Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-28
AROOSTOOK.
10 IltsRsstise AFties By Hsl. Edward
viGstl.
4 concfss snd Interesting History Of
the Garden County.

Although much hss teen written about
the county Of Af>ostook. three organized
editorial excursions having ~ different times
Visited the county and sisen 10 their read
err their descriptions snd impressions Of
stis most Interesting and valuable portion
Of cur State. yet to = large portion Of the
citizens Of our own STATE it Is ssll! a terra
sncogntfa ssd the IDEAS Of many concerning
10 are gate crude and often smastngiy in
correct. IL 10 thought by macy to be a
ssmi-uctic region away up 10 the frozen
north. With it, year divided, a. some wag
has expressed IL. into two seasons, ''nins
months Winter sod three moo,ts DID late
in the faii.n Another has srerred that Iii
soabi be q grand country TO live in, If IL
sasn's for the two or three months of bare
ground" Again. many suppose il 70 be .
Wilderness country, where the settlers. 10
Gated In log houses az vide distances apart
can Just see the smoke Of esch others
cabins s,er the intervening tree tops Of
the primeysl forests Il is supposed
to be common practice for the
settler to cit on his door step and
smase himself by shooting bear and other
via game. while any approach to the re-
nDemert Of good society, a. seen IN the
older portions Of the State, Is thought to be
out Of the question. This Is by no means an
exaggerated representation Of the IDEAS and
conceptions of many concerning Aroostook.
Visitors coming TO the settled portion Of
the county, almost invariably erclaim
Why, didn't expect 10 tsd sGcb al open
well cultivated country. supposed it
was nearly all woods up here" Not only
the ''iay Of the land" but also the "naks
Of the people. has been yery Little known 20
the majo'ity Of the outside world. The eur.
rent conception Is of 70 igh- u scoutb, IN
cul waited class Of backwoods settlers, with
little culture and refinement, isolated from
the great rofld, and knowing, or caring lit
tie about its concerns Speakers who have
sometimes come here with the idea of as
tom -hng the natives with their eru1ition,
and others who have thought that anything
was good enough to FIRE of away up
there" have been greatly surprised by the
critical character Of their audiences, and by
the discovery that any loose or Incorrect
statement was pretty sure to be picked up
by some one on the hoor. 1t is for the pur-
pose Of correcting these mistaken ideas and
impressions and giving to the many readers
Of the Journal true and thorough descrip-
ton Of every portion of tn $ fertile region
20 call attention to its grand resources, ai
yet bat partially developed, and to make
known its advantages and the inducements
it offers to those seeking for comfortable
homes, that this series Of letters is under
taken. In writing up Aroostook we shall
not adopt the style and methods of the
western "boomer" whose statements have
TO be taken with a most liberal discount,
and who, seeking for exceptionally favora-
bic facts, represents them AS the average OF
common occurrence and thus greatly mis-
leads those who place confidence in hi.
ststeinents. We shall eadeavor to write a
plain unysrnisbed tale" giving actual
facts and accurate descriptions of every
section of this garden county" and, if per
mltted to finish the work marked put, we
hope to make the series of communications
library of useful knos ledge" concerning
Aroostook County.