The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-15
From the .Nsw York Commercial advertiser
HISTORICAL. EXCURSION.


From Boston to Springfield, over the iar-iamed
Western rail road-one Of tbesnobIest works OF the
country. We do not marvel that the Massachusetts
people are proud of it ; and those OF New York
ought to be ashamed that they have not long ago built
one from this city to Albany, upon equally sub
stantial plan That Western rail road,--we had ne
YER seen beforeis shlly shaliy ratte-trap al
fair like most of the New York rail roads yet IN
operation But il is firm and strong, sustaining ire
mendous trains Of produce which go numbering
along from Albany to Boston, with force enough one
would suppose, to wake up old Rip Van Wrinkle him
self Yet it would seem that RIP IS determined that
he won't have his nap broken, at any rate We
think he would, however, could he ofS dream oil the
immense business trains which we saA stealing away
from New York, during only the two half days when
we were upon that road. Let the New York mer-
chants look TO IL.
Having passed through Framingham and Norces-
ter and Brookfed, the direction Of the rail road is
for several miles along the Of the Chicopee III
vera rapid mill stream-to Springheld--the Chico
pee diyergng farther Northward, however and enter
ing the Connecticut few miles above. This Spring
field very fine beautiful old town, by the way, but
as every body knows that, there is occasion for
description. Uncle Sam has an armory here.
Our course from Springfield North, along the
beautiful valley of the Connecticut-and where Is the
valley under the canopy OF heaven more beautiful
But alas rail road travelling spoils for the lazy,
numbering motion of the post coach, no matter how
commodious of the KIND or how fleet the teams
The steeds Of Apollo would hardly find employment
now, save upon the back roads and Phaeton would
be left TO crack up his leaders to empty chariot
of dire necessity, -Four and half
miles North Of Springfield, the Chicopee, is the
large manufacturing village Of Cabottsviile-a town
that has sprung into existence since our last travels
in this region, in 1926. 1t is built chiefly on he
South bank Of The Chcopee the buildings are lofty
and substantial the river dashes rocky bed
at their base and the tariff having given fresh
impulse TO the machinery, the brisk hum of the lat
ter miDgle. IN harmony with the music OF the waters.
Manufacturing is prosecuted here IN almost every de-
partment of industry. The cotton and paper mills,
however, take the lead but large business is done
in the iron lme--the manufacturing Of machinery
and of fine cutlery The most elegant swords worn
by our gallant officers Of the army aud navy are
manufactured by the Ameses here
The next point Of Importance is the village Of
South Hadley Falls situated at the foot Of the rapids
which the Connecticut rushes with foaming flu
ry as if trying its strength after being released from
the pressure of old Holyoke and Mount Tom. The
greatest mandatory here 10 that OF paper, by the
Ames', Of Springfield. There also several other
manufactures here, and canal, by means Of which
the rapids OF the river being ascent of fifty feet
surmounted. 1 his canal has five LOCKS, and cut Of
forty feet Depth three hundred feet through the rocks
Back from the river; in South Hadley proper, on
commanding site, stands Mount HoIyoke seminary
celebrated of late for its success in causing budding
ideas to shoot forth.
Hadley proper and northampton, is helghten by
the conquest which Yankee energy and perseverance
have obtained over the qucksands which IN ages
past have prevented the Instruction Of turnpike
between the river and the base Of the mountains
the side Of the river, the chief OF which is
Hoyoke. The scenery is gloriously wild and rug
ged through the gorge of the mountains, opening up
view of mat HESS beauty beyond, embracing
the broad int wales of Hadey and Northampton
through which the river winds laZy along, colng
.,..lf - 49, IL e
the glores of Hoyoke, and the beauty of the towns
al its feet, who has not heard We have ourselves
done our best at depicting BOTH long, long time ago.
And then, TO the history of Hadey, its bloody
wars with the mighty Pokanoket, and the regicdes
who voted 10 take of the head Of King Charles for
daring to undertake TO rule without Parliament,
have not those things been writ en- in the book
Of the Judges by DIR. Styles
OF northampton, or NoLatuck, as the Indians
called it, for aleady stated, there is
sion to speak, and therefore we shall say on. The
of and opuence and the region round
about of the most beautiful the face of the
earth as all the world knows. The old Chiefs Waw.
whllowah and Nehessahalant must have been
princes of taste TO select such place for their capt.
tai, and Round Hill for the site of their royal wig
Bancroft and Cogswel, more Republican
than the dusky foresters, converted the same roman
tic spot into hill OF science. And the literary in
situations in which Northampton still rejolces stand
tn yet. Across the river ten miles east the tin
covered turretS oil Amherst college glitter IN the
sunbeams. his is one college too much, and ought
to be consolidated with that of Wlams,own. This
multiplication of coll ges, and giving bounties for
students to come TO them, is poor bu mess. Educa-
ton societies have had their day and have been signal
failures. Northampton has been celebrated for its
great in all times since the red men left t-and
perhaps before. One of the Mathers and one of the
Elliots were here The great metaphysical Ed
wards, lived, and Brainerd died here. 1t is town
to which those who have accumulated wealth in the
cities delight to retire for its enjoyment.
From Northampton north, across pine plain, to
Haheld-a beautiful old town, quiet in IFS appear
ance as though every day were Sunday, celebrated
in its early history for the scenes OF distress and
danger through which 1t passed celebrated also for
the courage of its inhabitants Ii was furiousy at
tackled by Philip, in 1916 but his dark egions were
repus d. One year ailerward the experiment was
tried again, but force of seven hundred Indians
was defeated, chiefly by gallant band of thirty five
young men. Often did its inhabitants suffer by the
torch and tomabawk, and often were numbers of
them carried into captivity. II in this town
that the rag-farcica lnsurrection OF Shays was or
ganlzed but all is quiet and the fields on every
hand were waving with broom corn, to the exclusion
of every thing else. Brooms are manufactured here
to the amount Of fifty thousand dollars year
enough to sweep the whole face Of creation twice a
day. Its other products are geese and children, in
both of which it is fruitful.