Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-31

u
Nadeau- a quarter of century ago
Mr.. Nadeau served three terms as 3
member of the Maine House Of Repre-
sentatives, representing his class in the
legislatures of 1875, 1876 end 1877.
There is at least one United States
officeholder in Maine who earns his sal
airy. His name is John A. Nedeau.
Two or three times q month stout,
redfaced man rides into q village in
Aroostook county behind q pair Of
shabby, foam-spattered horses. stors
long enough to eat and then dashes on
TO the next town, trotting his team on
the level roads and running the horses
UP and down hill. That is Nadeau.
When business is urgent he rides day
and night, shifting horses when HI can
and going at such q furious rate that
most persons take him for a smuggler
who is hard pressed by the revenue
men ard is anxious TO get away.
While Nadoau and his occupation
are mysteries 10 the villagers there is
not a lumberman, farmer or a stroll
ing trapper within fifty miles Of
Names northern ana western borders
who does not know him and either fear
or respect him for What ne has done or
is able to DO. On the pay rolls at Wash
ington and among the smuggleTs and
woodsmen. John Nadeau is Deputy
Collector OF Customs for northern
Maine covering n border line Of more
than two hundred miles and doing
deeds Of physical daring that give him
nigh rank among the employees Of the
United States Treasury Department.
He is known under many names. The
Yankee and irish population Of the
towns call him the scared smuggler."
on account of the hurried manner Of
his travelling The CanUcks, who have
come over from Canada to grow rich
from chopDinr timber and eating rab-
bit steWs, cal! him lie Noir Chcvalier.
being July Convinced that he is the
personal representative of the Old
Scra tch, Who has sent him to the
woods to take toll upon the souls of
wicked Frenchren. Across the line the
Scotch ana English settlers who cling
to Canada end are proud OF their 10y
atty to Great Britain give him the title
of warden Of the Marches" q term
tackled on TO the deputy collector be-
cause his duties are similar to those
performed by the knightly wardens OIL
centuries ago.
His work consists Of seeing that all
dutiable articles brought across the
Maine line from Canada are assessed
and paid for at regular tariff rates
Now the collection of customs is not a
holiday job, even in hig seaport with
revenue cutters ana a host Of deputies
at hand. Away up in northern Maire;
the guarding OF a line 200 miles long.
which winds in and out among dense
woods and across great sWamps where
there are few roads and where the Wild
animals are not afraid of man-to
ratrol this stretch of woods and waters
at all seasons ana in every kind of
weather. is a task which few men
would crave.
Thore are only few professional
smuggiers who lead lives of hazard by
taking liquor across the border, bul
Nadeau has plenty Of trouble with the
men in the lumber camps. It is chea p
or to pay high prices for hay, beans,
potqtoess and pork that are raised near
by than to buy them in the markets
and haul them many miles over poor
tote roads. To supply the lumber
CAMPS q score or more OF thrifty men
have taken up farms along the water
'''' - 49,, I,ooo,,,a ,,oaIthv IN \
ways, W. fna M 80 tbev have noyar
T." ,1I f,r,,ars N, this
pui en- ~ 5,,+ias. me, ealIine,
80 eiie l,lr - i 1,11,,,.,n y,,tr,re for.
hoaees III assert that IL! the
srnpIies they consume are of home
production.
~ ~. con+nrle t1ot 4 fpV farms
~" Oii. H., 1t IN tt.c
scattered twenty HlilcS dpd'' - r.
forest are able TO supply 1000 men ana
500 horses during a winters operation,
but every foreman pretends 20 have
bought from local farmers 1t Is Ma
deau $ duty 10 prov Ne ui'i 10 -
c,llsg ! Ii III n It'll oaI,,e IN III timn
"a.N !, wa ..,,,,,,, H. dieio,,It,, IL
Nddedu SU'0 "'Ou1'' '-'~
visiting the farms duflhs Wis SedSoh -
harvest and learning the total amount
produced. Then it is easy to estimate
how much the different camps "ih u.7e
in week or q iionrn AM 49, 49, o o,,
c 80 ~ ~ tataI oane,l,,,ntion what il
1aet 80. is nras,1r,ad ia have been I'M
~ - ,,,na,1o I'D tho con,n
o;aa 80 t ~, creyye Now and then p