Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-22
OVER THE SUNRISE ROUTE.
EXCURSION or THE MAINE PRESS Ass0'
CITATION TO WARRINGTON COUNTY.
SECOND LETTER. CALAIS, THE ST
cRorx RIVER, AND ST. ANDREWS.

SECOND LETTER. CALAIS, THE ST
cRoIx RIVER, AND ST. ANDREWS.
Wednesday morning the party were
again carried to the MachiAs station to
take the eastbound train. A special Cal
was waiting for us on the siding. Our
stay ut Mschias, with the perfect wealth
er we had enjoyed, hxd put everybody
in the best Of humor. The company was
called to order on the station platform,
and Howard Owen was introduced to
make motion. Mr.. Owen said that on
Just one account It WAS fortunate that
we were to leave Machias Pills
bury had discovered SIX blrthplaces, and
II We stayed any longer he would add to
the list. He then expressed our appre-
citation Of the welcome which had been
given us by the citizens OF Machias, and
called for three cheers for them. They
were given with will-also with tiger
and the train came in and we were of
for Calais.
The scenery visible from the railroad,
as we travel toward the east, becomes
more diversified by hills aud mountains,
and near Charlotte we pass two besuti-
full lakes, so near together that the ratl-
road seems almost to run over bridge
as II winds between them. These lakes
bear the unhomogeneous names OF PEN
namsQuon and Round. On the shore Of
ooe of them IL beautiful grove, from
which u picnic p,rty saluted us with
waving handkerchiefs.
At st. Croix Junction we strike the 81.
Croix River, and from that point we run
three and half miles down the river,
siongside Of almost continuous piles OF
lumber, to Calais. It's impossible to get
out of sight Of the lumber piles at any
point along the river. An immense num-
Der of logs are hoated down the river
every year and sawed into lumber by
the numerous water powers which the
river furnishes above Calais.
The geography Of that region has al
ways been sort OF foggy matter Ia my
brain whenever I have heard IL referred
to, bat on this trip I got 1t fairly well
Strengthened out, and will try 10 eluci-
date it for the benefit Of others who are
befogged. Calais, the metropolis Of
Washington County, city OF about
$, 900 inhabitants, IL situated at the head
OF tide on me Sc. Croix River. Il IL the
second city Ia the state, second only TO
Bangor, In the manufacture and ship
ping OF lumber. On the opposite bank
OF the ST. Croix stands st. Stephen, n.
B. Above Calais, on the American bank
OF the river, Is Milltown, Maine, which
Il politically and and actually Q part OF
the city OF Calais. Above 81. stephen,
on the New Brunswick bank OF the
river, and directly opposite Milltown,
Maine, stands Milltown, N, B., which IL
politically and actually q part OF st.
stephen. The Sc. Croix River, Just be-
fore reaching tide-wster, makes rapid
fall for few miles, furnishing m enor-
nous water power, so located 40 70
be easily utilized by several dams built
st convenient points. Behind these
water powers Is the immense outflow OF
the Schoodic and Grand Lake systems,
and man well acquainted with the In
dustries OF the place Informed me that
IL was practically impossible that these
mills should ever know any shortage OF
water. The lumber manufactured at the
mills In Milltown is shipped by sea from
Calais. The city has numerous other In
dustries, bat the lumber business II the
largest and most conspicuous.
As at MachiAs, we were met by some
OF the citizens on the train before reach
ing the city, and on our arrival large
delegation OF citizens met rs at the depot,
and assisted as into the carriages which
were 10 take Us TO the Sc. Croix Ex-
change and the Border City Hotel, be-
tween which two hostelries our party
was divided during our stay In the city.
The distance to either hotel WAS only Q
few rods from the station. but they In
sisted upon our riding just tho same.
The hospitality Of the people, which
manifested itself ut our every move dur
Ing the week, Was 10 no respect more
conspicuous than In the persistency with
which they made Us ride when we might
have walked. On several occasions, be-
Ing an able bodied man without incum-
brsnce, preferred walking . short dis
tsuce to riding, - q matter OF comfort,
but unless succeeded 10 concealing my
self from the eagle eyes Of the populsce,
I WAS made, willy nilly, to mount the
carriage.
The freedom Of the st. Croix Club,
which has spacious and finely furnished
club rooms, was presented to US imme-
diately upon our arrival, and the gentle
men OF the party promptly proceeded to
familiarize themselves with the easy
chairs and billiard tables and bowling
alley of the club, and the excellent view
OF the river and Of st. Stephen which ID
TO be had from the back windows Of the
club house.
At 3 O'Clock we boarded special car
of the Calais and Sc. Stephen Street
Railway for ride over It's entire sys-
tenn, extending three or four miles along
the river on each side. The trolley cars
run up and down steep bills, and wind
around through country lanes, In .
breezy sort Of way, and are very COM
Portable on hot day, such ~ that was.
After running down the river to the
terminus on the Calais side, we ran back
and crossed the bridge to St. Stephen,
running down the stream 70 the terminus
on that side, then back up the river for
several miles through Millt0wn, n. B.,
across another bridge, and back through
Milltown, Maine, to the starting place.
The scenery is fine over the entire road,
and an especially good idea is obtained
Of the immense water power furnished
by the st. Croix River in the course OF
the last few miles before II reaches tide
water.
On our trolley ride we were under
the personal escort Of Hon. George A.
Currap, who is president of the Wash.
inston County Railroad and the Calais
and st. Stephen Railway, and holds
more political and business Offices than /
could tell In twenty lines, II / knew
them, which don't. But he Ii one oi
the best fellows we met. He and Mrs.
Curran accompanied our excursion when
we left Calais, and were with 10 for the
rest of the week, and proved most valu'
able acquisitions to our party.
One thing here which impresses ths
| stranger is the seemingly unrestricted
| freedom Of travel and traffic which goei
on over the bridge connecting the Amer
lean city and the Canadian city. Cars ant
| people travel back and forth at will, and
no customs inspector In uniform stands
sentinel at either end Of the bridge. Their
would seem to be large opportunities To-
smuggling, aad undoubtedly some 4
done. Indeed, after our trolley ride, som'
Of the ladies Of the party msde anothel
trip to st. Stephen shoppIng- --problbl!
not because the stores were any better OF
that side, but for the sake Of getting
through few contraband goods. Tn
visit was not an unqualified success
they reporting that things were nj
i cheaper and not 90 good on the Canadisl