The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-27
atstellameotis.
From the LopeH Journal.
A SKETCH OF LOWELL.

Mr.. EDITOR hand you, for publication, the
following sketch of Lowell--its manufacturing
establishments, schools, morals religion, ct cefe-
rd. My object is to spread before the politi-
clans and phanthropists of the agricultural and
commercial districts Of the Union a brief but
true picture Of much that cannot fail to interest
them in relation to the condition and character
as great manufacturing community.
The town of Lowell was incorporated March,
1926. On the spot now occupied by the city the
population, at the time the first purchases were
made for manufacturing purposes, did not exceed
200 persons. In 1928, it reached 1882; in 1890,
it was GAIT; in 1888 it was IL 1858; in 1885, il
was 1888; and by the census of 1910, it was
20,9Sl. Ii is now only 20 years since the pro-
ject of using the waters Of the Pawtucket Falls
originated with several enterprising gentlemen
of Boston and vicinity. The increase OF popu-
lation has, therefore, exceeded thousand
year, for 90 wears Probably il will continue TO
increase at the same rapid rate for ten years TO
come.
The city charter WINS obtained in 1896. The
city is situated at the confluence OF the Merri-
mack and Concord rivers, on the west side Of
the Merrimack, above and below the famous
Pawtucket Falls, and on both sides of the Con-
cord, between which and the Falls, a distance
Of about mile, the canals and mills are all To-
Gated, extending back from the first named river
about three 9ourths of mile. Lowell is con-
nected with Boston by the Middlesex canal and
the Boston and Lowell railroad. The distance
is 26 miles. The road Is the best built of any
in the United States. 1t is constructed with
IRON rails, resting on granite seepers laid on
stones mbedded in the earth, and has double
tracks. The city is connected with Andover
and Haverhill, in this State, and Exeter, N. H.,
by railroad that connects with the Boston and
Lowell, ten miles below. il is connected with
Nashua, N. H., by the Nashua and Lowell rail-
road, fifteen miles in length. Numerous lines Of
stages also connect it with every other import
ant section of the surrounding country. II IS
bounded as follows, viz: LOGS rods on MerrI-
mack river, 426 on Tewksbury, 2fS on Concord
river, and 1,122 rods on the old town OF ChelDs-
ford, Of which it originally formed part II
contains 5000 acres, including half the waters
of the rivers, the distance which they bound it.
The great corporations of the city are ii IN
number. The capital invested in them amounts
TO $l0,600,000. The Proprietors OF the Locks
and Canals on Merrimack river may be consider
ed as the original owners of all the water power
of the Merrimack, at this place, and the original
purchasers of all the most valuable adjoining
lands. This company was Incorporated in 1892,
for the purpose of making a canal and locks
around the Pawtucket Falls. Its capital stock
is 100000. The charter was purchased by
the present company, on the eve OF commencing
the manufacturing operations in this place, that
dam across the Merrmack, and the various ca
mails in the city, by which its waters are convey
ed to the mills, were made by it. With two
exceptions, il built all the mills, boarding
and machinery, of the other corporations. 1t
has two shops, smithy and foundry, and gives
constant employment to 500 men, and when
building mills and boarding houses for new cor
poralions. to 1900. Its principal building is
called The Machine shop IL turns out manu-
featured articles TO the amount of about $3.50 900
per annum The stock in this corporation has
been, if it is not now, probably the best in the
world. Besides selling vast amount of land
on which the principal part of the city now
stands, ut prices varying from one-eighth OF
dollar to one dollar per square foot, which was
purchased at one or two hundred dollars the
acre, the profit on all the mills and boarding
houses il has built on good contracts for the
other corporations, and the profits on the I'M
mense manufactures of its shops, consisting
principally of full sets of machinery for cotton
and woolen mills, locomotive engines, et ceterd,
it reserves and receives an annual rent for the
water power disposed Of for each mill.
The capital stock of the remaining 10 great
corporations, is, of course, $40 100000 Besides
these establishments, there are the Lowell
Bleacherv the extensive Powder Works OF q.
M. Whipple, Esq; the Flannel Mills the Whit
ney Mills where blankets of the very best quail
ty and finish are made Batting Mill Gard and
Whip Factory of White & Co. an extensive
Bobbin Factory of the Messrs. Douglass; Pla-
ming Machine of Brooks and Pickering extern
sive Carriage and Harness Mandatory OF Day,
Converse e. Whittredge; Sash and Door facto-
ry of J. II. Wrand-employing altogether capt.
| tai Of about 100000 and 400 operatives. The
whole number of males employed in all inc