Resuming the description of the country traversed by, and that tributary to, the Intercolonial Railway, at the boundary line of the two provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the railway, immediately after crossing the line, reaches Amherst, not far from Cumberland Basin.
The bright and prosperous town of Amherst is a pleasant centre for a number of other interesting places. To the north is Tidnish on the Northumberland Straits, a little watering place where good boating and deep-sea fishing may be enjoyed. Stages run N.E. to Head of Amherst, and there are other places, remote from the railroad, that are quite interesting.
The works of the Chignecto Marine Transport Railway are within easy reach by carriage. This abandoned project was intended to lift ships of a thousand tons, place them on huge ship-carriages by means of hydraulic power, and then haul them by locomotives to the terminus on the Northumberland Straits near Tidnish, where they were again to be put in the water and so save the great distance a vessel must now go to reach the St. Lawrence from the Bay of Fundy.
A few miles north-west of Amherst are the ruins of Fort Cumberland beyond the Aulac River. On this site formerly stood the French fort of Beausejour. It was from Fort St. Lawrence, also in the immediate neighborhood, that the attack was made on the French fort that resulted in its capture. In revolutionary times the Americans attacked Fort Cumberland after it had passed into the possession of the British. The attack failed, and the Colonials were compelled to give up and retire on the St. John River. The view of Fort Cumberland is still an interesting one, and many Acadian relics have been found in the vicinity. The view from the bastions of the old fort is superb and far-reaching.
At Maccan Station coaches may be taken to Minudie and Joggins. It will come as a surprise to many when they learn that the “Elysian Fields” are near here. But such is the case, for that is the name of the rich meadows near Minudie on the Chignecto Peninsula. The Joggins Shore is not far from Minudie. It received its odd name from the remarkable configuration of the cliffs which “jog in” and out so wonderfully that many have been attracted here to study the phenomenon. The cliffs are strikingly bold, often approaching four hundred feet in height. Fine views may also be seen by taking the long drive to Apple River. Advocate Harbor is another quaint and distant place, well worth a visit. Good fishing is found on the upper waters of the Apple River which reach out to Caribou Plains.
At Springhill Junction a short railroad leads west and south to Parrsboro on the north shore of the Minas Basin. Here will be found a pleasant little summer resort where boating and fishing may be enjoyed, with good hunting in season. Fine views are obtained from Partridge Island in front of the harbor. There are also good roads and pleasant drives to places nearby. Moose River and Five Islands to the east may be reached in this way, as well as Advocate Harbor and Cap d’Or on the west. Massive Cape Blomidon, the end of the North Mountain chain, is only eight miles distant on the projection that makes out from the opposite or southern shore of Minas, and excellent views of it may be had from the steamboat running between Parrsboro’ and Kingsport.
At River Philip and Oxford Junction, on the Intercolonial Railway, a very pretty country is found, and both for fishing and country rambles the district is an excellent one.
The country between Westchester and Folleigh Lake is remarkably beautiful, and this, the Wentworth Valley, is one of the garden spots of Canada. Many pretty views are had from the train as it climbs the Cobequid Mountains which here run from east to west.
