Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-24

[cousi.sed do. "a pass ]

BLACK dvef % We C401u1n D0fuet anu
continues on to ths St. Lawrence, the dis
lance from Seven Islands % L Islst being
about forty uiles. Should Ne continue our
journey up the ST. John re should and that
We have isfs behind ~ the last settlement
ia Arocs.ook county in this direction and
must conclude that st last ve are ain the
woods" We may yet push an for more
than twenty miles BY the river before re
reach the confines OF Ayoostcok. for our
course Is nov . sou.her,y one. and when We
cross the county linz We hnd ourselves in
the northern part Of Somerset county. A
few miles farther on re come 70 the
forks" where the two branches Of the river
unite and II we continue on up the south
branch we shall again ind the St. John the
boundary between Maine and the Dominion
Of Canada but nov upon the western instead
of the northeastern border of the State.
From where il first touches the horde: Of
Maine away over On she western edge Of
Somerset county TO where il leaves IL Ut the
south line Of Hxmlin plantation this mag
nifcent river in all the windings Of its tortu-
Gus course runs fully
TIVE Hundred and Fifty Ailes
along the boundary aud through the territory
VI kuS sk1sC VA IsAA4aG 6Ao &uA - Acoek keo
hundred miles it is essentially . river Of
Aroostook. As We have reached ut Seven
Islands the Ultima TAuie of Aroossook set
Elements upon the ST. John we will return
and make our way up the Aliegssh and see
what we can find there in the way of cult
waited improvements. The Allegash for
some distance above it, mouth, is . rapid,
noisy, strong flowing river during the opea
season, but We have travelled alone on its
CLASSY surface in winter. when the bright
sun of quiet Sabbath morning was just
tinting the tree tops on its rugged banks
and wien hardly sound Was heard to break
the stiffness of Natures grand solitude.
At such times we were always reminded of
Cooper's matches tales and we think it
must have been from just such scenes a.
can here be found thst he derived much of
his grand inspiration.
Twelve miles above the mouth we come
to the falls, where the river dsshes and
tumbles over rocky precipice and sends
great islands of foam foating adown the
swift current below. On the face of the
rock visitors have cut their autographs, one
bearing date ~ early as 1888. Above the
falls number Of settlers have made clear
ings and have comfortable homes. Joseph
Gilbert. Thomas Moore. Thomas Larry and
George McKinnon have here made openings
in the forest and established their homes
far from any road except in winter. Away
to one side of the beaten track these fami-
lies lead a quiet, peaceful life, while the
busy. noiey world with its weary strife and
endless contests moves on all unheeded and
uncared for. Three miles above the falls
we come to the farm of Mr.. Finley Nc
Lellan who settled here many years ago
and has now good farm and comfortable
buildings. 1t is hospitable home and the
traveller on reaching here 10 always sure Of
a kindly welcome. Being the last house
for many miles it is q landmark in this
section and distances are reckoned as SO
many miles from "Finley's," Is from a
point of departure. We have passed the
mouths of numerous small streams and
twelve miles above the falls we come to the
mouth of the Musquscook, river of con-
siderable volume flowing northwayd into
the Allegash from long lake which extends
away down into Piscataquis county. Large
lumber operations are carried on upon this
stream and many logs are driven from it
every spring. Mr.. s. Walter Stevens has
cut about seven millions upon Musq uscook
each year for number of years and will
this winter cut about the same quantity.
Mr.. w. II. Cunliffe's operation this winter
will be upon the Allegssh on township IA
and Is, X. ii and IL, ID, IA and 10 Il. IL.
Both these operators have . large number
Of men and horses already in the woods
and with favorable winter will have large
drives.
The Round Pond Section.
A few miles above the mouth of Mu1qus-
cook We reach Round ponds small
lake whose waters sometimes remain
frozen long after the river above
and below has broken up and thus
impedes the driving Of the logs cut
farther up the river. Above Round
pond the river makes many windings and
there is hardly break in the forest until
Depot Farm Is reached at the foot of Long
lake. This farm was cleared up in the
days If the great pine timber operations and
was at that time place Of considerable I'M
por,ance. 1t is not cultivated as much as
formerly but is still occupied and should the
traveller for business or pleasure arrive
here hungry and weary he will be well
cared for by mine host Harvey the present
occupant. Above here is q succession of
lakes, the big reservoirs that feed the Ale
cash and help swell the volume of the
noble St. John.
The Allegash is fine river for trout, and
= weary worker who wishes for q weeks
outing cannot do better than to come here
for his sport. A week on the Allegash in
the early part of August, after
the murderous flies have disappeared,
is worth month at Bar Harbor. or any OF
the fashionable seaside resorts, to build up
q tired man and give him strength and
courage for future labor. From Depot
Farm the old portage road runs through the
woods to Seven Islands, distance of
twelve miles. This road is passable By
teams only in winter, but the tramp through
the woods in summer is not hard one and
one who wished could work his way
leisurely up the Allegash, fishing and
camping as he pleased, then, taking
whole day for it If he chose, walk across
to the ST. John ard taking a boat there
float leisurely down that river and be sure
of finding plenty Of good fishing.
The Up-River Country.
We have now pretty thoroughly des-
cribed every portion of this 'up-
river" country with the exception of the
Kent to Ashland. These should by no
uSait DC VI oufitbru auu db y Z uhNc
been boating so long we will now take
team at Fort Kent and travelling south by
the Fish river mills ride through thickly
settled county and coon come TO the town
of Wallagrss. This is billy town and the
original buil1ers of the road took care to
climb as many Of the bills as possible. 1t
is good farming town however and there
are many good comfortable farm buildings.
Two miles from the town liue we cross the
Wallagrss stream which flows in an easterly
direction AMI emp,ies into Fish river
short distance below the road. Near here
is the farm of Mr.. Theophile La Bonte, one
of the best farmers in the town. Farther
On we come to the farms of Zebulon Mich
aud and Thomas Michaud, prominent
citizens Of the town and Mr.. John
Freeman on the opposite side Of the road
A mile beyond are the farms of Richard
Labi and Francis Labi old and we'll known
residents with others of the same family