perry, of the Boston Herald;
Geo. B. Goodwin, of the Boston Post.
The company was augmented by Mr. Booth
by and the Portlanders-Geo. o. Gosse OF the
Press E. S. Osgood of the Argus and Geo. S.
Rowell of the Advertiser. The excursionists
were accommodated in one OF the new re-
Ginning seat cars, constructed for this train
and very elegant coaches they prove to be.
The seats may be placed in any desired posi-
tion, or at once transformed into comfort
able couch. The train from Portland to Ban
gor was in charge of Conductor Harry
Tucker. The latter city was reached at 10 D.
M, nothing of note occurring save the par
taking of sumptuous collation. at table
spread in one end of the car.
The night was spent at the Bangor House,
which is under the hospitable management of
Landlord Beais.
Railroad Commissioner John f. Anderson
and Col. Wildes here joined the party for the
purpose of inspecting the new Green Noun
tain Railroad at Mt. Desert, which was the
chief objective point of tn Q trip.
DOWN THE PENoBscoT.
At seven next morning the steamer Cimbria,
Capt. Barbour, awaited us. This fine propel-
Ter is one of the three belonging to the Ban
gor and Bar Harbor Steamboat Company, of
which DR.. Sumner Laughton is president and
Col. Frank d. Pullen, General Ticket and
Passenger Agent. On board were the follow
ing prominent Bangor gentlemen:
How Hap,;baI uo,.r;s, IT,. 1xr
ford, Hon. S. H. Blake, Hon. Chas. Hayward,
Hon. j. p. Bass, Hon. Geo. Stetson, Hon. T.
y. Egery, Hon. I. o. Thurston, Hon. L. A
Emery of Ellsworth, Gen. Chas. Hamlin, Gen
Geo. Varney. Gen. S. P. Strickland, Gen.
Chas. W. Roberts, Major Chas. v. Lord, Col
+. d. Pnllen, Col. A. w. Wildes, j. f. ABS
derson, ID. n. Mortland, DIR. Sumner Laugh
ton, Arthur Brown, John Il. Crosby, Chas. A
Gibson, Z. @. Prescott, Z. n. Egery, C.sF
Bragg, +. W. Cram, Sprague Adams, Frank
hight, w. 4. Banding, E. M. Blanding, W.
Y. Pitman, 9. t. Woodward, f. N. Clergne, j.
Fred Godfrey.
The weather was all that could have been
wished and the sail down the Penobscot and
through Edgemoggin reach was greatly en-
joyed The Bangorians are as justly proud of
their noble river as are Portlanders of their
beautiful Casco bay.
Bar Harbor was reached at o'clock and
the company were driven to the West End
Hots, one Of the finest OF the twenty-eight at
this now famous watering place. Here the
party was joined BY U. S. Senator Hale and
the complement Of the railroad commission
board was completed by Mr.. Mortland.
FOR EAGLE LAKE.
The blackboard wagon is all the rage at MI
Desert. We learn from Mr.. Boothby that the
first vehicle OF this description was introduced
in 1873, by Mr.. Gould, agent for the Portland
steamboat line, who had one that had been
used for rough riding in the interior of the
State. He brought it thither, and the people
were so taken, with the novelty and comfort
of this style of carriage that mountain wagons
disappeared, and the almost universal passen-
ger and pleasure conveyance is now the buck
board. There are scores Of them, seated for
from two to twelve persons. They ride easily
and filter" pleasantly, and are Just the thing
for rough mountain roads, where elliptic
springs would be speedily ruined.
The lake is two and half miles from the
village over a rugged road, with here and
there cottage or villa, of such cosy or elegant
surplus pocket money of wealth. Descending
lrom rluRo1 Inc iOVbiy lHUuutalH 6lADTOWcu
sheet Of pure water is reached. The lake is
$50 feet above tide water; is two and half
miles long; has an average width of half
mile, and in some places is so feet deep. 1t
formerly abounded in fine trout, and Is still a
good place to fish in.
The pretty little stern wheel steamer Wau-
winet is taken, and we sail upon the lake.
This craft was formerly the property OF Gov
Butler, and was used upon the Merrmac river.
She was brought here and taken bodily over
the mountain road to the lake. As the crafts
65 feet long, and the work was done last spring
it proved quite a task. 1t took numerous men,
oxen and horses seventeen days to accomplish
it, and in one place it was necessary to blast
away a side of the road to get her past
We disembarked ON the westerly side of the
lake, where is awaiting us the first passenger
train upon the
GREEN MOUNTAIN RAILROAD.
This structure is upon the same principle as
the Mt. Washington railroad, but superior to it
in several respects. 1t is about one naile and
an eighth IN length, and in that distance as
cends to an altitude of 200 feet above the
starting. 1t climbs to the summit in the form
of an arc. We gaze upwards and it seems al
most impossible that the Car containing over
fifty people is to be pushed up that tremendous
steep. But we move on, and gather nerve as
we go. We look upward and wonder II we
can surmount that ext steep place. The rise
is one foot in three. We look back and almost
shudder. Yet still upward we go at faster
rate than has usually been accomplished on
this description OF road. Two-thirds of the
way up we tarry to taste the cool waters from
boiling spring from the mountain side, and
then push on to the summit.
On the top Of the mountain Is a handsome
new three-storied hotel, most pleasing in its ar
chitectural beauty. 1t is surmounted by spa
cious cupols, 1000 feet above the sea, and the
view to he obtained from 1t is simply superb.
Many like it better than that afforded from
the top Of Mt. Washington. 1t certainly pre-
sents a greater variety. We see ocsanwards
Mt Desert Rock, 80 miles away; Bluehill, 30
miles; Ellsworth, IS miles; the green hills of
Camden the numerous islands; and away In
the north Katahdin looms up, 100 miles away.
- lid Ill.