The Republican journal., 1907-06-13
DEVELOPING AR0OSTOOk.
Roster of the Atwood Exploring Party in
August, 1886.


August, 1886.
A recent item in The Journal remind
ed Hon. Fred Atwood of Winterport
that nearly q years have passed since he
led an exploration party into the fair,
fertile and great county of Aroostook,
and he has sent us list of the party,
including those now living and those
who have passed away. For twenty
years before that time Mr.. Atwood con-
fesses to having been an "Aroostook
crank" We should say, however, that
he was one of the first to recognize the
resources and possibilities of develop
ment in our northern county and untir-
ing in his efforts to promote that de-
velopment. Mr.. Atwood says: "In
1860 | met Daniel Stickney in Augusta,
who told me of Aroostook's possibilities.
l suggested that he write up the county
in his paper, which he did, in very &C
curate and interesting manner. L
managed in 1878 to get the Board of
Agriculture to havea meeting at Houl-
ton and was told at that time that
there was not bushel of corn IN the
place and the manure at the stables
could be had for hauling it away. In
those days money was worth 10 to 10
percent on mortgages, and the farmers
were more or less in debt, while today
their banking institutions are among
the best and there are farmers who are
financially, the equal of those OF any
section in New England. Hon. Thomas
Fair was then connected with Mr.
johnson with line of stages from
Houlton to Presque Isle and helped to
groom, care for and hitch up his horses;
but he has kept on and, like the county
of which he is a prominent citizen, has
developed by his industry and honor
able dealing, become the Starch King
of the country, and all who know him
are pleased to know that his success has
been financially great"
Later Mr.. Atwood induced the State
Agricultural Society to offer premium
for Aroostook exhibits and the New
England Agricultural Society to also
offer premium, which the latter did
for the fair held at Manchester, n. H.,
and at both fairs the exhibits surprised
almost every one and brought Aroos-
took county largely into notice among
the farmers. Still later, at meeting
held in the Massachusetts PlonghInan
building. Boston, at which Mr.. Atwood
presided, number of leading men
spoke on Aroostook and the matter
of direct railroad communication was
brought forward. In August, 1886, Mr..
Atwood conducted a party to Aroos-
took, travelling by special train and &C
companied by President Cram OF the
New Brunswick railway, now President
Cram of the Bangor Il Aroostook. Inc
principal towns in the county were
visited, in each of which the visitors
were welcomed and they were greatly
impressed with what they saw. At the
beginning of the excursion there was
some speculation rs to its object. AS
to this it was said in notes OF the trip
published in The Journal of August u,
1856. "As the New Brunswick railway
was the principal entertainer 1t was ar
gued that the expedition could hardly
be in the interest of a direct line. We
believe the explanation to be very
+1nr xt-nc
object in view than to exhibit to gen.
tlemen from out of the State, and to
some of our own people, the resources
and capabilities of the Aroostook re-
gion. We know from conversations
and correspondence with Mr.. Atwood
that he has been for years constant
advocate of the Garden of Maine, that
he has exerted himself to secure repre-
sensations of her agricultural products
and industries at the fairs, and has
sought to direct the attention to this
section of those who have had their
gaze turned to the far west" An edi-
torial in the same issue of The Journal
closed with these words: Great as
are the natural resources and capabili-
ties of Aroostook, the character of her
people is a no less important factor,
and put to the test it reveals itself pure
gold. The citizens of Aroostook are
temperate, enterprising, industrious
and of sterling integrity, while their
hospitality to the visitor from the outer
world is in keeping with their magnifi-
cent county," Has not the progress
of Aroostook in the past twenty years
justified these words?
Following are the names of the
gentlemen of the Atwood Aroostook
Exploration party who have passed
over the river:
Hon. John Hall, Saco; Hon. Harrison
Hume, Boston; Hon. W. E. Barrett,
Providence, R. l.; Capt. John Atwood,
Chelsea, Mass; Warren Hapgood, Bos-
ton, Mass; Col. E. P. Rowell; George
Noyes, Boston, Mass; Hon. Daniel
Needham, Boston, Mass; Hon. George
B. Loring, Salem, Mass; Hon. c. B.
Pratt; Worcester, Mass; S. ]. Hail,