The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-05


the commencement Of its corporate existence,
it had 1870 inhabitants Shortly after that
| time, it commenced that rapid increase which
| has made it ono OF the most noted places in
Worcester county, with q rank second only to that
Of Worcester city In 1850, the population was 009
| and the lowest estimate makes the present number
OF its inhabitants 500 while, by most it is put down
at 7 900. In 1850 .the number Of dwelling houses
was H. which has since been greatly increased; of
shops, 80; of warehouses and stores, ~; OF barns,
405; and of all other buildings OF the value OF twenty
dollars and upwards, rs. The amount Of money at
interest was $2ls $685. value OF bank and insurance
stock $76,s20; shares in bridges, canals turnpkes
and railroads, $44 ,l39; amount OF every persons
| stock in trade, $2lS, 692. Considerable additions
must be made TO the several items In order to get
a close approximation to the present condition Of
the town. which, for the last three years. has grown
with amazing rapidty.
| Fitchburg is to be found in the construction Of
railroads. whereby she has obtained prompt,
cheap and quick access to many markets for the
sale Of the results of her manufacturing industry her
facilities for manufacturing being very great IL Is
about eleven years ago that the Boston and Fitch.
burg Railroad was commenced. The grant Of
charter for the construction of this railroad met with
vehement opposition from other railroad companies,
all OF which seem to think that they are bound TO
have monopoly throughout the whole country. The
opposition was ferocious in its character, and
would have proved successful but for what may be
called the heroical exertions Of Mr. Croker, Of
Fitchburg which turned the scale in favor of the
enterprise. II was even difficult task to get
the stock taken and along the whole line there was
but little confidence in the success OF the undertaking;
yet In lS45 just after the comp leOn OF the road, its
stock sold at $780, and difficult to be had at even
that price, and it's dividends ten per cent per
annum, for some time. This was under the presi-
dency of Mr.. Croker; but when that gentleman re-
tired from the management of the company affairs,
change soon commenced, and there Is no saying
where it will stop, it has been very steady, and so
exceedingly sure. The dividends are now but six
per cent, with what is called steady downward ten
rs n
idiot, or an incurable mailman, who should be de-
tected in giving above $50 per share for stock in the
crazy concern. This is the result Of bad manage
mentor the sources of great profits are far more
abundant now than they were eight years ago
making directors Of men who attend to their duties
in no other way except to pass themselves and fam
lies gratuitOusly the road; and in looking for
financial skill and business capacity in large tax
bill and big belly. Fitchburg has nothing to do
with this mismanagement, which is as odous to her
as i is to every other place having any connection
with the road. 1t would have been better for all
concerned, were she at the head of the company.
The host Of railroads above Fitchburg, in various
directions have proved as beneficial to this town
and to the travelling and business public generally,
they have been destructive to theortunes ofpretty
much all who had anything to do with them in their
early days. The success OF the Fitchburg road, the
mere idea Of which was laughed at by the whole
monied world and considered to be very good joke,
deceived people; because the one undertaking had
succeeded the others pronounced to be splendid
opportunities for investments for loose captawhich
paid over to either of these Jobs. Great fortunes
were reduced to skeletons, completeness became in
competent to support their possessors, and the
people had fallen into that most common of ali com
place bunders, the installing the reverse of
wrong tor right Yet nothing can be clearer than
at the outset, these undertakings were perfectly
honest in their character They did not become
'jobs until il was demonstrated that somebody was
to be cheated and swindled, and each "bg fish" was
determined that it should not be himself, and pre-
eating process, when voraciously entered upon is
sometimes very injurious to people It was so in
the present case, and the sharks were themselves
hooked out Of the Of speculation in not few in
especial eating. The sympathy that they have re-
ceived has all been thrown away, for it was nero
question OF eating or being eaten As the poet
says
peak not OF niceness men there's chance Tor wreck
IT, ne ~ ~ ~, an SAL ao,as q. nv d.cl H'A
y. ..1f see the ey,ng ooipn nm, nap ns aecx,
Wise men applaud us when We ea' the eaters,
p.s;aos .o -, 90 pos,or, -r,c,, onnno... ,.;.,,
many other roads. and the Vermont and Massachn
sets road which connects with the roads above there
Is 2 railroad from fltchDurg 70 ocerhng, wnere IL
ftias fr travel anJ Observation-Disclosures are verv Great
and such as few towns possess
The manufacturing business Of Fitchburg IS SO ex-
tensive ana 50 various IN us cnaracNr, sla' Huss
agriculture hut little need be said. for it does not
profess TO be farming place, though even in that
mode OF industry 1t Is h'ghy respectable. VI In
a an ;ncrease Of more than oa hnshes since Isa5
oats 1868 bushels being an increase Of 1855
bushels; wheat l9l bushels being falling on of2l!
o; e01 hnsh. iue ;oh 49, uens sa
decrease in i've wears; tons Of hay, 3l7s an increase
Of 227 tons; pounds of hops, 1900 which is not ma
teria!ly dinereI rom Me amount N SD 40 Inc
Isin Emit ~ Il ahnndantw nroducsd MIL bntter
cheese and honey are sold in considerable quantities
and so are vegetables OF various kinds The acres
OF meadow isna are o,oo4, u Pas.afsge, o'ott,
covered With water Iss. The number Of horses
owned here is above 400; OF oxen about $50; of