The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-02-20

turnps to sell, at twenty cents bnshel, when he
could make hundred times the profit by spccu-
lHting in lands?
First of all, it was determined that Dogtown
should be city. The want Of population was
found to be Il serious obstacle here: the conS-
tuition of the State requires ten or twelve thou
sand inhabitants for city ; and us Dogtown, in
Gliding the suburbs Of Puppyvillo aud Skuuk's
Misery, contained population Of only six bun
dred and thirty one, it was thought there might
be some difficulty III getting II charter without
anticipating the returns of the next census.-
However, II city it must be, some time or other,
in this, all were agreed, aud it might us well have
the name first last; so they concluded to cotI
it city. 1t is astonishing what spirit Of enter
prise these prospects infused into the people OF
Dogtown. The school house door was painted
green uncle Joe Stubbins mended the top of his
chimney, and it was voted in town meeting tc
purchase three wheel burrows for the public Use;
aud all in consequence of these projected ip-
provemcnts. Nay so widely did their views OF
business expand, that Aminldub Higgins, the
grocer, determined to give up retailing, and de-
cIared lie woudntsplit crackers nor cut candlcs
any longer
Such was the thriving condition Of the City of
Dogtown when left the place i'll The autumn Of
that year. | continued to hear of il through the
medium of the Dogtown Daily Advertiser, "a
newspaper established there by an enlerprising
printer from Connecticut at tic first duwnng OF
pcnred to go ahead rapidly. The newspaper
spoke Of the Exchange, the Town Hall, tue
Bank, the New Post Office, the Rail Road, Canal,
sc. House Lots were advertised in Washington
Square, Merchants Row, State Street, Market
Street, sc. Contracts were proposed for building
churches, manufacturers, &c. This was Dog
town in all its glory.
Last August 1 determined to make visit to
this celebrated place in order to feast my eyes
with the splendOr of city which had sprung up
as it were by enchantment. When | reached
the foot of Bueberry Hill, which overlooks the
whole place, walked eagerly to the top in order
10 catch q view ut Il single glance, of the city in
all lis mogniticence. To my utter establishment
instead of spires and domes, | saw nothing but
Deacon Stumpy's old mansion, with five other
ragged and djngy looking edices, which stood
exactly where had always known them. |
entered the city through State Street, hut discov
cred nothing new except Il small house without Il
chimney. Not living thing was to be seen in
Washington Square but three geese who were
picking mouthul of grass among the mud
puddles. inquired for the Exchange, and found
il in use by the Deacon as Il coW-rCn. The new
church, however, was Told had actually pro
cccdcd as far us the raising of the umbcrs but
1t vas subsequently sold 10y auction TO pay for
digging the cellar.
/ bad II check Oh the DoGrowN BANK, for
three dollars, aud wishing to draw tie mouey,
WAS directed to No. 10, Fremont Street. This
turned out TO be the very Identical building for
merry occupied by old Kit CObb!e, the shoemaker.
1t was bank hours but the Bank was shut, and
there was not soul 10 be seen. Just rs | was
going away, spied tin horn hanging by the
door with paper over it, on which was written,
"Persons having business at the BANK, are re-
quested to blow tho horIi." PUT the horn to
my lips and blew Il blast both long and Ioud.--i
After waiting about ten minutes, si,iud Isaac
Thumper coming slowly down the road he
proved TO be the cashier of tie Dogtown Bank,
and after some difficulty convinced him Of the
sItGiy Of cashlng the check.
Upon inquieing OF Isaac what use had been !
made Of the lorty-siX millions two hundred thou
sand dollars, he iniormCl me that mos: of it re-
naincd Invested i'll notes OF hand Money was
scarce, and was expected to conuue SO Until the
onion crop had been got in. 1t was easy to see
hat the city had sadly declined from its meridian
'plendor. In fact, Dogtown hus suffered com
'ete downfall, for hardly any body now speaks
If it as city. They have us much land as ever
md so long as it continued to be valued at their
own price, they were as rich rs jews but, un-
orunatcy, it fell in value the moment they eX-
,ected purchasers to pay for it. The Dog,owners
IRE poor enough at present, but they are not the
irst and probably will not be the last people who
AVE ruined themselves by building city OH
pecnlution,