Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-12-19

| all around. 1t is claimed that logs thus
treated may be hauled the following
winter, and foated the following season
as freely and safely as spruce or pine.
/ The extra precaution of painting the ends
of the logs with some cheap and durable
paint will much facilitate the keeping OF
the water out of the pores of the log Tor
! by far the greatest amount of water j.
absorbed in the ends.
In order to demonstrate the facility
with W hich hardwood could be brought
here in this manner, one OF our lumber
concerns purchased titty-three (53) good
sized hardwood logs thus treated, with
the exception that the butts and tops
were not painted. These logs were put
in during the winter and came down
with the first drives. Forty-nine OF the
I logs were properly turned and stored for
saving during the season, and during the
following spring the remaining four logs
came down and were secured. This
single experiment without the loss of a
single log must GO far towards demon
strating the feasibility OF easily and
surely bringing hardwood down our
river.
am told by we'll informed mill owners
that Union river can never become
elogged and crowded with soft wood in
the future as it has been in the past
The curtaiment of the cut, with the
smaller size OF the logs now driven and
the Wondering sawmills now to be seen
in our city, are ample ocular evidence of
the fact that the day of big drives and
crowded river are past. Hence it follows
that with reasonable certainty ali logs OF
whatever kind that can be driven into
the main river, will reach our mills all
right during each season.
1t is claimed by many that hardwood,
peeled as above. can even be driven with
greater ease thsn soft wood, on account OF
the smooth and slippery surface OF the
log. And it is further well known that
when the hardwood logs arrive at the
mill they can be easily stored and allowed
to sink if they will, until wanted, free
from all danger OF injury by worms or
the sun for any number OF years. Now
ANOTHER SUGGESTION.
Now W lille the above met hod seems to be
the most practica BILE, there are other means
whereby our hardwood could be brought
here for manufacture. One is by using
our river above the upper dam, which is
navigable for light draught steamers and
scows for nearly twenty miles, as water
way and by means Of such boats tow the
hardwood the above distance. The diff
culties OF such a method are, however,
too apparent to permit OF its serious con-
sheraton. The necessity OF charter for
that purpose, wit b the great expense de-
volving upon our soft wood operators OF
booming the river in the middle to give
right OF way, would seem to at once
antagonize the business interests OF our
city, and be a hindrance to its prosperity.
There is plan, however, that with your
kind permission and forbearance l Will
briefly outline for your consideration.
Let us first glance in our minds eye to
the topography of the region that lies to
the north OF US. Here we q valley
through which flows our beautiful Union
river. On each side rise the hills and
mountains that make the watershed be-
tween our river and the Penobscot on the
west and the Narraguagus on the east.
This valley is someW hat triangular IN
shape, being fifty or more miles in length
and from twenty to thirty miles in widt h,
gradually converging to the point where
this city is located, and where the water
gathered from each rivulet and brook
combines to form the body of Union
river which here for the last mile or more
of its course, bounds and jumps over
dam and rock to join the placid waters OF
mother ocean.
As the natural outlet for the waters
above us at this point, SO should 1t also
be the proper centre or distributing point
for the whole region to the north and
east Of us. But what are the facts? At
the present time it is estimated that full
80 per cent. OF all the trade OF this up
river region goes east or west, mostly to
the west, and our neighborinE city OF
Bangor reaps the benefit.
You may ask, what has this to do with
the question? Just this, that could some
economical and safe means of conveyance
be esta blished between this city and the
immense zion to the north of us, where
by quicker communication could be he'd
between this point and the up-river terri
tory, we would be able to secure all of
this trade and be favored with the results
of he increasing business. Such a means
of communication would result in inn
mense benefit to our beautiful city.
And further, such a means could be
utilized in the rapid conveyance of our
hard wood almost from the stump mills.
Above US are many fine water powers,
such as the outlet OF Green Lake, Beech
Hill, Floods, Webb', and Great Ponds and
many others almost too numerous to
! mention, where power il now simply
running to waste sufficient 10 drive many
/ mills or other industrial e-ta lishments;
and could any reasonably cheap line of
communication, except our wretched