The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-06
SPRING SAIL DOWN THE AARsoR.
A Press Reporter Sees Many New
Summer Cottages.
Opinion in Regard to the Scheme of
the Chicago and Grand Trunk.

Opinion in Regard to the Scheme of
the Chicago and Grand Trunk.
1.-THE outlook for the summer hotel bust
ness here never looked BETTER" said Prepri-
etor Gibson of the Preble House yesterday
afternoon to man on Custom House wharf
who asked him what the prospect was, but
] can't tell how it will pan out" A number
of gentlemen were standing near waiting Tor
the 2.15 p. m. island boat, and the PRESS
reporter CHANGED to be there too, and over
heard the following bit of conversation
which seems to be about as near the truth as
such statements usually are; Il tell you
this new palace. vestibuled train that the
Chicago and Grand Trunk road is going to
run to this city next summer will be the best
thing for Portland that has happened since
the Grand Trunk road was extended to this
city," said gentleman to his friend. And
the way they have advertised Portland har-
Dor as a summer resort is worth, in my
opinion, hundreds of dollars to the town. 1t
is vast stride that is likely to be followed
by others, in the right direction. 1t is a
wonder to me that the islands of Casco bay
did not become the great summer resort of
the Atlantic coast years ago. People don't
realize, tell you, the Importance or the
good that is likely to result from this scheme
of the Chicago and Grand Trunk Railroad
Company. See what the Maine Central has
done for Bar Harbor. In connection with
this movement Of the Grand Trunk let
few big men build cottages on some of the
beautiful islands in the harbor and that will
settle IT, Portland harbor will be the most
popular summer resort on the coast in
year or two. The Hon. James G. Blaine, a
few others, and the Maine Central railroad
made Bar Harbor what it is; few such
men and the Grand Trunk can set the tide
of summer travel down our bay. Some
more hotels, first class ones, and little ad-
vertising If done properly will be sufficient
to assure great future for this place. Next
to the scheme OF the Chicago and Grand
Trunk, which / hope will succeed in the
fullest extent, the coming of the members of
the Art Institute of Chicago will benefit
Portland. Their coming will bring the
islands of Casco bay to the public attention
as they never have been brought before"
What the man said appeared reasonable.
As Capt. Oliver said all aboard for the last
time, the PRESS reporter jumped on the
steamer and weEt down the harbor. There
were quite lot of passengers on board, a
number going down to look for sites for cot
tages and others actually on their way to
get in readiness their summer houses for
the coming season. Then the boat carried
an unusual amount of freight-trunks, build
inc material f0o1c on ind
OF big season at the islands. 1t was warm
for this season of the year. and the sail was
really enjoyable. In couple of hours the
PRESS man heard of and saw many new
cottages in process of construction on the
different islands by which the steamer
passed. He learned also that Mr.. Howard
knowlt0n, the manager of Greenwood Gar
den, Peaks Island, who has done so much
in the way of advertising the islands, and
who has made Peaks Island additionally
attractive by locating Greenwood Garden
there is this year to run line of steamboats,.
Yesterday forenoon Mr.. Knowlton met Mr..
Gibson Of the Preble House and Mr.. Cush-
ing and contract was closed whereby Mr..
kn0wlt0n is to have the sole privilege of
transporting all passengers to and from the
city and Cushing's Island and Cape Cottage.
This will be great thing for Mr.. KnowltOn
IN connection with carrying passengers to
Greenwood Garden. His boats will connect
ger trains from Chicago. and leave for the
islands Immediately after the arrival of
these trains. This is good news, and the
public will be glad to hear it,
Yesterday afternoon the Ottawa Hotel
Company held a meeting in Mr.. Putnam's
of11ce and talked over matters concerning the
hotel. The contract for the electric lighting
Will soon be made; $1,000 has been appro-
priated for improvements on the hotel, and
the question of putting in an elevator and
telephone remains to be settled. The tele-
phone will be expensive because a cable
about mile long will have to be laid under
water between the island and the Cape
shore.
Besides all these improvements there will
be new and novel attractions at the island
the coming season. Among others will be
Livery OF dozen or more Welcb ponies.
Ihese little animals are the property Of
Brown and Hilton of North Arson and
with saddles and carts will be taken to the
island the last of next month. A $4,000
cottage will be built on the island during
the SKINNER by Montreal gentleman, and
built this spring. The bathing house will be
enlarged about one-haif, and the ruad that
extends now pant way around the island will
be extended way round, thus making a de-
Mr.. Gibson shipped two horses to the island
by the afternoon boat, and they will be
used to haul building material from the
wharf.
The building outlook at the islands is
good. Mr.. ii. Fl. Kicker has about completed
his cottage at the south end of Peaks Island,
and intends to move there If possible next
week. Mr.. Fred w. Shaw has built cot
tage not far from Mr.. Ricker's and so has
Mr.. B. M. Edwards. Mrs. Almira Shaw is
building house on Central avenue, and Mr..
d. I. Aver has just completed his cottage at
Trefethen's landing. The Golden Cross
Hall, near the new schcolhouse is ready to
be plastered The building is 40x5O feet.
nv fwrVA AanA -,
and the hall is in the second story. Mr.. j.
d. DOW has been making improvements in
his cottage. Some eight or ten cottages
have been built during the winter on Peaks
Island and more will be built
AT Long Island Mr.. Ponce is pushing
things. He has some ten carpenters at work
getting the frame ready for his new hotel
which be proposes to have completed and
ready Tor occupancy by the middle of June.
The hotel will be 10Ox40 feet and three
stories high. 1t is intended to accommodate
$50 people, and will have fine DINING hall
4Ox9O feet. This hall will be used for private
dining parties, and the Rock Mineral spring
Gale will be used as dining hall in which
toserve clam bakes to large parties. The
water OF the rock mineral spring will be
forced all over the new hotel either by steam
power or by windmill. Mr.. Ponce intends
to make his part of Long Island one of the
most attractive places in the harbor. Count
ing those already under way some ten or
dozen cottages will be built on Long Island
this year.
The Portland Company is building big
iron water tank that will hold about 10000
gallons of water for the Great Diamond
Island Water Company. The tank will be
completed In about two weeks. Water will
be pumped into the tank by wind ills and
drawn out by system of pipes as d, red by
the cottagers. Four cottages have been built
on Diamond Island during the pas winter.
The great bulk of the building at the islands
last year was done later in the spring than
April and if the same is to be true this year
the prospect is surely exceedingly favorable
for an unusually large amount of building.
before fall
Elegant dress snits at McNailps