Ellsworth American., 1908-02-05

there are upwards OF 100000 900 feet OF
hardwood timber standing in this terri
tory to-day. There is a preponderance of
beech, with a large amount o! birch, yell
low birch being especially plentiful. There
is also considerable maple, with some ash
and poplar.
1t has been demonstrated on Union river
that hardwoods can be satisfactorily driven
down a river. II. b. Moore, manager OF
the Branch Pond Lumber Co., and pre-
viously associated with the Ellsworth
Lumber Co., and II. b. Moore & Co., has
for several seasons driven hardwood logs
successfully on Union river, and the per-
centage of loss has been less than with
soft wood drives. The trees are cut in
August and early September, and after
being felled are left with their tops on
until winter. The tops are then cut off, the
logs barked on two sides and yarded. In
the spring the logs are rolled into the
the river ana, with the sap pumped out
by the tops and leaves, float all right and
reach their destination down river in
safety.
There has been OF late steadily increas-
ing call for hardwoods. Already the
supply in the middle West has been about
exhausted, and in some OF the states OF
the South there is a decline in production.
The time is rapidly approaching when
Maine hardwoods will be in very exten-
sive demand, and plants for the manu-
facture of hardwoods into multifarious
articles could be advantageously estab-
lished in Ellsworth and vicinity.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
Ellsworth is situated on the Maine Cen
trail railroad, and excellent service is pro-
vided for both freight and passengers.
Two miles south Of the city, and practi-
cally within its limits, is Washington
Junction, where the Washington County
railway connects with the Mt. Desert
branch OF the Maine Central railroad. Via
the Washington County railway, Ellis
worth is brought into close connection
with the thriving cities and towns OF
Washington county, and likewise with
points in the maritime provinces.
Located as Ellsworth is on Union river
near the head OF the bay Of the same
name, there are excellent shipping facili-
ties by water, vessels of large capacity
being able to come to the wharves in the
heart of the city. Steamers OF good size
make regular trips during the open season
between Ellsworth and the bay towns,
and many motor boats and craft of vary
ing rig make this their home port. OF
specia1 interest to manufacturers is the
fact y sas the result of water commu-
nicatI he freight rates are much more
reasonsbie than il Ellsworth was an in
land oikTs
Great Interest is being taken in the pro-
iected Mount Desert Transit Co. and the
prospects are considered excellent for the
line being built the coming season.
Wealthy summer residents at Bar Harbor
are active promoters OF this enterprise,
and already considerable expenditure OF
funds has been made, commodious ter
minals at Ellsworth and Bar Harbor hav-
ing been purchased, while options have
recently been secured for deep water ter
minals at Southwest Harbor. 1t is under
stood that when built the line will not
generally follow the highway, but will be
on private property acquired by the COM
pany. Furthermore, the new line is to
be thoroughly modern in its equipment,
and there are rumors that it will not be
trolley, but instead have third rail or an
electric locomotive. A grade OF not ex-
ceeding two per cent. is under contempia-