The independent-reporter., 1910-07-28

| Journey between New York and Eng
land and greatly facilitate mail COM
munication between the two countries.
The rapid improvement in ocean
transportation methods and the build
ng of much speedier ships prevented
he fultlment of this dream, but the
railroad itself has proved a great fac
tor in the upbuilding of Bangor and
eastern Maine.
The details of the Presidents trip
which included a journey to Malta
wamkeag, are very meagre, but there
we're speeches and banquets, drives
and the usual festivities incident to
such occasions. On his return to
Washington, the President stopped In
Augusta, and was the guest of Hon.
James G. Blaine, then becoming
great figure In national politics.
A NIGHT VISIT FROM ARTHUR.
President Arthur once visited Ban
gor, but his coming was unheralded
and his reception was without the
usual formalities, though cordial His
coming was an accident. He was on
a cruise along the coast In govern
ment ship and reached Bar Harbor
Official matters made 1t imperative
that he should be back at the Capt
tol on a certain date. To do this the
ship must start at once. This was i'm
possible because of the weather con-
ditions which prevailed in French
mans bay and on the North Atlantic
Arrangements were made for the
President to come through by rail. In
some manner the word of his coming
cached General Joseph S. Smith OF
Bangor late in the evening He sue
ceeded in informing distinguished
gentlemen of the fact and they were
at the train to greet the President
as he passed through the city
A GLIMPSE OF HARRISON.
The next President to come to Ban
gor and Maine was Harrison, who in
August, 1889, left the White House
md journeyed to Bar Harbor where
he spent a considerable time. On the
way he stopped at Bath, being a
guest of the Hon. Arthur Sewall. The
President made a speech at Old Or
chard and at Portland, where he was
introduced by Hon. Thomas B.
Reed. At Brunswick a salute of
twenty-one guns were fired. At
Augusta there was a further well
coming and salute, while at Bangor
great crowd gathered at the old
Maine Central station on the west side
of kenduskeag stream. to welcome
the President. The time here was
somewhat longer than at most places
| because of the necessity for changing
locomotives and rearranging the
trains makeup. There was nc
speech, but the people had an oppor-
tunity of seeing the President
The Presidents trip to Maine was
on a special train, and the distance
from Portland to Bangor, 1876 miles
was made in three hours and 13 min
utes including stops, making a reduc
ton of 25 Minis. for stops at reception
points,the time was 16S minutes actua
running time; or, mile in every
minute and a quarter of the time
At Bar Harbor the President was
entertained by Secretary of State
Blaine at the Blaine cottage. During
his stay at this famous summer re
sort, there were boating trips, and
carriage drives, as we'll as receptions
On the return from Bar Harbor
President Harrison spent day in
Ellsworth with Senator Hale
AND THEN CAME ROOSEVELT.
In midsummer, 1902, the word came
down to Maine that President Roose-
velI was coming to the State for 6
speech-making tour. The announce.
ment caused the greatest sensation
for he was then, as now, the popular
idol of the people of Maine as wei
as of the nation.
The visit covered a period of two
days, Tuesday and Wednesday, Au
gust 26 and 81. In special trair
the President was carried about the
State He visited Portland where he
was entertained and where he spoke
though briefly. He then went to Lewis
ton where he made a brief speech or
city park which created the great
est enthusiasm. From Lewiston the
/. party went to Augusta where the
President was the guest of Governor
Hill over night. 1t is also duly re-
corded that Governor Hill served
President Roosevelt small brook trout
for breakfast.
One of the incidents of President
Roosevelt's visit to Maine in 1902 took
place at Waterville, when Hon. viii
liam T. Haines, chairman of the recep
ton committee, presented to his eX-
cellency combination hunters axe
and knife, which had been made ex-
pressly for the President by John
King of Oakland. In conversation
with the Lewiston Journal at thai
time Mr.. King said that when he first
learned of the Presidents visit tc
Maine he thought many souvenirs
would be presented to him, and, or
account of the Presidents love fol
hunting, decided that he would give
him an axe of his own manufacture
In acknowledging the gift President
Roosevelt said that only the week be-
fore he had written to Canada for 8
Hudson Bay Co.'S axe, and that he
had not expected to find in Maine
just the kind OF sportsman's hatch
ct that he desired.
At Bangor the President made two
speeches, the first shortly after his
arrival, from the porch of the Ban
gor House. Hardly had he begun tC
speak when he paused bent forward
and exclaimed:
rs Bill Sewall here? / want Bill
Sewall."
After luncheon, served at the Ban.
gor House, the President was es-
corted to the grounds of the Eastern
Maine State Fair Association. where
he spoke for nearly an hour to al