Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-11-02
"kING OF SCHOODIC.o
John G. Moore, Steuben Boy, Who
Made His Fortune.
From the Washington Times


John G. Moore, of New York, was born
in Steuben, and has been celebrating that
event by buying up everything that he
admired when boy. He has built new
school house, and given an organ to the
church, in acknowledgment OF his obi
cations for what these two institutions
contributed toward his success in life,
and has bought a couple OF mountains
which he used to contemplate from the
doorstep of his fathers farmhouse as
ideals OF the majestic OF nature. He has
built Q beautiful macadam roadway to
can drive up there whenever he pleases
and renew his acquaintance with the
pine forest and the sky and the sea.
The natives look upon the transaction
as the queer freak OF a rich, man and they
call Mr.. Moore 1.-The king of Schoodic
Mountain. The summer boarders from
he city suspect him OF INDUCING in some
great land speculation} and are talking
OF the piles OF money ne is going to make
by cutting his 10000 acres OF pine forest
and rocks into villa sites.
When | asked Mr.. Moore his plan and
purpose, he said: 81 bought these noun
tains for number OF good reasons. Just
as other people buy pictures or pieces OF
china or diamonds or fancy horses. |
bought them because | used to admire
them when / was barefooted farmers
boy, and it is great pleasure to feel that
they are mine. They didn't cost as much
as many pictures and many horses, and
they can't be stolen or burned up or die.
This is the only place on the Atlantic
coast where the mountains come down to
the sea, and therefore l own something
that nobody else has or can have, and l
believe that enjoy the possession OF that
promontory as much rs MIR. Marquand
enjoys his pictures or Mr.. Bonner his
horses. There Is nothing ] admire more
than a mountain, especially when All
ocean goes with 1t.
AIN the second place." continued Mr..
Moore, ~ have had three years OF solid
enjoyment buying up tina. land. 1t was
mostly in small tracts, belonging to the
old families in this section, who seldom
sell anything, but love to trade. Pm
Yankee myself, and was brought up
among them thus, in buying this noun
tain, have sharpened my wits against
theirs, and it has been most interesting
and amusing experience. 1t has taken
my mind off my business cares and the
diversion has been worth all the money
have paid out.
'rhen it is good investment. l don't
expect to make any pecuniary profit out
of it, but he land will grow more valua bic
every day. 1t is the finest summer climate
in the world, and some time there will be
q large community on that island. You
know that the land on which Bar Harbor
now stands was once sold for 30 cents, and
now villa site costs $4,000.
Il built road o the top OF that noun
tain first for my own pleasure and
convenience, so that | could enjoy my
kingdom, and second, to stimulate local
enterprise. The result is already apparent.
The effect has been to inspire the author
tiles to improve the public roads all over
the section. / showed them how 1t could
be done with economy, and they at once
saw the advantages. AS an object lesson
In ROAD bullolng ii WIS worth Ill IL cost.
Furthermore, | never enjoyed anything
more i'll my life than the construction OF
that road. 1t is nine miles long, and |
enjoyed every foot OF it. Il YRS an en-
tirely new experience. 1t did me and my
family as much good as R trip TO Europe,
and didn't cost any more. Besides it
gave employment to a large number of
l., 10, -,