Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-11
BLUE NOSE LAND.
What Kennebec Journal Scribe Saw
and Heard in One OF its Busiest and
Most Thriving Towns.

DEAR SIR-Last Monday we took night
run of ninety miles to Moncton, n. b.
There is nothing particularly charming in
such trip on pitch dark night and raining
great guns outside. A nervous person can
not help thinking of the comforts of home
and mentally cursing the inventor of railway
coaches for not constructing the seats so
person could either sit up, lay down or roll
over on them with some degree of comfort
Half past one-Moncton. An argumentative
hackman in rainstorm, without an umbrella
Commercial House, and did not lament after
strict examination. The bed was fair the
table tip-iop, and the office, the walls of
which were decorated from floor to ceiling
with improbable representations of tropical
verdure, continued to attract us when every
other point of interest was exhausted. Cac-
far above the tops of gigantic palms, and
huge walls of doubtful masonry Wed in color
with the delicate vines that partially concealed
them. 1t is sight that would make scenic
artists hair stand on end. Moncton has
grown from population of seven or eight
hundred souls ten years ago to as many thou
sands at the present time. Since then the
repair shops and offices of the great Inter
colonial Railway have been located here,
employing at present over 1000 men, with a
pay roll of from 100000 to S75 900 per
month. There is a good sized cotton mill
employing 200 hands. The sugar refinery
has a capacity of 200 barrels per day with
fair prospect of an increase in this industry
in the sweet bye and bye. Our return to St.
John by daylight gave us an opportunity to
see the fine farms, protected by miles of
dixie that keep within bounds the tides that
rush up the Peticoliac valley. The farmers
have not finished haying owing to a
bad spell" ut rrains moo maistIy aand
very little ay haas beeen gatherrred av late"
so spake my informant. man that docs"
ST. John in minute can have very little idea
of the immense volume of business trans
acted there. Some of the buildings are sim
ply magnificent. Among the most noted is
the Custom House, Intercolonial Railway
Station, Masonic Temple on German St.
St. John church at head of same street look
ing north. The post office at corner of
Prince William and Princess streets The
police station--by the way have got to see
man intoxicated in the Dominion-City
market, Wiggin Orphan Asylum, Victoria
School, Odd Fellows Building. City Hall,
churches and private residences in great num-
bers. Carlton across the river has some fine
buildings, but is mostly made up of the
homes of the laboring men who find employ
ment in the numerous mills, foundries and
factories which are seen on every side.
Breakfast served in first class manner al
the Royal at six. Forty minutes later We
were crossing the noted Canlileyer bridge
over the St. John river, in a Maine Central
car on our way to Fredericton.
The st. John is indeed a grand old river
and we keep it in sight with its broad lake
like expanse dotted with sails, until Westfelt
is reached, where it bends away to the east
ward and is lost to view. Along the route
are level stretches of land long since stripped
of its valuable timber, then high bluffs OF
crumbling rocks, barren ridges and miles OF
bog, of no present value. We are happy
when the river again appears, with raft Of
logs and piles of manufactured lumber, it
busy mills AMI men. with Fredericton til,
capital of New Brunswick right near by.
JAY Err Bee.