The annual amount of long lumber manufactured here is about sixteen million feet, worth some hundred and twelve thousand dollars; the aggregate amount of the various kinds of short lumber annually produced is worth some sixteen thousand dollars more.
From four to five hundred men, and about the same number of oxen and horses, are employed in the lumbering business. Logs are driven from two to forty miles. The territory through which this stream flows is well timbered, and affords an abundant supply of logs.
CHAPTER IV.
class="hang" Penobscot River.—Its various Names.—Character of the Country through which it flows.—Its Length.—The vast Extent of Territory which it drains.—Its Multitude of Lakes.—Mount Ktaadn.—Indian Legend.—Elevation of the Mountain.—Overwhelming Prospect.—A Sabbath in the Wilderness.—Moose in the Lake.—An uncomfortable Night.—Dr. Jackson's Narrative.—New Lumber Resources.—The interesting Origin of this new Resource.—John Bull outwitted.—Freshets on the Penobscot. —Freshet of 1846, cause of it.—Sudden Rise of Water.—Bangor submerged.—Bowlders of Ice.—Destruction of Property.—Narrow Escape of Ferry-boat.—Peril of Boys.—Editorial Observations. —Lumber Statistics.—Where the Lumber finds a Market.— Speculations on future Prospects of Lumbering Interests.— Anticipations of the Future.—Bangor.
Passing westward in a direct line about twenty miles, we come to the noble and interesting Penobscot. Although Penobscot is now the name of the entire river, it was originally the name of only a section of the main channel, from the head of tide-water to a short distance above Oldtown. Penobscot is the Indian name, and signifies stony or rocky river, as it certainly is within the above limits, being nothing less than a continuous fall before the dams were built.
From the head of tide-water, at the city of Bangor, to the mouth of the river, a distance of about thirty miles, it was known to the Indians by the name of Baam-tu-guai-took, which means broad river, sheet of water, or, more literally, all waters united. Another section of the river is called Gim-sit-i-cook, signifying smooth or dead water.
Unlike the Kennebeck, and similar to the St. Croix, the Penobscot flows chiefly through a wilderness country. The time is yet distant when its banks shall exhibit the same advances in agricultural industry and wealth which now beautify, enrich, and enliven the banks of the Kennebeck.
A Coaster ascending the Penobscot for Lumber.