Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-07-26
AN AUGUSTA LAD
DOING HIS BIT IN
ARoOST0oK COUNTY
Junior Volunteer Gives
Interesting Account
of His Trip to Caribou
and of Experience on
Caribou Farm.

the Junior OlunteeTS VINO Is now 90
ing his bit" by assisting on a farm in
Aroostook county has sent home the
following letter:
Caribou, Me-, July %. 1917.
My dear Friends
AS have few moments, l will
write you a letter concerning our
Journey to Caribou and the farms
which the Junior Volunteers have been
assigned to.
When we heard our names called on
June the 27th and learned that we
were going to Caribou. we were stand
ing around the camp fire. We received
this piece Of good news with great Joy
because il meant long journey to US
and we were anxious to get to work.
! We We're even more pleased when We
found that cur leader was to be Cap
tain Loring. After short celebration
we were called to our tents by the
bugle, and with the possible exception
of the Caribou and Houlton group the
camp was fast falling under the power
of a slumber, which can only come
from a hard days work, when taps
sounded from the lake shore.
We were aroused from our sleep at
$50 and after our setting up exercises,
we partook of the last meal which we
were to indulge in at the camp. After
chapel we were summoned to head
quarters and there we received practi-
cal information in pitching, taking
down. and folding our tents. We then
packed our clothing and made ready
! I,
we took car for Winthrop. We were
escorted TO the station (Which is about
mile and three quarters from camp
! by the band. After a short wait we
| boarded a car and were soon in Win
throp. There We were kept busy check
! ing our baggage. The train was a
little late but at 1.37 we began our long
ride. Many discussions arose as to
where Caribou was and when we
should arrive there. At Northern
Maine Junction we changed trains and
were delighted to find the cars more
comfortab BILE. From here on the country
was new to the most of us and when
we were not reading we busted our
selves by looking out of the car win
dows, singing songs, and telling jokes.
4 AL . tIOth We were given nam
sandwiches canned some" and bread.
With the prom Sc Of a good meal at
the restaurant upon our arrival in
Caribou, our spirits frightened. We
arrived in Houlton at 10 O'Clock and
after giving the Houlton boys three
cheers and a general all around hand
shake, we settled ourselves for the last
stage Of our journey. We arrived in
Caribou at 1855 and were met by the
Home Guard. At the command At
tontion" every man took his place and
at Right Dress" we were all ready for
the roll call.
We were marched to the Grange hall
by the Home Guard and there awaited
a surprise for US. We halted on the
outside and after three long cheers for
Caribou filed into the hall. What we
saw was enough to take our brea tn
away. There before our eyes were
three long tables covered with food and
all about the room were young girls
ready to wait on table. We We're al
lowed to remove the stains of travel
and after short prayer by the Meth
oodist minister Of Caribou. we began
the first real meal that we had had in
Is hours. Food never tasted so good
to us before in all our lives and while
we ate some of the most prominent
men in Caribou spoke to US. At the
close Of the meal, the captain made a
short speech and we retired
/ Our hunks were made up Of two
blankets spread upon the floor The
floor was hard but we did not notice
that as we were too tired to even think
of this discomfort. We were awakened
at o'clock by our captain and we
were then assigned to the different
farmers. I was located on a farm
about two miles from Caribou with a
good family. l began my work the first
thing after | arrived and since then /
nave had experience in hoeing peas.
corn beans, onions, and last but not
least. potatoes. As you may guess, DO
tatoes are the main crops. On this
farm we have been hoeing potatoes for
three weeks and have just finished
We are now haying and very busy,
But let us go back to Caribou.
/ Caribou is a small town of perhaps
'ooo inhabitants. The main industry is
the buying and selling Of potatoes. al
though an outsider might more easily
believe it to be automobiles. During
the past two or three seasons, the crops
have been extraordinarily large and
they have sold for as high as SO a
barrel Therefore many farmers have
found themselves with a fat pocket
book and have decided it to be time
for their automobile In consequence
Caribou has registered more automo-
biles than any other town in the United
states IN proportion to it's population.
1t is situated on the Aroostook river
about 40 miles from the Canadian bor-
der. 1t has access by the Bangor &.
Aroostook, the Canadian Pacific Rail
road and the Airline electric railroad d
There are many fine stores and build
ings in Caribou. the most OF which are
new as Caribou has grown quite rapid
ly in the past five years. There is an
endless supply of amusement in the
town consisting Of two theatres, a trot-
ting park, base ball grounds, the fair
grounds, and the circuses, the carnivals
and the stock companies which come
here in continuous chain. There are
four or five nice churches. a mission
and the Red Cross league.
The farms which surround Caribou
are well kept and to one riding by the