The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-09-27

their best to wear out their superilous
stock of shoes. Portsmouth paraded
all her bunting and brass bands. and
appeared to enjoy the great anniver-
sary as if she were the ouly town in
New Hamshire. So much for being
the only seaport. Portland assumed
Portsmouth airs. because of her ma
val superiority, and bad on her holt
day attire. Young beaux and bellies
FthroDged the streets aud the depots,
and cast many inqniring chances
trainward, as If to say, do other
people enjoy life as we do" Augusta,
proud of her position among the
granite bills OF the Kenebec, and
doubiy grahfed at the honor con-
ierred upon her renowned citizen
statesman, James G. Blaine, was seen
celebrating the national holiday in q
manner worthy of its founders. Gar
diner, Bangor, Old Town, and nu-
merous other pretty cities and towns
that line the road, were each given
fup to festive sports and holiday
amusements. Everywhere on the
route, from the rising of the sun
until its going down, mirth, pleasure,
gaiety and patriotism took possession
of the people, aud all business, but
catering to the public. suspended.
The evidences of thrift and energy,
however, we're everywhere discerna-
bic. Not river or stream of sufii-
cient force to turn a wheel could be
found without the necessary applian-
ces to utilize them. Dams straight,
Golfer dams, and wing dams, crossed
and obstructed the rivers. Naviga-
ton is suspended at Augusta, on the
Kenebec, and at Bangor, on the Pc
nobscot.
Maine is the great timber State,
the lumberman's home. Every wa
ter conrse was fled with timber.
Logs of every conceivable description,
from sixty feet in length to mere
fence posts. lay in drifts aud piles for
miles along the rivers, with scarcely
break or interval White pine,
spruce, hacmatac, cedar. birch, ash
and maple. With their dams, booms
and butments, the lnmbermen have
utilized every available foot of water
for hundred miles. Every stream
is made to do duty that is capable of
floating log.
You naturally wonder what be-
comes Of this immense quantity of
timber. A great deal is used for
house consumption. You must re-
member the country is constantly
building up. and the cities and towns
increasing. A large amount is used
in the different manufactures, mpch
of it is converted into boxes and bar
rels to supply the demand of COM
merce, and the surplus, which is &
large proportion. is shipped to the
West Indies and to Central and
South America. Contracts are OBJ
tanned by some firms for hundreds
Of ready made houses. from foreign
importers. Agriculture does not play
u very important part in tue business
relations Of these people, for nature
has not adapted either the soil or
climate TO that vocation. Wheat,
rye, oats, buckwbeat. hay aud pota-
toes. are raised to some extent, but
not in sufficient quantities to supply
the home demand. Live stock, es-
pecially sheep, appear to do well, but
the profits arising therefrom are
largely exceeded by the cost of pro-
duction. Occasionally you may see
some broad fertile dcres, With attrac-
tive and fruitful surroundings, but as
before animated, it is the exception
and not the rule. With oil the draw
backs incident to sterility Of soil and
climatic effects. the country is never
theless prosperous in. railroads and
ship building. in numbering and man.
ufactures. aud in the commerce of
its numerous seaports, and its
fisheries.
Darkness end the pleasant events
of the day closes upon US as we APP
preached the outskirts OF Uncle
Sans domain. The thistle Shrek
ed "down brakes, aud the bell rung
a momentary warning to the passen-
gers to "open baggage Such q
hurry and confusion among the Ia
dies Some couldn't End their keys.
others couldn't identify their trunks,
soue lost their grip-sacks and va
Uses, others forgot they had any bag
gage How easily crowd gets con-
fused ut the simple command of n
customhouse officer. The ceremony
was conducted, however. With won
tlerfnI rapidity and admirable secre-
cy, considering the great exercise OF
authority; and. indeed, in a very
futile aud formal wsy, for which the
gods will ever be thanked by all ex-
4 A