The Somerset reporter., 1885-05-06
pRuMMeRs' COLUMN.

REEf At The aAChlNEBY OF THE MAINE
|ENTRAL.-H0w SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES
ave FOR 81 GENTS PER DAY.
The saying 10 quite trite "a woman for
iosity" but would change 1t and have
country hotel keeper for curiosity" II
ire 10 any living thing above ground that
more genuine curiosity about things
At docs not concern them In the least
bn the average country inn keeper, l
build Ike to meet he, she or it, The 9TH
might got stranded NJ an o.d.fashloned
btrn, and after the stores had all closed
went 10 and sat duwn beside large
20 ire and submitted myself to an inter-
IN, and we're 1t not for fear that the old
in might see this article, sh rula confess
u equivocated somewhat, Just out Of
ire wickedness. After he had got through
fire, opened on him. Tho town had
en thriving one In the good old times
3 alas, the railroad had swept the bust
Ds all away. He told me that twenty
nrs ago 1t was not an unusual thing for
b to have forty heavy, horses 10 his sta
u over night. This would ouy represent
ht or ten teams, as most of The freight
y hauled then by from four to six horses
oxen. Now he said 1t It rare that have
cam Of any kind over night, and only
casionallv to dinner. Then asked him
some OF the "reminiscences of the good
days, but alas they had gone aud he
Patched his head in vain to recall them.
Der m 'ments reflection he reused up
said ''rhe s'rangest thing that ever
nA0nA Ia. In n 70
opened tuther night. Me and the old
oman had been at work putty hard tina t
and we went to bed solerbly early.
but 10 O'Clock heard q knocking, and
Sting out putty spry heard q wOman's
ice on the step. lodged back and put
some clothes and then Ax ID what " as
hnted. They said they wanted 10 come
aud have hot supper. called to he
woman and she got out and Will put
their horse she started the fires The
Rangers were dressed way up and used
top language, but never said where they
ere from, nor what they wanted. We got
lem ~ good supper as we could and bout
idnlRht they went to bed telling US not to
I'll them till O'Clock. In the morning
10y came down and eat their breakfast
nd after paying their hill ordered their
brse and left. l asked them how far they
ere going that day and they said bout 40
lies. asked them how far they drove
be day before and they said bout the
lime. They left and be blessed II me
Ind the old woman could either OF US get
be least idea Of where they came from,
There they were going, who they were or
THAT their business was" After an expe-
fence Of 80 years keeping q hotel these la
lies were the 6rst to puzzle the old fellow.
Fever before had anyone visited his hum
BIZ house but that he was able to extort
rom them their family history as we'll as
he business which drew them to his part
bf the country. And yet this old man Is
ehe state, and have devoted a good deal
II space to him simply to show what a
heddlesome class Of old hussles many of
Them are. At some other time shall dis
course upon "the meanest hotel In Name"
Happening into the State House the 9th.
Dr. morning found Gen. B. F. Harris, the
efficient Superintendent of Public Build
ngs bead over heels into work of much
needed character. Notwithstanding the
act that the State House is splendldly To-
lated for drainage it has always been in a
;errible sanitary condition. When the
state Board of Health was established they
demanded a room In the State House aud
some veg suggested to Gen. Harris to give
hem room beneath the Treasurer's office
which has been useless and vacant for
Fears, as the air was so impure that no one
could remain there. When Gen. Harris
began to look about, that was the only
room they could have and there was moth
0n alan n do hnf ruQRa ~ At
y. Accordingly he went at it. The sys-
tenn Of sewerage was so defective that he
had to tear 1t all out and commence new.
This WAS no small job but he went at it
business like and the work Is now all &C.
complished and the former vacantIroom is
now as sweet as bed OF roses and the
Board Of Health can commence their la
bors with healthy surroundings thanks to
Gen. Harris.
There il to be = big time In Portland In
June a, all tie dlummers can 60 without
ear Of o ing auy trads. 1t is safe enough
10 say that everyone is to be there. 1t will
be the biggest reunion Of soldiers that was
yer held In Now England and will proba-
bly, never be repeated. Every state and
territory will be represented and old SOL
iiers who have not met since they were
out will gather and recall their
for .ner struggles, privations and hardsbips
rs veil ~ the bright spots in their army
lie. Yes, they will all be there. was
down on the coast last week and there they
are making the biggest kind Of prepara-
lions to attend the National Encampment
= nd hn. An
the trouble they will have to Sc
cure quarters In the city, they are to At up
Bchooners and sail into the Forest City In
1ne style,' and while there, will eat and
sleep on board their schooners thus being
OF the committee of arrange
ments. This will be delightful trip and
will possess many advantages over trip
by train with scanty hotel &C accommodation.
By all means let all hands attend even If
they cant 20 In schoOners and live as Ben
Butler does when afloat on his yacht Amer
lea.
The more look into the inside work
ings of great railroad like the Maine
Central tho more admiration have for the
men who control Its affairs 30 noiselessly.
Few people have any idea Of the extent Of
machinery necessary to run such vast
The labor required Is simply i'm
mense and 1t must be done for tho lowest
possible sum and yet to make the work.
men contented and happy they must be
looked after not little. The Maine Gen.
trail does this most admirably, but never
have seen the modus operandi In print. II
was all new to me till the other day so
give it, to your iudulgent readers as news.
II, Its old and. threadbare forgive me for
meant we'll. The work on the Maine Gen.
trail like all otter we'll regulated roads is
divided into several departments and these
Department. are sub-divided. Now II the
station needs painting at Somerset Mills,
instead Of hiring painter at that place to
naint Il the road aenda tta Ign crew Of