Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-10-31

coal and iron section. ! left by a rail-
road much like the one from here up to
Setro. The single engine and car on this
road were an hour late. II this prompt
ness | was told my star t. fortune proved
itself. It is customary for this train to
spend much of the day stalled in the
forest while the engineer, conductor and
fireman chop fallen trees out of the
track. You will understand this when
you know that the roadway is cleared
but % feet on each side of the track and
that on either side towering trees, under
mined by fire, stand waiting only a slight
wind to roll them over. It's a wonder
full sight from the center of the track to
look either way through a forest aisle SO
sombre and silent and so grand. Don't
think | went to Hamilton on the rail-
road, for | didn't. The railroad stops
eight and a half miles from Hamilton. 1t
doesn't stop at a station. 1t simply
ends, as If it were tired and didn't care
to go farther. This point we reached
just at dusk, ONE eight or nine of US.
We learned by feeling around till our
hands came in contact with an animated
mud bank that there were some stage
drivers along the side of the track, thinly
scattered. | found one such pile and I
held onto a good nugget of clay, under
which was approximately the coat-tail of
a driver, until | was guided to a vehicle
with two horses tied to it. | got on. In
due time we started through the woods
for Hamilton. Our first mile was over a
skid road, built to haul logs out on
This was an easy introduction to the
highway which followed. A skid road
Is built, as you may know, with every
fifth or sixth log elevated from six inches
to a mile above its neighbors on either
side. On the principle that what goes
up must come down, you can picture the
comfort of such riding. After the skid
road came a succession of experiences
which were new to me, in a wagon. l fell
off a beam in a barn once and was viyid-
ly reminded of that accident every three
feet for seven and a half miles. We
didn't break down till almost through.
That quarter of a mile walk through u
rainstorm in bottomless mud was the
most delightful relief in my experience.
There were compensations, however, the
principal one being the ride through the
forest as it showed dimly in the light of
our lantern.
OF Hamilton itself not much need be
said. 1t lies in the mountains and will
be known to fame only as 4 coal and iron
town. | learned much of the resources
of this country in talks with hardy pio-
neers who are wrestling with the forest
and slowly wrestling from it a farm and
a home. This land-l speak of the
cleared bottom-will rent for $50 a year.
Well, | am back here and am still of
the opinion that this town is destined TO
be a large place. The history of prices
on land here is a strange one. | found
three lots 25X100 feet, which a little over
a year ago sold for $1,000, just resold for
$4,000. One young fellow has Just gone
East 800, 900 richer than he was a year
and a half ago. Prices are still low if
the place is going to grow. There is the
great question, and no one can tell. Men
on the inside have entire faith that it
will. They are trying to avoid a boom
and don't advertise. If this should be
made the terminus of the Great Northern
road or this coast-and the land hold
ings of the principal promoter are very
large and the harbor is splendid-the
future is assured. Il. b. STEWART.