The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-10-14
Letter from Houlton.

mOny was cllncher.
Letter from Houlton.
TWO PILGRIMAGES TO AROOSTOOK. CHANGES
FIFTEEN YEARS HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT.
THE RAILROAD AND AROOSTOOK PRODUCTS.
DAIRYING. EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS
PRIVILEGES.
Correspondence of the Journal.
HOULTON, Me-, Oct. S, 1856. Fifteen years
ago in the month of June, the writer having
been assigned to duty for year in Aroostook
County prepared for the undertaking. A brief
ride on the cars and Portland was reached.
Taking passage by steamer Of the Internation-
al Line Thursday forenoon, we arrived at East
port next morning where we changed boats
for st. Andrews. Tarrying at the latter place
for the night, at $50 on Saturday morning we
boarded the train, and were soon on our Jour-
ney to the new country in the Northeastern
part of Maine. The day was hot, the passell-
gers few, the mosquitoes many, and our prog
rcss was almost as slow as a stage coach so that
o'clock. To add to the discomfort of the Jour-
ney. forest fires Were raging in the immediate
vicinity Of the railroad and in few places had
set fire to the fences along the track and the
seeperS.
year was spent in the vicinity of IIouton,
which was often visited for trade and pleasure.
The impressions of that year and its expert
ehccs are ndcllbly impressed upon the mind,
and many of them come up before me as |
write. as vividly as though they were events of
yesterday. Fifteen years later the writer is
again assigned to duty in the same locality.
This time we journey from another section,
and 10y different mode of transit. Leaving
Belfast at 1915 A. NJ. on Thursday NAV 9th
we began our journey. Reaching Old Town
we tarry for the night, sleeping Sweetlv while
the heavens she'd an abundance of rain. The
next day Mattawamkeae is reached, and at g. 80
?. NJ. Saturday we halt for the night at Hodg-
don, six miles from ITouton, having made the
journey of nearly one hundred and fifty miles
III little more than two and half days. The
next day we reach IIoulton in season for the
discharge of the duties which devolve upon US.
The object of this letter is not to describe the
Impressions of that day, Lut briefly to detail
some of the observations and impressions of
people of IIoulton and vicinity Fifteen years
have wrought many and important changes in
people, place and business. Several of the
friends of former years have moved into Houl-
ton from the surrounding towns; several 9TH
ers have passed beyond the sphere Of shadows e:
and as write the stores are closed and busi-
ness suspended out of respect to the memory
of Mr.. LySander Putnam, the last OF the old
settlers, who is being borne to his final resting
place, followed by large company of citizens
and friends.
The changes in business are equal to the
having outgrown their old quarters have mov-
ed into new and more commodio,s stores
while some who We're attending school fifteen
years since are now established in business
Two large fires have entailc,l heavy financial
loss on the community, but as usual in such
cases the result has been the erection of better
and more commodious buildings. The system
Of water works alone prevented similar dis
a>ter on the 23l of May. when owing to the
strong northwest wind prevailing at the time
Mr.. ritcomb's saw mill was burned, and about
fifty buildings caught fire in the village.
The business interests of IIoulton have been
subject to many important changes during
these years. There is now but little barter
the condition of the farmers having SO i'm
proved, in consequence of the opening up of
the western markets, that most Of them are in
condition to buy and Sell for cash, while many
are in independent circumstances
Fifteen years ago, the railroad was Il new
thing, bat with its successful operation there
has grown up an extensive demand in the
world "outside," for the products of Aroos-
took county; particularly potatoes, butter and
hay. The potato business is now. and has
been for the past few weeks, in a very thriving
condition. \ stranger is simply surprised at
the enormous quantity brought into the mar
ket. On Friday and Saturday of last week
over fourteen hundred barrels were brought
in each day, besides the quantities delivered at
the starch factories. The prices of potatoes
range near one dollar per barrel. The varc-
ties mostly cultivated are the Early Rose and
Bcautics of Hebron: the latter bring from
ten to fifteen cents a barrel more than the
W III NiiuH llbtulptS ttlltl lHt IOlttIl
ones are taken to the factories to be converted
into starch. the prices paid ranging from tf-
teen to twenty cents per bushcl The average
yield of potatoes on an Aroostook farm is, [
am told about two hundred and fifty bushels
per acre, many farms yielding considerably
over three hundred bushels. A few of the
Well-to-do farmers have given up raising of
u ~
cNhaIlsts the land.
Dairying is quite an extensive industry in
this vicinity. Most of the farmers keep good
herd Of cows, and my observation is that
nearly one half of them have creamery; and
many of the other half will soon follow suit.
IIoulton village has greatly increased in size
since we first saw it, Several new streets have
been laid out, and are now largely built up.
What was the Fair Grounds and Trotting Park
of few Years ago is now High street; and the
park has been transferred to the west side of
the river. IIoulton is favored with good educa-
tlonai and religious privileges. The Academy
provides for the wants of High school scholars,
while the Grammar and other departments are
well provided for. We have seven churches in
lloulton-Baptist, Free Baptist, Congregations
alist. Methodist, Episcopal, Unitarian and
Roman Catholic, so that each can worship
according to his own taste. The Episcopalians
have begun the erection of new edifice and
the vestry is now occupied for worship. The
Roman Catholics intend building a new edilice
i'll the spring at the estimated cost of fourteen
thousand dollars. The CongregationaliSts have
recently freScoed their church, the BaptSts
are making improvements in their veStry, and
the Methodists contemplate either the enlarge
ment of their present cdiice or the erection of
a new one in the near future. W.
Auxiliary steam Power Failure.
In 1882 the three masted schooner Maynard sum.
ner was built at Rockland. She was supplied with
auxiliary steam power, and was the first vessel of
her class built in this country. In addition to the
sails of an ordinary three mastcd schooner she had
propeller to assist locomotion in moderate wealth
cr. The mizzen mast is iron, hollow, and serves
the double purpose of a mast and smoke stack. At
ter fair trial the steam power has been decided Il
failure and the vessel is having the machinery re
moved, and in future will rely upon her sails
alone The auxiliary power has some advantages,
but the extra expense of running it more than of
sets them. Two crews have to be employed as the
steam laws will not allow sailors to work the ma.
chinery. The steam power was designed to assist
the vessel in making quicker passages. We arc
informed by our sea captains that the coastng
irln e