Litchfield enquirer., 1851-11-13
Correspondence of the Christian Advocate.
Tho HOuSat0niC Valley.


The Housatonic Valley presents some
features of great interest, although, in
general, the country is rough, and the
soil comparatively sterile. This is espe-
cially the case nearly the whole of the
distance across the State of Connecticut.
Until you reach Canaan Falls TIE land is
rocky-the hills coming down close to
the brink of the river, and many of them
being quite incapable Of cultivation. Still
there are occasionally fats and slopes,
which are in good state Of cultivation,
and exhibit signs Of productiveness.--
Signs of thrift there are constantly be-
fore you, almost at every step of the
way, but these have been produced by
the hard hand of industry. The people
scattered through these hills will find
every foot Of soil which is made to their
hand, and where there is none they will
make it. "LaboY onsnio vincit"--labor
conquers all things-is truth as evil
dent among the rocks Of New England
as in any country We have yet seen. The
terraeed vineyards which ascend to the
very peaks and cliffs on the Rhine are
scarcely more wonderful than the corn
aud rye fields. and rich pasturage, which
adorn the hill sides and glens Of a coun~
try which seems formed principally for
water power and mineral produce.
After passing Canaan Falls the noun.
tain ranges reccde, and fine farming
country opens to the view. which extends
some sixteen miles Notwithstanding the
lively business town of Darlington. which
is as far in this direction as our travels
extended. The village Of Sheffield is
situated upon beautiful plain, and most
ly consists of pleasant and cemfol table
dwellings. thinly scattered along the main
road for the distance of a mile or more.
The buildings are neat and wear an air Of
comfort. Sheffield has two churches
The Congregationalst is wood struc-
ture--of what may be called the transit
ton class that is, the class between the
churches erected when the country was
frst settled. and the modern and most
improved style Of churches. The Meth
odist church is a comfortable, neat edi-
ice. handsomely located. and exhibiting
signs of modern improvements upon the
interior. There are several stores and
houses Of entertainment in Sheffield. cut,
what is much to the credit Of the place.
no grog.Shops. A large "town house"
and an "acadsmy" are in process OF
completion.
This region is famous for its marble
fIn hn
struction Of Girard College was obtain
ed, and it is said there is some prospect
that the proprietors will obtain the con.
tract for furnishing that for the enlarge
ment of the Capitol at Washington. The
marble shows itself in various places
which gives evidence that the stores Of
that important material for ornamental
building are here inexhaustlble. ..a
Having desire 10 see all "the lions" of
the region, we made "trip to the iron mills
at Canaan Falls. Here The river dashes
over the rocks and makes a considerable
descent, furnishing vas, facilities for pro-
peIling machinery. We passed through
Mr.. Ames' large iron establishment, and
were much interested with Us ma gnitude.
and the perfectiOn to which the machinery
is brought. The trip-hammers--Of which
there are several-are all worked by water
power, excepting one. A monster ham
mer weighing six tons-said to be the larg-
est in the worlds moved vertically by a
steam engine of two hundred hOrse- power.
They had under this tremendous hammer
the shaft of a lake steamer-One Of the two
steamers designed TO ply between Buffalo
and Monroe. The principal part of the
work done here is the manufacturing of the
tires of locomotives. The iire.rolling ma
chine requires four hundred horse power.
The operation Of rolling, turning and weld
ing these tires, or rims, is most beautiful
one, aRd the result would be sufficiently
astonishing 10 one perfectly green in the
business. A railroad track crosses the riv>
or and enters the building, by which coal is
brought in, and the productions of the es-
tabliJhment taken away,
The firm OF Garfield and Robbins are
constructing an immense canal, which is to
receive the water at the head OF the Falls,
and conduct it to distance below, where
it will furnish power for any amount OF ma
chinery. This locality, in time, will pro-
baby be occupied by numerous manufacto-
ries Of various description, The natural
scenery is wild and picturesqe. and canno;
fail to impress the mind of the visitor with
emotions Of sablimily. We were we'll paid
for our visit. and babe adieu TO the thunder
ing Of the Falls, and The equally terrible
noise of the trip hammers. with somewhat
increased admiration of the natural resour-
ces Of our country. and the mechanical &C.
Mus Of the Yankees.
The scenery nj this season Is SURPRISING
" beautiful. The forests are rapidly chang
ing their livery. The uniform verdare OF
spring and summer 10 exchanged for the
infinite variety Of hues which the foliage Of
our American forests assume when smitten
BY frost. OF feeling the effects OF natural
decay. The leaves Of the maple and the
oak assume every variety Of shade from
deep red 70 q pale yellow, while some trees
Of softer texture exhibit the palenoss Of
Iesth. With these varieties OF hue the va
riOhs speciea Of eVsrgree0s scattersd thrO'
the m0nnkain f0rOsfa Of these regions co., |
us;ama@ = ~ nonfraaR MA handaananA