The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-08-18
MAINE WILDERNESS.
An Interesting Description of the
Fishing and Hunting Resorts.
The Hotels and Beautiful Scenery of
Northern Maine,
With Report of the Crops in the
Kennebec Valley.

With the view to a personal inspection OF
the condition of the crops in that section of
Maine SO long hitherto accorded the title OF
the Garden of the State" the fertile valley
of the Kennebec, as well as to crafty long
desire to penetrate the "Wilderness" towards
the lines of Canada, whittier the ''game" has
retreated in the march of civilization, |
accepted the invitation of David Jewett,
Esq, of North Madison, to accompany his
old friend DR.. A. w. Smith of this city, on
such a trip with him.
Leaving the elegant cars of the Maine Cen
tral at Skowhegan, we were met by Mr..
Jewett and conveyed by his fine team to his
residence in Madison. He is a well-to-do
farmer, intelligent and thrifty, with fine
wife and beautiful family thoroughly con-
versant with all the characteristics of that
section-its hunting grounds and fishing
ponds, and having a taste for the rod and
gun We were unusually fortunate in find
ing ourselves in such good hands to spend a
ten-days vacation in the most advantageous
manner. Taking easy drives we reach Car
ratunk the first day, and just to aggravate
SUlIt VI OuI Uiu opOlboIlCll, WOulQ ody llldb
our three meals for the day were caribou
for breakfast trout for dinner, and partridge
for supper, and with our boots creased with
bears OIL we were in good marching trim for
the Wilderness" into which we had com
menced to penetrate but which is not reach
ed in all its grand and solitary surroundings
till you seem to pass the civilization line at
the Forks of the Kennebec and penetrate to
Moose River, at least 70 miles northIof Skow-
hogan and near to the Canada line. The
road is known as the Canada road" and
runs parallel with the Kennebec most of the
distance from the base of the almost contin-
uous chain of mountains after leaving Madi-
son pond.
The sides Of these mountains and inter
wales at the bases afford some of the finest
farms in the whole State and even in the
most densely wooded and mountainous sec
tl0nS quite extensive hay fields are found,
and all the farmers in this section with
whom we came in contact represent the hay
crop as at least one-fourth larger than last
year. Fields were not all cut there on the
10Th inst. Hay, as well as other crops was
two or three weeks later than in the western
part of the State.
Oats are looking well as are also other
grains, and the acreage seeded is larger than
any previous year. Oats are the great crop
here, there being so many required for the
teams in the logging swamps, that this crop
has always ready sale at the door of the
farmer at good prices, and as the logging
business promises to be large the coming
season, crops are being already engaged the
same as the corn is in the vicinity of packing
establishments. Corn looks very fine, be-
ing in rank growth, and is caring out well
and only the contingency of an early frost
Will prevent large crop in the Kennebec
Valley.
The Canada road is most interesting and
charming drive throughout nearly its entire
length, being through mountain passes OF
dense forests, where there is scarcely break
for twenty miles; a fine, hard road, with fire.
quent springs OF water running from the
mountain sides, in the vicinity of which
whole families of Canadian-French will be
met with, bivouacked by the roadside, cook
ing their ''chubs and milk A great many
of the French pass into the State from Cam
ada, seeking work in haying time and during
river driving. This class Of people live very
cheaply, and don't mind 'Gipsying'' out un-
der their cart wherever night overtakes
them
There are good hotels, and very good fare
is provided, and most of the hotels are situ-
ated in attractive localities. The Forks
Dead River joins the Kennebeccasis, and the
Adams House also at Parlin Pond, on the
shores Of this fine fishing place. There are
lots of trout here, and Mr.. George Savage,
WHO Keeps tlllS mousse, LOOK us OUT III a DaC-
teau to show us how trout would bite at the
fly, and even George got excited the fish
ieaped so high out OF water, sWlshlng his line
too close to our ears to be comfortable, he
shouted IN ms mad career, "Jehu-Jeems-
Rlce-come-agln, till a atWo-poqnder took him
completely off his rooSt on the stern of the
batteau. The trout of Parlin Pond range
from five to twelve inches in length, and are
caught best with ety." The next best
place to trout is Garry Pond, in Township
NO. l, though 1t requires four mile walk
over rough mountain road, and all of ones
pays TO take the tramp, for this large lake,
nlgh up on tne mountains, over winch Gen.
Benedlct Arnold passed INTO Canada, yields
!ne largest ana pest salmon trout TO be found
IN ~, MAINE ma ne WaIers.; I Johh Wllnams, whose
nnely situaIe9, residence at Ine LANDING, Just
where Arnold,s troops left the river to carry
across the wilderness, IS a good guide to this
pond ana gne Wnole contlguous territory ,and
DSslqes John Is good, Wnole-Souied 1elloW.
HIS HIS nouse n Is welcome nome 70 an travellers,
cannot iall TO please any one, assisted by
ADpy, a most lnvlIlng, sumptuous ana well
cooked meal is always sure to be found at
J.ohn WllllamS's. we shall never forget his
gooa eheer 10 US. Trout can be caught
Wlthm ten rods OF his house, and without
nope OF lee or reward;
Moose River IS the heart OF the wilderness
ana Is tne cnle1 source OF the supply to
Moosehead Lake about % miles southeaster-
~. There is very good hotel at Moose
River settlement. and in view of the con-
structlon OF the railroad from Lake. Megantic
to strike the Bangor d Piscataquis road, a
large and commodlous new hotel is being
built In anticipation of the great pleasure
travel that this locality must invite in the
event Of increased and easier facilities to
reach this wild and picturesque region.
There are plenty OF moose and deer on the
shores OF Wood Pond close by Moose River
village. Abner Moore is the popular guide
for this region: He took us into birch