The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-09-11

those dauutleas figures. their faces
wearing "a mingled expression of dis
enlargement and determination. draw
ing their loaded boats steadily to-
wards their distant goal.
Did these yoyagers rest in the
shadow OF other pines. as beautiful
as these2 Did they quench their
thirst from that cool spring. that
gushes out OF the river bank?
Maybe. but whether they did or not.
travellers of today may drink of that
water with little effort. for Eustis.
like all the north country is a hospi-
table town. 1t has extended a tacit
invitation 10 the passers-by To stop
beneath the Cathedral Pines by har-
Messing the spring to pump. which
conveys the water up the steep bank
into d barrel. and by a big stone fire
place and chimney, for cooking pur-
poses-two tireplaces to be more
exact. because the chimney and its
base is large enough TO accommodate
two fireplaces, and should two par
ties arrive at the pines at the same
time. and be equally hungry there
he no delay.
In northern Franklin county, the
chief source of livelihood is provided
by the forests, and il is interesting
TO read the story of a region as it
is written with the lumberman's axe.
Here one day, perhaps. was a thirty
ing busy town, another day and every
OF life had departed.
DO dead towns have ghosts? If so
the spirit of Bigelow must hover about
the surrounding forests sometimes,
for its departed prosperity.
Deep in the heart of the woods, one
comes suddenly upon a deserted vii
lage. This vas Bigelow in Jerusa-
lem Plantation. never anything more
than a little village, so far as popula-
ton went. but for a brief span of
teeming with industry. A big
mill. with an Unsuitable appetite,
and emitting angry shrieks from
dawn ill dark consumed great logs
by hundreds of thousands of feet.
and gave them back as sawed lumber.
On the hillside is a coy little home,
with every modern improve
ment. Comfortable little cottages
nestled beneath the trees. Beside
the railroad track stands the big
store which onee did a thriving bust
ness. In a neat little schoolhouse.
the rising generation of Bigelow strug-
gled with the spelling book and the
multiplication table.
But the day came when there were
more trees in that section for the
hungry saw-mill, and thus there was
more work for the residents. The
owners of the mill took it down and
moved it elsewhere. Their employees
up their belongings, locked the
cottage doors for the last time. and
sought another mill in another part
the forest, which would provide
bread for their families. And so to-
day Bieelow is an empty shell of a
town. The lawn at the superintend-
ants home is oyergrown with weeds.
The store is a eayernous place which
echoes 10 the scampering OF an oc-
rat. the schoolhousp windows
boarded up. and cottage windows
are dark, when in other villages. lights
Wrinkle to welcome h"ome-eomers,
owls and bats, and deer. and perhaps
Bruln himself, are the only inhabi-
Of BigeloW now.
Then II leaves Bigelow behind.
and a turn in the road leaves the vii
once more in the loneliness and
IFS memories Miles of Woodland
ike a moving picture landscape.
passes before the audience and then
suddenly appears a scene which is
he exact opposite of deserted Biga-
.oW. This is Carrabasset, revived a
or so ago.
a numbering company which owns
n all, 42 townships, has erected a
mill for the manufacture of plywood.
The surroundings suggest a western
room. Houses are springing up on
all sides. occupied even before they
are finished. Families live in tents.
NTH a more substantial shelter can
built. G~arrabasset is growing
asst and will continue to grow. doubt
ess, until the available supply of wood
or that particular mill is exhausted.
Then the mill will be taken away.
and the people Will 90 elsewhere.
where another mill is ready to deyour
forest.