The Republican journal., 1884-08-07
Maine Matters.
NEWS AND GOSSIP FROM ALL OVER THE STAT E

the river and harbor improvements of the
States of Maine and New Hampshire, has sub
mitted his report of operations during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1884. OF the work of i'm
provement of Lubec Channel he says: A jetty
upon Gun Rock, Il ledge projecting into Lubec
NarroWs at the northeast point of the town of
Lubec, was begun May 2S, and at the close of
the fiscal year 125 feet had been completed. Its
total length will be 259 feet. Its object is to
stop the rapid tidal current which sweeps
across this ledge to the great inconvenience of
passing vessels. The total appropriations for
the improvement of this channel since 1879 are
$780, including $4,000 appropriated by the
last River and Harbor bill, July l, 1888. The
amount available was S15,17S, of which S4063
was expended during the year, leaving total
available appropriation of $21 ,115 for the cur
rent year. 1t is estimated that the amount re-
quired to deepen and widen the channel so
AS to facilitate navigation is S1O3 ,0OO
Mooseabec Bar-The work of Improvement
at Mooseabec Bar during the year consisted in
widening the channel 56 feet by dredging out
209S3 cubic yards of mud, sand etc Col,
Blunt reports that this bar is in the course of a
year crossed by upward of 2500 vessels, which
are frequently put to a great inconvenience by
the low water on the bar. He estimates that
$4,000, besides the amount recently appropr-
ated ($l00OO). will complete the work. At
the beginning of the fiscal year Just closed S10,-
tton of S105. has been expended.
Rockland Harbor-The improvement propos-
ed for the harbor of Rockland was the con-
struction of a harbor of refuge by means of
two rubblestone breakwaters. one extending
sOuthery from high water mark on Jameson
Point 1900 feet; the other isolated on South
Ledge and 2640 feet long in nearly north and
south direction. They are to be feet above
mean low water and 10 feet deep on top. The
revised estimate of cost is $3.50, 900. The ap-
preparations made since 1880 have been $780,
900 The total expenditure to June 80, 1884,
was S3l 1886, and l109 feet of Jameson Point
Breakwater have been built. No work was
done during the year, amount asked for the
new year $4,000
Royal Rver-The work of Improvement at
Royal River (Maine) consisted of building a
dam to defect the current from ii dangerous
bank which had caved in to the detriment of
navigation The work was completed in Sep
tember Of last year. The total amount eXpend-
ed on this river since 1871 is 100000. Nothing
more is recommended.
Belfast River-S25 900 has been appropriated
at various times for the Improvement of Belfast
River: The last appropriation was made by
the River and Harbor act of 1880. The work
projected under the appropriation was to secure
depth of ten feet at mean low water in that
portion of the river bed where traffic is greatest
by the removal of Instructions. During the
fiscal year, S156 has been expended, and
considered necessary at present
Cathance River-The work of dredging the
channel at Shoa No. Cathance River, was
completed early in the year, and the available
balance, Sl645, expended. No additional i'm
provements are conten plated. The entire
amount expended on this river was S21 900
since June, 1880.
Portland HarbOr-There was available for
the Improvement of the Portland Harbor. July
l. 1888. Sl0,694, which was being applied to the
partial removal of the Middle Ground. in the
lower par: of the harbor, to a depth of 81 feet
at mean low water. The work under the con-
tract was completed in September, with the
5000 appropriated July 5th, 1884. The
dredging of the Middle Ground Will be finished
and the work under the existing project COM
pleted. July l, 1888, the amount available was
S10,694; expended during the year ending July
l. 1884, $1,000; appropriated July ), 1854, $50, :
900; amount now available, S30,114
kennebec River-ln September and October,
1883. the Government wharf was repaired.
During the year SG92 was expended, leaving
an uneXpended balance of 1896 available for
minor repairs which may be necessary.
WAUkEAG POINT.
just below Sullivan, to the southeast, the
map shows an outline Of IA portion of land call
ed Waukeag Neck and at the southwest eX-
tremty of this land point resembling a thumb.
which is now called Waukeag Point. The
Point is irregular on the coast but perhaps
would average three-quarters of mile in
length by one quarter in width. 1t is surrou nd
ed on three sides by water and on the side
farthest away from the sea there is a safe har-
Dor where in the widest storm small boats
would be secure. The land is all elevated as it
has rough, rocky coast except in the harbor
mentioned, and although there are islands near
which are away above highWater and covered
with trees, yet there is an unobstructed outlook
in almost every direction. To the north is
N,,ili
Frenchman's Bay at its feet; straight across
the Bay to the west is Mt Desert Ferry and all
the picturesque country beyond. The most eX-
cellent view Is, however, towards the south
where lies Bar Harbor, plainly seen, with the
imposing and beautiful Nit. Desert range of
mountains for magnificent background, and
little to the east as far as the eye can look out
until it is weary upon the vast expanse of
ocean. One hundred acres of land at the eX
IRENE point has been bought by Mason 4 Rey-
nolds and John Mason, Esq, of Bangor and
VIM. Ill. Hill, Jr., of Boston, who have laid out
this land into lots and built q wharf. and are
now offering cottage sites for sale. The place
is within ten minutes ride of Mt. Desert Ferry
by boat and the outlook for this new watering
place is most promising. Mr.. F. II. G. Rey
nolds, one of the propretorS, was formerly of
Belfast
SLAVE DAYS IN MAINE.
In a communication to the Portland Tran
script, Mr. 5. p. Mayberry of Cape Elizabeth
says, speaking of slavery in Maine in the latter
part of the last century, that it was of the mild
er type. He says further '|The slaves had
nearly the same privileges that the hired man
had. The Cushngs. Simontons and Jordans
of this town owned slaves. When their mas
ters were absent, a capable one was left in
charge, and, under his direction, the outside
work carried on. Ezekiel Gushing had IA slave
drowned while out a-fishing. My ancestor,
William MAY bprry had a m and wi fp bn
had several children; the latter played around
the house with his children, and roamed the
woods, cunning and fishing. The male slaves
name was LonnOn; he drove teams to Fa-
mouth with ship lumber, and the produce of
the farm, which he disposed of at his own
pleasure. In the revolutionary war. he was
servant of Capt. Richard May berry. In this
state only the more tony held slaves. while in
Massachusetts proper those that could make
a dollar either by work or sale. In my col
lection of papers. have the affidavit of one in
massachusetts, being whipped so severely that
he died.
THE WASHINGTON COUNTY SERPENT COMES
AGAIN.
A correspondent of The Boston Journa
writes: In the town of Charlotte, Washington
county, Me-, there isa beautiful sheet of water,
one of many which lie embosomed among the
wooded hills of that part of the Pine Tree State,
bearing the name (>aid to be the original Indian
appellation) of Pcnnamaquon Lake. OF late
the placid surface Of this lake has been agitated,
As well as the inhabitants who have their
homes along its margin, by the unwonted
appearance of what the aforesaid inhabitants
claimed to be Il veritable water monster. Mr..
Thomas Annas, whose farm abutS on the lake,
his house and buildings being only few rods
from the shore, and other members of his
family claim that they have repeatedly seen a
body resembling huge snake arise near the
shore, and with head raised some two or three
feet from the waters surface, and fifteen or
more feet of his snakeshipS body in sight.
slowly and majesticaly wend his way across
the lake to the Moose Horn stream, whose
waters enter the lake on the eastern side.
sight who confirm the above statement. Is it
the Chain Lake" serpenr on a visit?
THE BRITISH OCCUPATIONS OF EAsTPoRT.
July 11th, was the SEVENTEEN anniversary of
the capture of Eastport by the British forces,
in 1914, says the Eastport Sentinel, and of
course there are very few people among us
who remember that remote event. During the
British occupancy. from 1914 to 1918, a num-
ber of persons were born here, American cit-
Zens by birth, having also the privileges of
British subjects, if they should choose to claim
them Many years ago, when municipal reg
ulaton at st. John prohibited the selling of
merchandise there by foreigners not holding
city license, an Eastport merchant not now
living, unwittingly undertook to sell the cargo
of one of his vessels lying at St. John without
the Intervention of any broker, or commission
merchant, and found himself getting into "A
scrape, until it was remembered that he was
one of the class referred to, born at Eastport
during the British occupation. One of our
widely known steamboat captains, sometimes
eniOyS puZZng people not acquainted with