The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-08-17

And laStlY we wish to express our
appreciation of the Efforts of the ex-
cursion committee. who have forseen all
all difficulties ami smoothcd all the
rough places so admirably.
HOWARD OWEN,
CHARLES F. FLINT
GEORGE w NORTON,
Committee on Resolutions.
TO this the following was added later:
In view of The fact that thirteen of our
members passed safely through the
terrible ordeal at Mt. Desert Ferry on
the morning of August G. 1899, it seems
but right that the ASSOCIATION should
acknowledge. in this public manner,
with deep and heartfelt thankfulness,
the hand of Divine Providence in that
the entire party was restored in safety
TO their homes and friends.
GEORGE w. NORTON, for the committee.
In writing of the Press Excursion last
week the subject rather grew on us and
although it was somewhat extended,
some things intended to have been writ.
ten were left untouched.
The writer may perhaps be pardoned
for personal allusion in this connection.
Maehias and Addison, in central Wash
ington County, were the homes of his
ancestors from the time of the early
settlers in Maine in ante. Revolutionary
times, and there are numerous relatives
of his in those towns and vicinity.
Most of them are somewhat remote,
time having the inevitable tendency to
lesson the degree of consanquinity, but
one has a different feeling toward rela-
tives aud connections than for the gen
eral public, and greater interest in the
State or county of ones ancestors and
relatives.
Thirty years ago the writer was a
member of the State legislature, repre-
senting the southern district in the
county of AroOstook and for some years
he arrogated to himself the vain credit
of being the first native of ArOostook
who had represented portion of that
county in the House of Representatives
at Augusta. But later upon looking
up the facts in the case he found that
the act forming the county Of Aroostook
larg 'ly from Washington county, was
enacted in March 1899, to take effect
the following May and he was born in
April. Thus was he legally IA native of
Washington county instead of ARGOS
took, and may be pardoned for undue
interest in the county of his nativity.
Last week we alluded to the adyan-
tage of Washington County Railroad
as an avenue of entrance to and exit
from the codnty. This is an advantage
worth all it cost but the advantage for
inter-county commerce, for the business
of towns and sections between them
selves, is one not TO be lightly held and
esteemed.
Machias, the shire town, before this
road was opened could be reached by
no town in the county except by horse
and carriage or OIL foot. People of Calais,
Barring, Princeton, Robinston, Perry,
Eastport and Lubec, towns on the ex-
IRENE east, and Cherryfield. Steuben and
Milbridge, towns on the extreme west,
were obliged to travel some IS to As miles
to reach the shire town for all county
business and to attend the courts. The
county business is greatly expedited
and Intercourse between communities
and towns of the county greatly pro-
NOTED by the road. The rail is not an
annhilator of distance but it shortens
il wonderfully.
The Princeton Branch of the w. c. Il.
has been in operation for many years.
1t was built before the war for lumber
ing purposes its terminal points being
Princeton ut the foot of Grand Lake
and the wharves at Calais. Some 3
miles Of this road bed and the important
terminus at Calais were utilized by the
w. G. r. in its construction and oper-
alton. There are large tanneries at
Grand Lake which contribute to the
business of this road but not to the
extent Of former years. This branch is
an important feeder of the main line
We alluded, last week, to the product
of lumber mills and the immense pack
ing establishments as the principal
shipments out of the county by rail |
Beside this may be mentioned as import |
ant items the products of the large cot. /
ton mills and shoe factory at Calais. /
In time, industries will spring up in the
towns along the line where there is /
surplus water power. Machias, East
Machias, Columbia Falls, Pembroke !
Dennysville and Cherry field are places |
that can offer inducements in this line, /.
Cherryteld appears to be foremost in
this direction having captured one in
dustry of moderate size already, if re-
port can be relied on.
Mr. William c. Holway, one of the
veteran lumbermen at Machias and one |
of the leading men of that town and /
informed us that the Maehias /
river is good for eight to ten millions Of
lumber without cutting their lands un-
duly hard. The lands are owned by a /
few parties. They have it in their
power to control the cut and it is for
their interest to use it judiciously. They