St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-07-22

Central Vermont for his successful ar
rangements made for the excursion. ,
The party was personally conducted
by T. H. Hanley of Mr.. Cummings
office. The following resolution was
also adopted
RESOLVED That the Vermont editors and pub |
fishers believe that it would be great convenience
contain 500 sheets instead of 49, and that this as
ISOLATION respectfully calls the attention of SINH
lar associations in the United States to this
and asks their cooperation in effort to induce
paper manufacturers to adopt this suggestion, and
to procure such legislation as may be necessary to
carry 1t into effect
The annual address was then given
by C. M. Stone of the CaledOnian on
"Tbe Country Newspaper-what it
was, what it is, and what it should be"
with emphasis upon the Importance
of absolute independence in journalism
and complete emancipation for editors
from all political cliques, corporations,
and bosses of whatever kind or name.
Among the 1000 Islands.
Thursday, July Is, 1886, was great
day for the Vermont press association.
During the forenoon the rain continued
to fall, but this did not interfere with
the misunderstanding at which subjects
of interest and Importance to the craft
were discussed. Several of the party,
including ladies, went a-fshing in the
great river and besides catching fish,
got good wetting. After dinner,
l. he nd oln 10 nd
the party took one of the most delight
full excursions imaginable. Going on
board the steamer "Wanderer" at 2 p.
M, trip of four hours was made up
the river among the islands on the
New York side, brief stop made at
GananOque on the Canada side, and the
return trip made through entirely diff
ferent channels-for it must be remem-
bered that the river against GananOque
is not less than twelve miles wide, be-
ing essentially an arm of lake Ontario,
but so full of islands from the size of
city house-lot up to those of some miles
in length, that the opposite shore is
wholly Obscured.
AS soon as the steamer left the wharf
at the Thousand island house the
beauty and grandeur of the scene be-
gan. Directly before us at the north
east, and not rifle shot away, is charm
ing "BOnnie- CASTLE" once the summer
home of the beloved author, DR.. j. G..
Holland. 1t is on point of land jut-
ting out from the New York shore, al
though there is said to flow just enough
water behind it to make it an island.
This was DR.. Hollands delightful sum-
mer retreat until his death in 1881.
Passing south west from this point in
the river, our steamer passed in and
out the channels that separate between
these 1862 islands, fOr once the
Thousand islands," is not an extrav-
CANT term, but actually under the real
number), and enchanting views were
presented at every turn.
1t seems that the imaginary line
drawn between Canada and "YOrk-
state' divides these many islands
about equally. Perhaps one hundred
or more in the American waters in the
vicinity of Alexandria bay have been
bought by wealthy gentlemen in New
York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Chica-
go, Cincinnati, ETC., and beautified in
every conceivable way. Most of the
owners have erected elegant houses on
their property, including out-build-
ings, lighthouses, with occasionally a
''sea WALL" and in several cases artis-
tically designed iron bridges to some
smaller island near by; and in zone or
more cases an elegant private steamer
lies at the wharf for the use of the
owner and occupant of the island and
the friends whom he entertains.
The amount of money expended up
on these islands since 1872, about the
time when this summer resort began to
"bOOm," is enormous. The islands are
very many of them, of less than five
acres in extent and nearly all beautiful
and picturesque in their natural state,
bnt with abundance of money and
taste have been made much more
charming. Among the owners are
Judges DonOhue and Spencer, j. L.
Hasbrouck, H. r. Heath, S. A. Briggs,
DR.. Gunnison of New York; George M.
Pullman, A. E. Clark of Chicago; E. r.
Proctor, Cincinnati; R. A. and H. A.
Packer of Penn, ETC., etc.
While the islands on the Canadian
side are not sold to individuals, and
consequently neither occupied nor
beautifed, except by the hand of ma
ture, the ride among them is most en-
chanting, the narrow passages and
abrupt turns disclosing new delights
constantly. Some of the larger islands
on the New York side are owned by as
sOciatiOns and stock companies and
have little community villages. The
Presbyterians own Westminster Park,
an island eight miles long, and it has
quite a number of buildings on it be-
sides large church. "Summerland,"
an island three miles long, is owned by
a stock company and is one of the love-
Hest places on the river.
During this cruise of four hours the
little steamer piled about and among
these islands giving the representatives |
of the Vermont press such views of
rare beauty as are not often the lot of
mortals to see. 1t was their intention |
to take large river steamer on Friday |