Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-17

further south the same limestone, or
Of the same age, becomes marble, or
crystslized lime which underiies town
ships No. and in range q This deposit
Ia rendered Of comparatively small value
for the common purposes of marble work
as il Is rfted or scanned, but it Is particular
iy valuable for building purposes. As
the seams are perpendicular and the rock
stancs in high bluffs it can be easily quar-
ried. and is the only available stone for
bridge work in this section. From Island
Falls to Linneus is granite region, the
formation being particularly noticeable in
the town of Oakfeld. With less expensive
means of transportation this granite would
he exceedingly valuable for building pur-
poses In the lime soils Of lower Aroos-
took are many deposits of mari, or bog
hme. Caribou Lake, near Island Falls,
shich is fed wholly by hard water springs
il filed nearly to the surface with deposit
of bog lime. From the region of Fort Ken,
westward and southwest the formation is
clay slate and in the town of st. Francis
quarres of good roofing slate can be open
ed very ehesply.
In the first three tiers of towns, west from
the east line of the State, the soil is mainly
composed Of the disinte grating limestone,
mixed with a rich vegetable deposit, which
makes most fertile soil for agricultural
purposes. The porous limestone beneath
furnishes also an almost perfect natural
drainage hich adds much to the value of
this land
In the southea 1t part of Wade Plantation.
township No IS, range 4, iss valuable de-
post of iron ore Of the variety known as
red hemetite, or, as Prof. Hitchcock denom-
mates il. limonite. This deposit was first
described by Dr. Jackson in 1887, and his
analysis OF it showed it TO contain more
| than fifty per cent of pure iron. Mr.. Keep
hss also studied this deposit quite thorough
is. and agrees with DR.. Jackson and Prof.
Hitchcock in the opinion that it is a bed of
great value. The quality of iron there
found Is peculiarly adapted to the construc-
ton of plating for vessels of war, and may
be- Of considerable industrial value to the
county when the railroad reaches it. Cop
per ore is thought by scientific observers to
exist in the wilderness region of
the upper st. John, as copper
oros of wonderful extent and rich
Il, "a are found in Canada in the same geo
logical formation. Metamorphic and
siicions slate. said 10 be excellent material
for grinistones, is found in gre at abundance
at Portage Lake. and fine roofing slate is
found not only in St Francis. but most
pentifuily on the west branch of the Malta
wamkeag near Island Falls.
The character of the forest growth of
Aroostook differs according to locality.
! ne starting ~ the point where the western
boundary OF the county strikes the north
west branch of the st. John and continued
IN a northeasterly direction across the
II
may be said TO mark the southern limit of
the distinctively coniferous or soft
wood" growing section of the
county North of this line the growth
is principally the pine, spruce, fir and kin
bred trees, though occasional hard wood
tracts of small extent are found. To the
southwark of this line broad stretches of
b rd wood growth appear, this being mixed
with soft wood in the lower ly ing localities
Here the original growth upon the ridges is
principally maple and birch, with an occa-
sioual beech, aud even on these hard wood
ridges big cedar is sometimes found grow
ing side By side with towering rock maple
In the lower lands, or mixed growth, are
hemlock, spruce, fir and cedar, with elm,
hornbeam and black or brown ash; the
birch aud maple being also mixed through
tAAN kibNtu tuls Aibh VI idbhs thoukh
harder TO clear than the hard wood ridges,
is much the stronger and will stand more
chopping besides being the very best land
for grass. The soil in this low, mixed
growth is deep and black, not generally
muck, bu, deep, rich turf. or vegetable
mold which is easy of cultivation and pro-
duces abundsutiy. On the higher ridges
the soil is of a lighter character, but is bet
~ Ia FOL tn ,vho nulfrya than fh, h1ark
soils We have heretofore spoken of the
immense timber supply of Aroostook and
its known and conjecsured mineral wealth.
Great as these may be, yet the real wealth
of Aroostook consists in its grand agricul-
tural resources and its exceptionally fertile
soil which renders it capable of be-
ing land of comfortable homes
We doubt if the discovery of rich gold
mines in its midst would be a permanent
benefit to the county, but are assured that
any. measures that will assist in developing
its agricultural resources. in introducing
manufactures to its villages and upon its
numerous streams in providing cheaper
and more direct means of transportation
for its products TO the marts of the world
will be of great and lasting advantage not
only to Aroostook. but also to the good
State Of which it forms so large part.
The agriculture of Aroostook may be
said al present TO be passing through its
transition state. In former days, during
the pioneer period of the county. there Was
very little method in its agriculture either
in the southern portion or in the valley Of
the Aroostook. Remote as it was from
the big world aud with imperfect means of
communication with outside markets, the |
farmers of the county were obliged to be |
in large measure dependent on their own |
resources for most of the necessaries of
life Their chief market was found 10 the |
lumber woods and their main crops we're |
oats and bay for consumption in the win |
ter's operations. many of the farmers |
were themselves lumbermen on a small |
scale. working their farms during the farm |
ing season and in the winter either con-
Quoting small operation hauling lumber
"by the thousand" or hiring out by the |
month with their teams to work for some
larger operator. Some beef was also
raised for the woods, but in the early DAYS
stock raising wss but an incidental branch
Wheat early failed as profitable crop and |
Indian wheat. or buekwheat vas the staple |
grain raised for bread. Some barley wa
raised aud used for bread and oatmeal was
also made in small quantities. Potatoes
enough for the home supply were produced
and those who lived near the villages r. sed
a small surplus TO be sold ct the stores
The chief Part of the farmers trading at
that time. aud in fsct until quite recently.
was done on the credit system, each man
running bill'' all summer at the store
AID payiIF. If he could. from his crop in
the fall Each farmer kept Q small dock
Of sheep and from the wool most of the
clothing for the family vas manufactured
at home. Many raised small patches Of