The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-09
MAINE RIVERS AND HARsoRs.
Fort Kent Not Likely to Become a
Seaport Soon.
st. John Lumbermen Fail to Play II
on Uncle Sam.
Major Smiths Reasons Why MatinI-
Gus Should Stay as IL Is.
Especial to the Press.l

engineer corps report on the several Maine
rivers and harbors is just in print. Major
| smith piles up the objections to improving
| Grand Rapids very high. He says that the
head of the rapids is given as 3St miles above
the mouth of the Fish river, where the little
village of Fort Kent is situated. The only
roads which have been made passable for
wagons do not extend more than 20 miles
above Fort Kent, though at the time of his
visit the roa commissioners of the county
were engaged in laying out an extension
along the st. johns river as far as the
mouth of the Allegash river, several miles
below the foot Of the rapids.
The actual settlers in this part of the
State are comparatively few, and it has only
been within year that the township at the
mouth Of the Allegash river has been or
ganized as a plantation. Nearly all the
lands in this portion Of the State are owned
by people who do net reside upon nor near
them. Above the mouth of the st. Francis
river the few settlers maintain communica-
tions almost entirely by canoes. At the
time of his visit the water was at its ex-
treme low stage, and, although few deep
places were found, the stream would hardly
average two feet in depth. The river above
| Fort Kent has a declivity too great for
| steamboat navigation unless improvements
were made the cost of which would far out
weigh any probable benefits. The Big Rap
| ids are approximately two miles in length,
and the water in its low stage would per-
haps average 200 feet in width. At high
stages the width given would probably be
doubled. From some very crude oDserva-
tions which he was able to make, he esti-
mated the surface decliyity of the water at
the rapids to be Ga feet. The channel is con-
fined by banks underlain by ledges, though
the ledge does not appear to form any OBJ
struction, save in single place of small ex-
tent BowIders, however, are very numer-
Gus, fairly filling the bed Of the river, and
varying in size from that Of paving stones
to others which would contain several cubic
yards. The numerous other rapids below
are quite similar, though Of less extent.
At Grand Falls, New Brunswick, apout 20
miles below FoIt Kent, the water OF the river,
after very great fall, dashes in foam through
narrow gorge like canon in the solid
ledge. Above Edmunston, New Brunswick,
which is the terminus Of branch OF the
| New Brunswick railroad, there is some small
navigation in flatboats. These boats vary In
| length from about GO to about so feet. and
| from to II feet in width, and they carry
| from to 10 tons each; they are towed up the
river by horses, using the rugged and rocky
| shores as towpaths.
So far as he could ascertain, the entire
| number of these boats on the part OF the
| river here mentioned does not exceed 20, and
the average value is probably less than $3.50
| each, making the total invested in tlatboats
not exceeding 5000. Only part OF these
| boats go above the Big Rapids of the ST.
| John, as they are employed on the Allie
| cash and elsewhere. Exact;statstics could
| not be obtained, but it is not likely that the
| annual average of trips to above the Big
Rapids will be as large as 90; this number OF
| trips, with an average OF u tons each, would
| make 375 tons per annum, which is probably
not too small. As before mentioned, the land
| belongs mainly to non-residents, and the sup
| plies which ale taken up over the rapids are
| almost exclusively for the use Of parties who
are cutting lumber in the winter season
Inquiry developed the fact that the great
powders in the Big Rapids cause the logs
| which are driven down the river to collect in
jams, and it is evidently to save expense IN
| the driving of logs that the improvement Is
largely if not mainly desired. In the run
ming of boats ana driving Of logs coHsdera-
BILE labor is employed, which might be dis
pensed with were the river less obstructed I;
thus effecting saving to the non-resident
lumber owners, but, says Major Smith: Il
would benefit the community or the general
public
The logs which pass down over the river
are manufactured into lumber in New Bruins.
wick. The Improvement of these rapids, If
undertaken, would ultimately cost sum
which could hardly be less than S25, 900, be-
ing at least 5000 per ton for the estimated
freight passing the rapids in ten years.
There are other features OF this subject
which might be mentioned but the part al
ready outlined seems sufficient to Justify the
opinion that the Big Rapids of the st. John
is not worthy of Improvement at the pubic
expense.
Major Smiths decision against making
Matinicus harbor an island Of refuge is also
spicy. Says he:
Inquiries were made on the following points,
1-Statistics of wrecks at or near Matnicus
2-The nature of the navigation TO receive
benefit from harbor of refuge and its probable
effect upon freghts, insurance, individual losses,
3-Any fishing interests which would be bene-
fitted by the construction Of harh0r OF refuge:
which ' have been able fo obtain IS list Of YES
sells which have been wrecked In the ylcmty Oh
Matinicus since 1840 The list gives the names
of two ships, on bark, two steamers, eleven Drlgs,
and thirty-sx schooners, besides thirty schooners
not named, all of which were either wrecked OF
driven ashore. OF these, one snip, one DaIk, Two
steamers, seven brigs, and twenty SIX schooheh
were a total loss.
The dates Of the wrecks could not be aseer-
most Of them were not recent.
In addition to these have made many personal
inquiries with the following results, s..,,,..
1.-The agent of the International Steamship
| Company informs me that those steamers would
hardly make refuge there in any event, because,
| in case of a storm which would compel them 10
seek port, they could with at least equal conve-
nience, find harbor upon the mainland where
they could communicate by telegraph ana mail,
| If they were disabled.
2-f have been informed by officers Of the Rev
| enue Marine Service and others that the yesseis
oi our coastng trade, which include e. nearly az az
that pass within sight OF Matinicus at the present
time, rather avoid the vicinity Il being consdevea
| more dangerous than the open sea, owning TO the
| rocky character of the shores and the bottom.
3-The harbor of Rockland, which IS good
refuge from storms, has its entrance but ~ miles
| north of the entrance to Matinicus Roads,
4-An examination OF the location and OF e tne
very complete Coast Survey charts indicates that
| the only place near the island suitable for har-
Dor Of refuge is in Matinicus Roads, between Ma
tnicus and Ragged islands. Inls anchorase ss,dS "
| as well as by the two smaller ones, Ten Pound
and Pudding islands. The harbor Is open 70
| storms from easterly directions and also from
| south to west TO afford any considerable addi-
ti0nal protection, 1t would be necessary 70 con-
struct breakwater at least 5000 teet long, on on
| the reef which extends from Ragged Island, on
the southwest side Of the roads; TO construct 7,
second of about 1900 feet in length, from the
point opposite on Matinicus island; a third, OF
| about 1900 feet in length, between len POUND
and Matinicus islands; and a fourth, about 3oO
| feet long from Pudding Island to Ragged Island.
| The expense OF these works would be very great.
| Coasting vessels would hardly attempt to put
into such place except in time OF absolute peril,
| and in most cases it may be doubted whether any
advantage would be obtained by anchoring to lee
ward of one OF the islands or running for harbors
on the mainland.
| would be benefited by such a port, but the outlay
| IL is nv opinion that the rates Of the marine
freghts or insurance wonld in no wise be lessen
ed by a harbor of refuge, at Matincus, and that
| the General commerce of the country would not
| be benefited to any considerable extent
From the points given 20 hot consider tne ne
| refuge. VAN.
| New Hampshire Day.