The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-03-26
Maine: Its Agricultural Features and
Capabilities.
BY SAMUEL L. BOARDMAN.
Copyright, 1884, S. l.. b.
VIII.-THE EASTERN COUNTIES.

VIII.-THE EASTERN COUNTIES.
The eastern counties in Maine-W ashingtOn
and Hancock-both have Il large extent Of sea-
coast, and of timber and unimproved lands.
Washington County has an area of 2, 700 square
miles, and Hancock an area of 1852. Situated
east of the Penobscot River and south of
Aroostook County, they form the extreme
southeastern portion of the State, and make a
somewhat distinct agricultural and business
community. Washington County may be said
to be in general strong clay loan, the surface
generally level, or in gradual swells or ridges
which nowhere attain very great height. The
county of Hancock, on the contrary, Is rough
and broken, and near the coast picturesque
and mountainous.
Washington County has a coast line of 1S0
miles. abounding in bays and coves which
afford excellent harbors. Its six chief rivers
are the Saint CroX, Denny's, Machias, Pleas
ant, and Narraguagus They are connected
with lakes which afford ample storage capa-
city, forming abundant water-power.
Inc Water-powers of these rivers are alone
capable of driving all the machinery now in
motion in Maine, and yet they are largely un-
employed. On their banks, in the interior,
are almost unlimited forests of young timber,
birch, poplar, spruce-now so largely used in
packing. boxes of various kinds. barrels, casks,
and dozen other different articles that may
be termed the minor lumber industries. Along
the shore line, extending from the western
limit OF the county round to Calais on the east,
Is an extensive tract of fine agricultural land
the soil most excellent one for gracing sheep
and stock husbandry, dairying. and the grow
ing OF the small cereals, although not so good
for corn or orcharding. The facilities for OBJ
tanning marine manures is most excellent, and
they are largely used by the farmers. Along
the rivers are rich bottom lands and extensive
diked marshes which produce very heavy
crops of most kinds of grains and roots grown
on Maine farms. The annual timber product
of the chief rivers in the county are given as
follows: Saint CroiX, $1,000 900; Denny's,
Sl,00O,000; Machias, s., 100000; Pleasant, ST.
100000; Narraguagus, $1,000 900; or a total
yearly business of more than S10,00O.000.
Washington County produces 10000 tons of
hay. worth SS00,000; and with better market
facilities could easily be increased to pro-
ducflon of 100 900 tons, which would be worth
Sl.2OO,00o. Washington County yields some of
the best potatoes grown III Maine, and if a
market could be obtained, her virgin lands
would grow potatoes in great abundance I'M
surpassed by even the rich lands of Aroostook.
There are several establishments in the county
for packing wild fruits, such AS blueberries
raspberries, and cranberries, and their business
already exceeds 100000 in va ne, yearly. The
egg product of the county is now in excess of
100000 year; and when the first steamboat
line was established between Portland and the
towns along the coast eastward to Machias, in
1868, not single dozen of eggs was shipped
from Machias River. The frozen-tish business
of the four towns of Eastport, Machias. Addi-
son, and Millbridge is now of sufficient volume
to load two cars a day during the three winter
months. Valuable deposits of red and black
granite are now worked at Red Beach. Addi-
son, and Jone>borough, and already he bu>i-
ness at these quarries amounts to 5000 900 an
nualiy. These facts are given in brief to snow
what the present business of the county is. and
what excellent opportunities for larger dt vel
opment and increase of business is possible
when the new railroad now building shall eX-
tend to the leading points in the county. Prac-
tieaIly, the county of Washington-wth the
exception of single point near its northern
limits shut out from the advantages Of rail
communication with the rest of the State and
the great markets of the country. But with
new line now built to Ellsworth. and prospec-
lively to Sullivan. MachaS. and Calais, this
new shore line will open up ii vast extent of
territory, develop water-power, advance manu-
factures of many kinds, and greatly aid agri-
culture by creating new and ready market for
all productions of the farm.