The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-03
NEW y y GLAND.



rels, Pencils Bellot0s, Hubs, Pals, Mills, Clothes
&c-FrMit-Bedford- Property and Pursuits of
its Observation-Disclosures Value Of Propety-Ks
Position and Character-Psaches- Cariisle-Ks
Productions Railroad Fac,lities-Note.
Among the various towns of which I" old Con-
cord" is the mother, the most noteworthy, in all re-
spects, is Acton This town dates back to the year
1875, having been incorporated on the Sd of July
1t was however, settled long before it had corpo
rate existence, and lay within the bounds Of Con-
cord 1t appears to have always been 1ourishng
place, and distinguished for the uncompromisng
spirit Of repubcanism by which its inhabitants were
animated. OF this q notable proof was given in
l776, when the first proposition was made for the
formation Of republican government in this coun-
try proceeded from the people of Acton. In the
Revolution Acton produced several men who might
have been Cromwell's aids so resoute were they in
their opposition to the kingly rule that it was sought
to establish over the country. So early as 1767 this
town united with Boston in opposition to the use Of
British manufactures. In ITO it entered into an
agreement against the Of tea and other foreign
articles. Early in l775 company of minute-men
raisedf SERVICE and placed under the command
of Isaac Davis. On the 10th Of April, this company
was among the earliest in the field and felt the first
effects Of the British fire at the North Bridge at Con-
cord. 1t is generally admitted that it was owing
to Captain Daviss advice and entreaties that the
americans advanced against the English after having
1aen sack in the early part of the day. Captain
Jaws aao us company headed the column, and he
WAS WoanSed The Eth one Of his and another
sum Of 600 in aid Of the - % .e
at Acton, in honor of Davis and Ser to mhn,
the town added enough to erect fine coia.-- The
A.<<v ,v kkaa <lntr,
on the English they returned to Boston. A story
is yet told Of one Of their number which shows how
ferocionsy the fight was carried on At the foot Of
Fishes Hill, in Lexington, is house, around which
to get some water. As he going to the we'll, he
saw an Enghshman coming through the house for
the same purpose, and the recognition was mutual
"You are a dead man!' said the soldier, dwelling
his musket. "And 80 are you ~ returned Hayward.
They fired at the same moment, the soldier imme-
dately dying, while Hayward was MORALLY wounded,
and died the next day. This was rather warm work,
and quite Homeric. The place where the affair oc-
CURED is always pointed out to the traveller on the
"old Boston road.o 1t is quiet enough now, and
everything remains substantially as it was seventy
eight years ago.
Acton is about twenty-five miles from Boston. In
1850 it had a population Of l664, showing an in
crease of 43S in ten years, being at considerable
higher rate than the increase Of Concord. In the
same time the value of property was increased from
$260,20 l8 to $54l ,225, considerably more than
doubling The value Of the money at interest and
The chief agricultural productions Indian corn,
oats, rye, barley, milet wheat hops, hay, wood pc.
tatoes, beans, vegetables" fruit, DC The meadow
land Of all kinds is about 1900 acres of pasturage
almost 200; OF woodland, more than 300; of un-
improved land 4900acres; Of land covered by water
AGO acres.
Considerable milk is taken from Acton to Boston
but large portion OF it is obtained from the neigh
boring towns Marlborough Littleton, and others
by Mr.. James Hayward, who runs q car to the city
for the purpose daily.
The ponds in Acton are very beautiful, particular
ly Nag0g pond, which is mile long, and lies partly
in Litteton. Next to it is Grass pond which covers
1873 acres Assabeth river through part of the
town. Ice is taken only for local purposes.
The wood Of the place is composed Of the several
varieties OF the oak pine, chestnut, maple, birch elm
and locust There are varieties of the box the barks
of some of which, it is said have been used excel
lent substitutes for the Peruvian article. Without
going SO far as to assert this positively can find no
difficulty in understanding that the bark Of any tree
not absolutely poisonous, must be far better as medi
cine than the aduterated trash that is called ozark
par excellence, but is much more like bite.
The manufactures of Acton are quite numerous and
very profitable. MI. John Fletcher employs from
forty to fifty hands in making boots and shoes, and
other persons are engaged in the same pursuit,
though not SO extensively Mr.. Fletcher. The New
England powder mills, carried on by Colonel Bratt,
are situated here Upwards Of thirty thousand casks
Of twenty-five pounds EACH are annually made, and
thousand. It was here that the great explosion
took place last winter, though the concern has been
rather a fortunate one, thirteen years having then
elapsed without an explosion. Mr. VIM. Schouler
cousin to the gentleman who lately edited the Bos-
ton Atas) has print works establishment here, and
Mr.. George McLerren type dye works. Mr.. Noyes
has large sash and blind factory, and Mr.. A. Hay
ward an iron machine shop and pencil factory.
Barrels, mast-hoops, truss hoops, &C., are largely
manufactured, and also bellows and wagon hubs
Mr.. j. Buttrick manufactures pals and similar art
cles. Col w. s. Faulkner is extensively eng aged In
carrying on grist, plane, saw and plaster mills, and
Mr.. b. Wetherbee is in the same business Many
clothes manufactured here, at large tailoring
establishment and sold in various parts OF the United
States.
The production of fruit has been greatly ncfeased
in Acton Of late years. The sale of apples last year
was about four thousand. Mr.. Simon Tuttle has
been very successful in raising peaches, and this
kind of fruit will soon enter very largely into the
laid out. The sale Of various kinds Of berries in
Boston market, from this place. is exceedingly large
Sales OF some articles are made in Lowell. Butter
not so much made as formerly and Of cheese there
made. In favorable years, about three hundred
bushels of cranberres are gathered. Last year til,
crop proved q failure. They were more fortunate
in Concord, whence several hundred barrels wer'
il obtained in large quantities by planting corn
which is cut as soon as it reaches to the height o
thirty inches. For some time it renews itself, ant
in this way is good deal Of land used, and an arti
Gle obtained that is very productive in its returns il
the shape Of milk, for nothing better as feed fo
| cows can be imagined.
Bedford is another small town, formed principally
| from q part Of Concords old country, and dating
from 1729 II has about thousand inh sbitants anf
its principal article Of agricultural production is In
dian corn. 1t produces also the other agricultural
articles common to this region, in reasonable guam
titles but is considered not to be very favorably
situated for farming purposes. The value Of proper
ty in Bedford taking the valuation of 1850 for basis
Of calculation, cannot be much less than 800 900
which is an extraordinary amount, when we consider
the size of the place and the peculiar infecities Of
its position Shoes are largely manufactured there
and the business is very profitable. Other branches
Of manufacturing industry are pursued and with
profit. The people of Bedford, in the revolutionary
war; did good service to their country The value Of
money invested in various ways, there owned, in
1850, was $4,000.
Lincoln, another of Concord's ofsprings, dates
back to 1854, and is now in her hundredth year. II
is small place, with but little over 700 inhabitants