The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-08-10
The Maine Press Excursion.


plotted out some of the scenery on the
St. Croix river the weather was all that
could be desired The chairman of the
excursion committee, Chester w. Robbins
conducted the party, and that is equiva-
lent to saying that everything possible
was done for their comfort and conven-
fence. When the Association visited
Machias in 1890, E. H. Elvell of the Port
land Transcript, who was one of the
party that year, and who died at Bar
Harbor on his way home, said in the last
article he wrote for his paper: "There
was choice of routes. You might go
overland by rail as far as it extended
and trust to horse power for the rest, or
you might take the boat and enjoy-pro-
vided you are not seasick-a sea voyage
along the coast of many harbored Maine. :"
Mr.. Elwell was one of those who made
the trip by land, driving from the Frank
lin road station on the Bar Harbor branch
of the Maine Central, via Cherryield, to
Machias Another of the party was H.
K Morrell Of Gardiner, who said in his ac-
count of the trip: "However one goes to
Machias he will wish he had taken some
other route....I have visited it every 40
years, and I shall not 60 again until the
railroad is built
At that time, to an outsider at least,
there seemed no probability of the imme-
date building of the Washington county
railroad: out it is now a reality, and to
ride over this new road was the main OBJ
| ject of the excursion. The road and vari-
Gus matters in connection with the places
visited will furnish material fo1 future
articles, and we will give now merely a
running account of the trip.
The Belfast contingent left on the Z
a. m. train July 31st, and went to Water
vile in order to connect with the Bar
Harbor express leaving that station at
/ so p. III. This gave several hours in
which to explore Waterville and call on
friends, The Belfast party Were soon re-
| inforced by members of the Association
4 from Augusta. Gardiner and Hallowell,
and all took dinner at the EImwood.
! Others joined the party at Pittstield and
/ Newport, and at Bangor we met c. W.
| Robbins of the excursion committee and
many others. Here we were given a spec
ial car for the ride through to Machias,
where we arrived, on time, at 6.55.
Teams We're in waiting and the party was
assigned to Glare and the Eastern Hotel,
a few going to private houses. The next
morning was devoted to sight seeing. and
Machias has reason to be proud of her
public buildings, the court house, the jail
and the new library, the gift of a native
and former resident of the town, Henry
| H. Porter of Chicago. In the afternoon
the party were given a drive through
Marshtield and via Hadleys Lake to East
! Machias. In the evening there was re-
/ ception in the new Universalist church,
with an address of welcome by John
| Lynch, Esq, to which NJ. n Rich of the
/ l VI liplu IDOdld VI 1IdQt UOuI Qd1 IT
! sponded. Delightful music was furnished
| by McCabe' S orchestra, and ice cream and
other refreshments We're served. 1t was
very enjoyable affair.
Wednesday morning we boarded the
train for Calais and soon left hospitable
! dachias behind, but the courtesies ex-
tended there will long linger in our men,
cries. Calais was reached at H. - A. NJ,
and at the station members of the city
government, a special committee OF the
St. Croix Club and prominent citizens
were in waiting. The party was divided
| between the St. Croix Exchange, Clarence
Chapman, son Of Landard Chapman of
the Bangor House, proprietor, and the
Border City Hotel. In the afternoon
there was a trolley ride to St. Stephen
and Midtown, in which the visitors saw
the residence sections of these places and
of Calais, together with charming views of
the St Croix River. The ride was in
| special cars rendered through the courtesy
of Hon. George A. Curran. The rooms
of St. Croix Club were open to the visit
ors during the day and in the evening a
reception was held there. The mem ers
of the association and their ladies were re-
ceived by committees comprising, Mrs. B.
B. Murray, Mrs. Frank p Woods and
Misses Nelson; Frank Nelson, President of
| the St. Croix Club, DR.. c. f. Swan and ".
c. Renne. Ice cream, cake, fruit punch
and cigars were served, and the visitors
were made to feel at home.
Next morning the party embarked on
the steamer Rose Standsh for St. An
drews. The fog made itself felt. but did
not obscure the view until after the land
ing at Robbinston, when for time it was
necessary to sound the fog whistle.
Enough was seen, however, to assure the
excursionists what a delightful sail this
must be on sunshiney day. It st. An
drews teams were in waiting to carry the
party to the Algonquin Hotel, which
stands on high ground a mile or more
from the landing. There are tine views
in every direction from its spacious We