The Republican journal., 1888-08-02
Echoes from Mount Kineo.

ress of the Megantic railroad, and the plans of
the Maine Central were the principal topics.
Since then the lease of the p. 4 o. to the Maine
Central for 500 years has been completed, so
that the pros and cons are hardly worth dis
cus>ing now. Indeed, the PortIanders present
seemed unanimous in favor of the lease, as the
best thing for the city in business point of
view. As to the Bangor & Piscataquis there
were diverse views. Some expressed the opn-
ion that the city of Bangor might make mis-
take in trying to overreach Payson Tucker,
concerning whose ability as a railroad manager
there was not dissenting voice. That the
Maine Central will not long be content with
the present devious and tresome route to the
Lake may be accepted as foregone conclusion.
a. to the Megantic, that made its presence
manifest to the party at two points. At West
Bay the Il. 4 p. trains run under massive
trestle work, over which the Megantic trains
Will pass. Farther on provision is made for
another track by which trains come down to Il
level with the b. & =. road. The work done
here is of most substantial character. Two
days later some of the party made an excursion
by steamer to the Outlet, and Just below the
dam bridge across the Kennebec is in process
of construction. Two piers are built up from
the bed of the stream, where they rest on solid
rock. and on each shore are other piers, all
built of faced granite. The work of laying the
rails is progressing and will be completed to
Mattawamkeag this fall. When the road is in
operation it will furnish short route from the
West to Moosehead Lake and steamers will be
run from the Outlet to the Kineo House, which
is likely to receive large number of guests
over this line. The Megan;ic has many friends
here. is it will open up and make valuable tim
Der lands not heretofore accessible. Birch
timber is now more valuable than pine and
spruce and cannot be hoated down the rivers
as are the softer woods, but as spool stock, and
in other forms, it will be shipped over the rail-
road.
This suggests the remarks of Il gentleman
who has an extensive acquaintance in the State
and is familiar with its industries and business
interests. Said he: ..Maine is going ahead.
There was Il time when she Jagged behind, but
now she is growing and prospecting. 1t is not
the long timber that brings the most profit it
is the short stuff the spool stock, etc., and this
Nc gantic road will he great help to our peo-
pie" Even the most inveterate GROWERS of
the party had nalght to say dero@atory of our
State, and all were proud of the magnificent
and perfectly appointed hotel which stands
here in the Maine wilderness, the peer in all es-
>ential> of those within the shadow of the
great cities. If it should so happen that Moose
head Lake is t>hed out. there would still be
need for the kneo House, and no doubt for
others. TO furnish accommodations for those
who will seek its shores for rest and the enjoy
ment of fine scenery. The pure, invigorating
air alone rcpays for the journey, and with add
ed facilities for travel the hundreds who now
visit the Lake must be increased to thousands.
The silence of the nights at Kneo mpresses
one. During our stay the ballroom was de-
serted at 10 p. H., and soon after everybody
was apparently asleep. Here was Il hotel with
accommodations for about four hundred guests,
with all the machinery of modern requirements.
with water on three sides and Mount kineo in
the rear; and vet at dead of night. and all
through the night, not a sound was heard save
occasionally brd-note. There were 10 late
Jewellers. no Earring or slamming, no calling of
people for early trains: and so. with the pure
air to breathe. pure water to drink and the best
of everything to eat, those slept who hardly
knew what il was TO sleep before. and rested
while they slept. to awake refreshed and thank
full that they We're at Kinco.
The Eastern State Fair was one of the topics
discussed en- route and at kineo, and in this
section at least it is looked forward to with a
good deal of interest. One well-informed gen.
teman remarked that the idea that the project
tors of this fair were making great deal of
money out of it was entirely erroneous. So
far from that being true they had received no
returns on the capital invested and no recon-
pen>e for their time and labor. People may be
10th to believe in so self-sacrificing il public
spirit. but such is the case and one of the pro-
moter- of the fair would gladly hand over his
investment and responsibilities to any one will
inc to assume them. Meanwhile the work of
improving the buildings and grounds goes on
from year to year. and there is Il determination
that each annual fair shall excel the one just
preceding. The journal has given an outline
of what is in store for this season. and with
favorable weather the attendance ought to be
larger than ever before. Bangor knows how
to entertain Il crowd, and visitors to the Queen
City are i'll no danger of being starved or
sWindlcd, or BOTH a. is the case elsewhere
The birch canoe will soon be thing of the
pasI. indeed, one was pointed out at Kineo as
curiosity. The canoes now used are covered
with canvas instead of birch bark and when
covered with paint they are water tight and
will stand hard usage. The model and frame
work are substantially the same as those of the
Indian bark, but most of these modern canoes
are made by white men. The prettiest canoe
We saw at kineo was made by Gerrish of Ban
gor They are painted drab COLOR probably
that they may not be conspicuous on the water
when used for fishing or cunning, but for
pleasure purposes may be given gay colors,
and we saw one bright red. The only OBJ
lection we heard to the canvas canoe is that it
will sink. while the birch will not, but this
may easily be obyiated by air tight compart-
memt> in the bow and stern.
Shortly after leaving Bangor on the way to
The Lake each member of the party was hand
ed Il copy of the Nistas En- Route. the latest H.
Illustrated pamphlet issued by the NJ. c. X. II.
Co.. OF which mention is made elsewhere
This was by courtesy of Mr.. +. i. Boothby,
ths popular passenger agent of the Maine Cen
tra.
Mr.. c. W. Robbins, editor of the Oldtown
Enterprise, joined the press party at Odtown,
and on arrival at the Kineo supplied the MEM
bcr> with fans bearing the advertisement of his
paper. Mr.. Robbins is young man and evil
IDENTITY has the qualifications which command
success. He is publishing an excellent local
newspaper.
Mr.. Beals, the proprietor. and MIR. Roach,
the manager, did all in their power to make
pleasant the stay of the eXcursionists at the
Bangor House. Mr.. Roach is known to many
of our people, and is an enthusiast in base ball,
while Mr.. Beals knows a good horse when he
sees one, and generally has few of that des-
cription himself.
Everybody who goes to Kineo for the first
time wants to know why the b. & p. railroad
made its terminus at West Bay instead of at
the village of GreenyilIc. 1t is said the Green
Vile people thought the road must come there
in any event and did not trouble themselves