Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-07-25
Through the Rangeley Region.

Through the Rangeley Region.
ANNUAL EXCURSION OF THE MAINE
PRESS ASSOCIATION.
1t has been the custom of the Maine
Press Association, for something like
forty years, to make an excursion each
summer, generally of about weeks
duration. In years when great exposi-
tions have been held, they have usually
been made the objective of the excur-
sion. A few other trips have been made
to points outside the state, but as q rule
the association has been well satisfied to
visit some part of our own state, which
is furnishing the great summer play
ground of the nation, and whose varied
charms of sea and sky, lake, forest and
mountain, need no recounting to readers
in Maine.
This year the choice fell upon the
tractive chain of the accessible lakes of
the state. Twice before the association
has visited these lakes, once, nearly a
quarter of century ago, when accom-
modations for travel there were much
more limited than now; and since its
second trip, only nine years ago, the de-
velOpment of the region, both in the
number resorting to it and in the COM
fort and elegance of their accommoda-
tions and surroundings, has been rapid.
The time of this years excursion was
the secular week from the 10th to the
18th of July inclusive-a week when a
fierce heat beat down continuously upon
the country as it had not before for four
years, when in the cities man and beast
suffered and many died from the heat.
To say that in the Rangeleys We needed
heavy coats and open fires would be
manifestly absurd; it was hot weather
there as everywhere else. But it can be
truthfully said that in every place where
we stopped we could find at all times of
day refreshing, water-cooled breeze,
at temperature which was not excess
i've, if we were contented to sit quietly
on the wide, shady verandas. At only
one time did we strike heat which
seemed unacceptable, and that was be-
cause we had temporarily got away
from the lake breeze, into place shut
in by the woods so that for while no
air was stirring. Little refreshing show
ers were distributed through the week
in such way as to add to the variety
without in any way interfering with our
programme.
As laid out this year, the trip did not
include the lower and less easily accessi-
BILE of the Rangeleys, but only the upper
lakes, which may be reached directly by
rail. On this occasion we went by way
of the Rumford Falls line to Bemis on
Mooseluckmeguntic Lake, and came out
by way of Rangeley and Farmington-a
very easy and comfortable way to travel
and see the lakes.
On the several excursions taken by the
association the number of the party has
varied from dozen or 80 up to eighty
or more. This years party was about
an average, numbering little over
thirty. A special car for us was attach
ed to the afternoon train on the Portland
and Rumford Falls Railway out of Lew
iston on the afternoon of Monday, the
10th, and when the full party was got
together we found it included the follow
ing:
Mr.. and Mrs. C. II Bow'ien. Augusta.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. W. Bracket. Miss Miriam
Bracket. Phillips.
Miss Grace K. Burgess, Belfast
Mrs. Annie Burkmar. Rockland.
Miss Cornelia T. Crosby, Phillips.
Miss A. Maud Douglass South Paris.
Mr.. and Mrs. X. n. Dunbar. Damariscotta.
Arthur f. Forbes, South Paris.
Mr. ard Mrs. Chas. +. Flynt, Augusta.
Mr. and Mrs: Charles b. Haskell. Miss Elise
Haskell, Pittsfeld.
Mr. and Mrs. a. II. Jones. Rockland.
c. Z Kendrick, BoOthbay Harb0r.
MIR. and Mrs. ID ". Knowlton, Pennington.
MIR. and Mrs John V. Lane, Augusta:
Mr.. aud Nrs. George d. Loring, Portland.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. ii Ogier and daughter Doris,
Camden.
W. A. Pidgin. Lewiston.
Mr.. and Mrs. II. G. Prince. Watervi'le;
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter II. Rich, Portland.
And it is safe to say that it was as
pleasant and congenial n party as ever
spent week together under similar
auspices, although it included none of
the older members of the association
who have been the life of many former
excursions. All were social and bound
to enjoy themselves, and there was not
for the week shadow of anything I'M
pleasant. Miss Crosby, well known to
all frequenters of the Rangeley region,
as we'll as to readers of sportsmen's and
other papers by her pen name of ely
rod" was with us from Tuesday till Fri
day, and was a valuable addition to the
party.
At 4:40 p. NJ. we arrived at Rumford
Falls, our first stopping place. Here we
were received by committee of the
board of trade, and found about a
dozen automobiles lined up in the
square waiting for US. For an hour we
rode through the streets OF that town
and Mexico, and saw the mills, the
stores, the fine residences and the COM
Portable working-men's homes, and not
least, the river whose power makes
possible the "city" as it now is. Some
of the visitors had never been at Rum
ford Falls before, and found it difficult
to grasp the idea that fifteen years ago
this region was practically wilderness.
At the end of our ride we were set down
at Hotel Rumford where we were quar-
tered for the night.
1t was with some concern that we
heard the announcement of reception
to be given us at the opera house that
evening. We were off for vacation and
didn't feel equal to formalities; and OF
course hadn't our glad rags with us. But
we were assured that the affair would
be informal, and so it proved. We were
received by large committee of the
people, and served with punch and
crackers; the Rumford Falls Band play
ed on the stage, and the visitors were
cordially welcomed by Ralph 7. Parker,
Esq. President Ogier responded in a
very happy vein, and was followed by
Kendall NJ. Dunbar of Damariscotta,
secretary of the Maine senate and chair
man of our excursion committee, who
reviewed the remarkable growth of
Rumford Falls and spoke of its future
possibilities. Harry Weber of Auburn
gave some entertaining representations,
and Hon. Waldo Pettengill talked inter-
estingly of Rumford Falls industries.
Of the statistics which he gave, it may
be interesting to note briefly that the
International paper mill alone makes an
average of $50 tons of paper per day,
about two-thirds of which is made into
bags in a nearby building, and that the
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