The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-12-31
In Western Maine.

PICTURESQUE FRANKLIN. IT'S RESOURCES
AND INDUSTRIES. PENNINGTON. NARROW
GAUGE RAILROADS. THE SANDY RIVER
VALLEY. THE VALLEY OF THE CARRABAS-
SET. KINGFIELD. RESIDENCE OF THE
FIRST GOVERNOR OF MAINE.
Correspondence of the Journal
HARRINGTON, Dec. oath, 1885. Franklin
county is justly proud of her scenery. Proba-
bly, no part of the State has greater attractions
in the way of rivers, mountains and lakes. The
projection of the ''narrow gauge toward
Rangely was a good stroke of policy. The cars
now run to within twenty miles of the lake and
it is stated that 10000 toarsts, hunters and
anglers filled the hotels, boarding houses and
woods Of northern Franklin during the summer
and fall of 1885,
Agriculture is the principal industry of the
people, although numbering is still of consider
able Importance, and we notice that the manu- |
featuring interests are beginning to receive IA
considerable share Of attention and it is only a
question of years when they will be of magni-
tude. In sheep husbandry the county ranks
high. In orcharding a large business is done.
Apples here are of the first quality The slopes |
on the banks Of the river seem to be particular
ly adapted to fruit culture. In stock raising
the native breeds are fast giving place to choice
grades of the leading varieties of beef produc-
ing families. We learned of several farmers
who Were stocking up with thoroughbre,i>. |
thus comforting an immense benefit upon their
respective neighborhoods.
Pennington is a thrifty, clean looking town.
bn hot h.. iubn
possess taste. refinement and wealth. Its pop
uIaton is about 1900. 1t is the natural com
mcrcial centre of It large agricultural region
and is besides a farming town itself. The soil
is generally level and | should judge Very pro-
duciiNe. The people have unhoundcd faith in
the future, and justify their faith by their
works. Bur few towns in the State have 50
good schools. The Normal and the Little Blue
are favorabIy known to ALL The new county
buildings, the newspaper offices the banks, the
public hall and the churches Will compare fay
oraby with those Of more populou> towns.
From Pennington we went north on tile
Sandy River X. Il. TO Strong; thence ON the
Franklin Il Mc-antic to knglcld. the trrni- |
nus. The -auge Of these roads is Two feet. The
wide" They roll along smoothly and are
drawn BY dwarf engine that is a vcrtabe
little demon. The baggage car was crammed
with Christmas packages and as we rushed
down some Of the grades in the darkness amid
4 shower of sparks we could not resist the i'm
preston that we We're going down somebody's
chimney in the wake of Santa Claus.
Ia. + Ia, lao InDl ~.
abruptly. There are intergalc farms ON each
bank of the river and trim farm buildings.
After leaving Strong We pass through coun
try that seems TO br good farming land on the
whole. but without striking features. We ar
rive at Kiuglinld at o'clock p. NJ, and get our
first good look at the town the next morning.
At sunrise, it lies before Us cold and White and
lev through which flows the Carrabas>ett riy-
cr. Away up to the north we see it turning
and twisting in q narrow path between the
hills: but here nature seems to have used up all
the hills in making mountains and there is 4
considerable area of level land between. Yes.
here they are, Mt. Abraham, Mt. Bigelow and
Sugarloaf, the morning sun Just lighting up
gorgr>. the shifting tint> and all the rest of it
Just as it i in the guide books
We are domiciIed in substantial old fash
toned house built and occupied by Governor
King, the first governor of Maine. lie was the
owner Of this and an adjoining township and
spent his summers here before he became the
chief executive of the state. The house is now
I,, al Ja i,,.i-
waite room of Air. King is now the office.
Tobacco and cigars for sale in one corner.
The calkS III the boots of river drivers have
di>iigurcd the once >potlcss floor and it is the
general loun%in@ place of all classes of men.
The presiding genius is a bald-hcadrd, Jolly
Frcnchmcm we'll worthy of further description,
but ! forbcar. He i IL model landlord. how
ever, in ira particulars, at least. He gives his
guests plenty Of food ut reasonable price. He
is good farmer Withal. In his barn may be
seen a fine flock Of sheep and II head Of cattle.
One animal, thoroughbred Hereford bull two
wears old, won the first premium at the Maine
state Fair lat year. There are two heitcrS of
the same breed, imported from England, and
several fine COWS.
About four O'Clock in the afternoon we 90
out to take our last view of the mountains.
Straight away to the west wooded valley
stretches. No turn nor hill interctpt> the view
for nearly fifty miles. where right across a. a
background are the White Mountains lying in
wait to seize the setting sun. He is gone: the
shadows creep Up Mt. Abraham, and his com
panions. Their outlines are distinct against
the cold December sky. As night deepens they
seem to draw closer together and to say: We
are the guardians of the Carraba~~ett. Behind
Us are the realms of Borea>. We are his COM
panions but not his playmate>.
\. |. BKowN.
4 gentleman Of this city writes as follows,
Il heartily agree with you on the water ques
ton. Tapping the muck pond and piping the
city to yet water would be like some Of our
Maine mining companies. who built splendid
works where there was no mine. should like
to see the city supplied with water from Mixer
pond or some other source"
Thcre is one advantage in the change Of
rule~ of the National IIou>e-t Will enable the
Democratic majority to cut their Threats with
greater facility. But is they We're sure to
commit suicide in amy event the net gain is
not great.
one of the recent Alabama awards, III favor
Of Il New Bedford seaman, is for tWo-tenth> Of
nill-not a saw mill or -risl mill, but the
kind of which ten make one cent. The lawyers
fee. if a percentage. must be looked for With 4
microscope
The Journal proposes to give the current
news of the day. despite attempted bull doing
from amy quarter, whether from lawyer who
wants TO try his ease in advance of the court
or others who have axes to grind at the public
expense.
The present outlook for an ice crop on the
Hudson river il not very favorable according
to the New York Herald. but it is rather early
in the season to conclude that the crop there is
to be - failure Meanwhile Names ice croD is