Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-04-23
On City.


TO an old resident of Worcester the scene which
Main street presents upon bright spring morning,
such as yesterday, full of interest, not only on
account Of the hustle and activity which every where
prevails, but more especially on account Of the strik
ing contrast which the mind Involuntary makes, Of
the present with the past.
The little rural country village, with some seven
thousand inhabitants, of ten years ago, has become
a city of near twenty thousand, with all the agen-
ces and activities in operation, for wider expan-
sion, aud an indefinite increase OF its business and
population. Had it been predicted to the good peo-
pie Of Worcester ten years ago, that they would
witness the changes that they have witnessed, in
single decade of years, the most visionary among
them could not have accepted it for moment
There was no water power TO speak of, no great
natural resources of iron coal no large concentra-
ton of capital, upon any particular branch Of man.
ufactures in that there was nothing which would
seem to make it an object for a shrewd New Eng
LANDER about to try his orune pitch his tent here
in preference to any other town, and yet above al
most any other town in the State it did possess ad.
vantages which, dormant heretofore, could only be
brought cut in the period which we are contempat.
ing. 1t was so situated in regard to location, that it
could not but be placed in the very centre of that
great net work of iron which the spirit of improve
ment and enterprise has swung across the State. 1t
had too, SOIL which for fertility and productveness,
was rarely to be found in any other township in the
Commonwealth. But above all, it had men and
'oomen. population brought up in habits of indus
try and sobiety, away from the seductive influences
OF vice and the temptations to incidence. which so
easily beset the working population of the towns
upon the seaboard and III great manufacturing vii
lagos Like seeks to assmilate with like, and SC
upon this principle, the influx of the new population
has been OF character to do no dscredit to the orig
NAL stock. New branches of business have beer
establshed-new enterprises set on foot-causing &
constant demand for the labor Of human hands, anc
the skill of the thoughtful BRAIN until The whole cit
has come to be almost perfect hive of productiv,
industry.
Does any man dare to say that we have reache,
the climax of our progress? that we must 60 bac
before we advance further, and encounter reverses
as offsets to these seasons Of prosperity? Let bin
take stroll we did yesterday, through our throng
ed horoughfares, and see the activity that pervade
our business life. Let him see the city stretching
out It's arms, farther and wider in every direction
aud clutchlng in its grasp from the wdness of ma
ture, the broad acres of Forest valley and upland 70
the future homes of this busy, ober, and indusriou
population who have made Worcester what she i.
and we think he will be ready to say with us, til;
in view of what has been done in a brief space ,
time already, from the humblest beginnings, we ca
set no limit to what may be achieved in the future