Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-07-01
Whole No. SSS.
Correspondence Of Me Bostoa AtiasJ
THE NEW TOWN OF LAWRENCE.
LAWRENCE, Junc 81. Isi7.

year Previous to June. last year, there
were scarcely any buildings erected, except
/, the E-sea Company's boarding house, Oh the
west side of the turnpike road leading from
'he Aneover bridge 10 Mcihnen Village.
h The beginning of June, a year ago, Wit
| messed the raising of the first irnme for two
story building on Common street, now occu-
| pea ~ tin and stove shop, since which,
| probably four hundred buildings have been
erected for various purposes, aud many arc
daily progressing.
| II ~ not easy TO form correct idea, from
a description, Of the many large works gpiny
| on al present person must be on the spot
himself to enable him to Judge correctly, and
then he must have some time 10 spend ~ or
der to get view OF them. When approach
ing the place from the hndovcr side, on the
main road or street, which is very even aud
bront, and where few buildings are erect
! ed on each side for workshops and stores,
| The first sight tha, strikes him il the mnny
heavy four horse teams, some empty, some
loaded with large stones, brought from n
ledge on the snnc side about half n mile
! from The bridge, 10 the various works IN
building, aud which, II he chooses to follow
over TO the narrow bridge. be must be very
careful 10 watch when approaching and pass
ing each other aud keep near the railing,
otherwise he will stand O chance 20 be lam,
med to pieces.
H When crossing the bridge on The west
sIde Is the dam across the Merrunac river
II whs commenced IN August IS45, is from
% To ID feet high, varying with the bed If
tho river, length 800 feet. ls :}6 feet thick NJ
II the bottom, and will be ~ feet at the Top.
and give tall Of water ui % feet. The
workmen are now busy nj work on half OF
II, aud the heavy stones, laid IN cement nrc
rapidly increasing IN height, winch, when
completed, will be about ~ feet from ~
present base. il is contemplated 10 have the
whole dam ready before the winter sets ~,
but owing to the high water in the river last
spring, that retarded the work, il will be nee.
cssnry to go on vigorously to get II compile
ted before cold weather Commences. Tho
work looks solid and beautiful with its ham.
mercd facing, and is calculated 10 De OF tie
greatest strength, to withstand tho immense
pressure OF the whole Meuimsc river.
| On the westerly line up the river. on it's
| north side, are seen multitude Of shnntccs
which denote the presence Of the hard work
ing sons OF Sweet Ireland" which make
themselves easily known by their pcculiar
style OF architecture, and whose inmates are
seen in every direction digging, hauling. car
rying brick hods, &c. to perhaps one thou.
sand 10 number aud on the west side oi the
turnpike to Melhucn village, due north a
| quarter OF nile, are seen the Essex Com.
pany's temporary workshops, and fine look
ing two story boarding houses Of wood, and
carpenters shops, with high chimnies, for
planning and saving, belonging TO private IN
dvdUas-tbese are carried by steam.
The canal commences at the northerly end
OF the dam, by semi. circular firm, where,
IN parallel line north from its beginning,
bout one hundred yards, the guard locks are
constructing, which, like the dam, rest on sol
! ID rocks, II then continues east, following
the bent Of the river, about four hundred feet
from the same, fully one mile in lcneth-onc
hundred feet WIDE a, It's upper end, and Twelve
teet deep to ITS termination where other
guard-locks are constructing !; this will uiso
receive the water ~ the fall.
\ On the east side, near The bridge, two piers
are seen, built last year, one is nearly con-
pletcd, the other hut partially so. These are
built by the Boston and Maine Railroad, over
which bridge Is to be laid. Last year. they
promised to have :hc cars running over u by
his time but everything connected with
that Railroad IS done in dilatory and unbus-
mess like manner.
! The Atlantic Cotton Mills commence O.
bout 1000 fee, east from the bridge, aud
stretch down the river 1900 feet, on half os
which rWer-wali Is completed part OF the
foundation aud whecl-pt Of their hrst mill 10
done but that they will succeed IN getting
up Two entire mills this year, rs intended, 10
very uncertain. Abreast OF The MILLS. on the
nOrthcrly side OF the canal, are built aud now
are building three fine looking brick blocks
OF boarding houses, three stores high. be.
sides a,lIcs, with slated roofs, Tor eight 'ami-
Ics each, very conveniently constructed
One is already occupied, another is IN q very
forward state, aud a third is receiving IT'S
roof. The soil on these premises ~ very
sandy. THIS Company hns charter OF two
hundred feet long, four stories high, f"r the
manufacture Of cottons, aud jndging from
wha, is done, their whole establishment will
make fine appearance, and as regards SO
lidiy aud profit, It's getting up. the worthy
and Hon. Abbott Lawrence, is good guar.
nnly that nothing from his side will DC ou,l.
ted 10 make II so.
Tho works OF the Bay State Mills con
tnuc down the river one thousand feet, on
The whole length of which has been com.
plctcd most substantial aud beauiilnl river
wall, which, when that Of the Atlantic Mills
Is completed, will, as n whole, for one halt
mile, present TO the bcbolder on the opposite
shore, q solid smooth stone wall. pleasing to.
the eye, perhaps not cxcclled by any IN this
country.
This compony's works require more than
passing notice their magnitude and solldiiy
make them decidedly the greatest work of
The kind ~ America. The whole length OF
the river wall will be covered with one entire
building, stories high, with the exception
Of centre building, 5 stories high, with it's
gable ends facing the river and yard. Two
wings leading north from the ends OF this
building sbou, $50 feet, also 3 stories high
except the last 80 feet OF = storics--w,li
make one solid brick wall, towards one tbmd
OF mile IN length, TO be used for oil neces-
sary purposes, connected with tho Mills
OF this, nbout 400 feet are already under
slated roof; 200 feet stretching out on each
side from the centre building and the first
aud second stories the whole length 10 tho
west end is daily progressing upwards. In a
perallol line with the termination OF these
wings, Is seen the foundation Of the fret and
osetcily Mill, aud excavations OF the centre
| Mil al a nfadtttota aud ua., ,I.o