Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-05
TO CHICAGO.
Beauties Of the Trip Seen by
the Journal Man.
Picturesque Scenes in Maine, New
Hampshire and Canada.


nsatrsai and Iersate--Iwe Pleasant Visit
-Wsatsriui Farming Sections.
CRIcAGo, June ~ Especial. Visitors to
| the Columbian Exposition will not be likely
| to be left in ignorance of the attractions "a
travellers claimed by the various railroads
running to or in the direction of,the Windy
City, Every route will, doubtless, possess
It's peculiar advantages, and whatever one
is taken will probably I'LL all the conven-
| tional requirements of good railway ser
vice. and contribute something. rs well Ia
the travellers pleasure, in the WAY of beauti-
full scenery.
The writer found his WAY to Chicago
| over the Grand Trunk Railway, and
the trip was in all respects a
most enjoyable one for him. This
road is splendidly equipped in trsiu service.
and the scenery which ii affords its passen-
gers is grand and varied. There are very
few waits, and these at points where the in
terest of the traveller finds much to engage
itself with close connection is made
with the Maine Central Railroad few miles
east of Portland At Yarmouth junction, and
the morning express is soon bearing its
living freight through one of the most
beautiful sections of the Pine Tree State
Certainly Old Oxford could never have
presented fairer face than il did in the
warm sunshine of the day. The beau
tiful farms along the rosd-many of them
largely composed of interval land-were the
scenes of busy activity. Their thrifty owners
were hard at work making the most of the
first good opportunity that had presented it.
self for getting their crops into the grouul
The rugged scenery of the county, its green
fields, its wooded hills and mountains, its
beautiful lakes and streams could scarcely
have appeared to greater advantage. Its
thrifty and picturesque villages were a CON
stant delight, South Paris, Bryant's Pond,
Locke's Mills, Bethel. with its encirciing
mountain ranges-all convinced us that the
traveller would not have to leave the limits
of Maine TO find communities as beautiful,
in the rugged charms of their natural en-
vironment, as any that can be found in the
wide world. Rocks are everywhere, but
the bright green Of the hillsidcs bears
testimony to the fact that they
contribute to, rather than letract from the
fertility Of the soil. The birch tree seems
indigenous here, and grows everyw here in
rank prOfusion. They afford excellent raw
material for the spool factories and thou
sands of cords of them are annually cut for
this purpose.
1t il really surprising how much of charm
and interest the close observer may see from
the car windows of one of these Grand
Trunk trains. But Maine does not by any
means possess all the natural charms along
the route, although her proportion is Ger
tainy very creditable. New Hampshire
comes next and makes good her claim to be
the Switzerland of America Her contr-
button to the pleasures of the trip is note
worthy one, comprising, among many other
things, a magnificent view of the White
mountain range-espccially the towering
white capped peaks of Adams and Wash
ington. There are also many beautiful and
picturesque towns and villages, notable
among which is Berlin Falls. II has been
predicted that this place, with its magnif-
cent water power, is destined to become the
leading and most prosperous city of North
ern New Hampshire. Indeed its industrial
possibilities appear to be second only to
those, the recent appreciation of which has
invested our own Rumford Falls with such
peculiar interest.
Berlin Falls is certainly coming" The
great number of buildings of recent con-
struction show this beyond doubt. just
now, together with its freshness and rugged
natural beauty it presents that ganntncss
and general irregularity so often character
istic of towns that have been blessed l'h
rapid growth. A lady of the party apfly
described 1t when she remarked that it
looked like "a new home in the midst of
house cleaning.
Railroad construction through these rocky
New Hampshire hills must have been be-
-et with peculiar difficulties, judging from
the many deep cuts and heavy fclls along
the way. Expensive as they must have
been at the start they now add by til, ir
beauty very materially to the pleasures of
= journey through these scenes. Al places
the road winds along the base of rocky p-ei
pices. up whose dizzy heights We look to
| wonder what legends tradition has invested
them with and how many of them are named
Lovers Leap"
One of them was certainly an exception
for We learned that its name vas
Devils Slide" This. however. seemed n
misnomcr. Judging from its precipitou.
abrnptness "Devi's Tumble would have
been far more appropriate. One of the
most pleasing views afforded by the New
| Hampshire section of the route are tho
| Stratfori Peaks One of these comes into
| view first, a perfect cone rising like sen
tinel from the green lowlands at its ba.c
| Foot hills soon shut it from view. Tn,
road thus screened, winds for severa
miles ;.long its base. Later, wh"r
the train emerges from behind thrs.
natural barriers, both peaks come ,uddeul,
into view, as if by magic. The scene i
certainly beautiful and inspiring. AMI vii
not soon be forgotten by those who witness
it,
| A stop of twenty-five minutes is made a
Island Pond while the custom house officer
examine the baggage. With passeng r
who are merely passing through the Domin
ion this examination is largely perfume ory
Where are you goiug?" was the qH,r,
put to the writer by the courteous official
| ITO Chicago
"Of what does your baggage here con
sist?"
"CloihiDg and toilet articles"
That is all right" and, with = smile an
| q bow. he passed on to other duties.
| Ccrberus hal been met ani was far fr'r
| btibS az be HboEtHANipb Nt
pictured him.
We bid goodbv for time, To Uucl
| Sans domain and continue our journey %
[ Canadian soil Nature has scarcely b,el
less kind here than she has been across III
horder. The scenery il varied. beanii
full, butt it patriotism faet?-a chang
soon becomes apparent The soil Is ric
and black. The farms sppear 80 be wci
anil good fences Indicate thrift
| Industry. 1t seems to us, however
that the homes Of these people are general
inferior 10 those of their American neigh
bors. We see less schnoihouses and fewc
church spires than We did before we crosse
the linz. For a number of miles on
course lies along the banks Of the beautiful
ST. Francis river and VIC marvel at th
beauty ami richness Of the fae in,ervs
farms that fringe its shores. Here are &c.
fairlg the elements Of great material pro.
psriry. To considerable extent they ar
utilized. bot re cannot help feeling tiia
were this rich territory nnfPr the Stars an
stripe. the better homes Of it, people woul
-oon bear testimony to their Increased pro,
perity. To vi hat extent the etils Of an M
restricted Iiquos traffic contribute to prrsei
J rorriiuoDs, It would be difficult to esiimaf,
but there is no chance to doubt, but wh;
they 10 vast amour, Of harm, and col
II 4