The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-19

grateful and barbarous as TO refuse to permit these
vessels of war, brought for these enevolent pur.
poses, to communicate freely with the shore. &c
obtain all such supplies as they wanted and &c
convince the people how much better il would be
to become the provinces OF England and France,
than to live independent and govern themselves
nave gwen you fair synopsis OF all the
reasons assigned for putting on the blockade and
If ever weaker or more puerile document pro-
ceeded from the pen of diplomatic representa-.
tive, have yet to see it. Much more manly and
noble would 1t have been to have said =" We have
come to rob you, and are resolved to do it
| A CITIZEN OF THE U. 8.
WooNsocKET, r. l., August H. 1916.
Peculiarities of this Plaee-Its Enterprise, Rapid
Gropth and Property Woonsoeket FaRs-Re-
,niniscsnces of the Past-Ertensive Manufactur-
ing Operations-Accumsllation of Fortunes- The
Ballous-Ed,card Harris-Railroad Meeting,
&c. &c.
promised, in a former letter, to give you de-
scrption Of this village, but it is about the queer
est place to attempt to describe that | ever lit
upon. There is no regularity or uniformity to it.
Unlike Lowell and many other manufacturing
places, which have been built up by corporations,
Woonsocket is almost entirely owned by indlvi-
dual manufacturers and other citizens, and each
one has built his factory or his house to suit his
Se o. wsou.
ger Is ut once convinced that money is the grand
object OF pursuit here-as, indeed, it is every
where-and that ornament or beauty is not much
thought OF. There is a roughness and want OF
harmony in the construction Of the buildings,
which evinees a most profound devotion TO the
spirit OF uiilitarianism. The continued hustle and
activity among the people, in some measure,
atones Tor the uncouth appearance OF the village
in other respects; at least the mind is diverted
and Is led TO admire its enterprise, life, rapid
growth and prosperity.
Woonsocket is built on both sides Of the Black
stone river, about fifteen miles from Providence.
The river, at this point, is the dividing line be-
tween the towns OF Smlthtield and Cumberland,
and hence the village is partly within the limits of
each of these towns. Woonsocket'' is an Indian
name, and it is now about the only existing me-
memo of the wild "Natve Americans who
once erected the wigwam and kindled the coun-
Gil fire on the banks of the Blackstone. Here the
river has natural fall OF many feet, and when
the waters are high the view Is rather majestic,
as the liquid element tumbles down upon the rag
ged rocks, and goes foatning and plunging into
the abyss below. At the present time, there is
hardly water enough to carry the numerous mills,
and very little is suffered TO escape over the falls
In the spring of the year, however, when the river
is high, these falls are said to present a sublime
spectacle to the beholder. The rocks upon which
the water falls, exhibit the marks of constant wear
for long period OF time, and are really curious
rthings to examine. -
1t Is within the memory of many of the inha-
bitants, not accounted very old neither, that
Woonsocket was an unnhabted place, with
nothing but grist mill to break the solitude of
nature. The brushwood and almost barren sand
banks in the vicinity Of the falls, presented but
few attractions to the agrculturasts, whose farm
houses were scattered over the adjacent country.
1 he land on which the fiourishing village is now
built, and which is almost burdened with wealth
and population, could have been bought forty
years ago for mere song Manufacturing was
h st commenced here on small scale, by indivi-
duals of mode ate means, and it has gradually
progressed, until now the water power is nearly
all taken up. Corporations, as before remarked
have had but little to do in building up the place
individual enterprise has done The work and done
it effectualy.
There are, know not, how many cotton mills
in constant operation here, and one two very
extensive woollen establishments. For the last
merry night and day, and then have been unable
TO supply the demand for their cloth. The profits
of the manufacturers have been enormous IN
some instances, l am told, amounting to eighty
per cent on the capital invested. Thirty per cent
is regarded a very moderate profit. Fortunes,
OF course, have been realized, and many men
would doubtless be able to retire with a compe-
tency, who a few years since were poor Seve-
raj new mills have been erected recently, and
more are going up. In some of them, steam
power is used when the water power fails, as it
frequently does at this season of the year, espe-
cialiy when they operate night and day.
On the Smithfield side Of the river is large es-
adjustment, comprising two or three handsome
mis, owned by company ofProvldepce capital
sts This part of the village is laid out and built
in very handsome manner. 1t is called " B-r-
non." Sullivan Dofr, the father OF Thomas W.
Dorr, is one of the owners OF this establishment.
Another establishment, on the Cumberland side,
is called the Darlington Mills" being named af-
ter General Darlington, Of Providence. Most of
the other mills have been built and are owned by
citizens ofWoonsocket. There are three brothers
by the name of Ballou, who were among the earli-
est to engage in manufactures here, and have been
in the business ever SINCE, One OF them, Dexter
Balou, Esq, 10 president ofthe Woonsocket Bank
They commenced with small means, but are now
rich rs se
Mr. Edward Harris, woollen manufacturer,
is said to be the most enterprising man, and pro-
badly the wealthiest citizen of Woonsocket. He
has built up his fortune in the manufacturing bu-
sness and is still in the prime of life, with the
prospect of accommodating much more. He has
just erected a large mill, which is not yet filled
with machinery.
There are Eve or six churches here of the vari-
Gus denominations, including one of the Catholic
order, which has recently been built. Ten OF fif-
teen years age there was not church in the place,
and only occasional preaching in a school house
will notice o her matters connected with this
and the neighboring villages, in a future letter,
and also speak ofthe new tariff law.
Tomorrow there is to be a meeting Of the
friends OF the great Central Railroad from Boston
to New York, at this place, OF which may have
occasion to speak.
The Post once Encouragement.
Mr.. j. G. BENNETT
DEAR Sri have seen a great many COM
the post Office, but none OF them come near case
that happened to me. The facts are these III
sent the Herald and another paper to one of my
friends at New Rochelle, last Wednesday week,
18th August,) and would you believe il = it did
not arrive there till last Wednesday morning. Is
nj q ouf fra a mi NM in fte nffc