The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-02-09
For the Middlcbury Register.
"reminiscences of Week in Boston and
its Environs L.

why il was called Boston-its Population
its llarbor and Shipping-wharves, ave
MUGS, Wagon and railroad bridges-scigb-
riding-Snow Large.
One hundred and sixty miles south
east from the capital of our own Green
Mountain State. occupying peninsula
at the head of Massachusetts, Bay, lies
the pleasant city of Boston-the capita,
of Massachusetts, the metropolis of New
England and the birth place of Ameri.
can freedom. As city, it is but 3
years of age, having been incorporated
in February. 1922. Its Indian name
was Shawmut. The early settlers cal.
led il fremont. or Trimountain. from
the hills nearly in its centre. 1t con-
tanned about 700 acres, but this has long
since been found too narrow for the grow
ing city, which, passing the boundaries
thrown around it by nature, has, by FL
ling up around its borders, been extend
ed to about 1900 acres. 1t took its
present name in 1850, in honor of Rev.
john Cotton, second minister of the first
church. who came from Boston in Eng.
division of Old. South. and East Bos-
ton, connected by bridges and ferry.
South and East Boston contain about
coo acres each. which give the town an
area of some 2400 acres, an extent equal
to 6 or of the large farms in Addison
County. 1t contains population of
l39, 900, independent of the populous
towns of Roxbury, Cambridge and
Charleston, which are its offspring, and
swell the number of inhabitants to $50
O0O
The harbor of Boston is large and
commodious. containing ample room for
the whole British Navy. The entrance
is about miles wide but its broad Boz
sein-eantains an area Of Is square miles.
or $4,000 acres 1t is dotted with over
so islands, which tend to heighten its
charms in summer, and render it quite
picturesque We have formerly sailed
out and into this spacious retreat for
vessels, several times, and always with
increased pleasure and delight The a
mount of shipping row lying in the
harbor is very great. The almost count
lcss masts aud spare, with their ropes and
cordage, resemble. at this season of the
year, a vast forest. stripped of its foliage
and lifting up its leahcsJ arms aud
trunks to the gaze of heaven.
One of the mos. remarkable features
connected with the harbor is the costly
aud splendid wharves They are about
100 i. number aud of various dimcn.
sions Long wharf extends into the
harbor Loo feet is 100 feet wide. and
has 76 spacious warehouses about the
centre OF this wharf is well Of fresh wa
ter, 30 feet in depth Granite or Com
mercial wharf is of less dimensions. and
in its centre is a range of 81 granite
warehouses, - by 90 feet, which are
said to be uurivllled by any thing of
the kind in the United States for convc-
niemcc or grandeur. Its cost was half
million of dollars Lewis wharf contains
noble block of 20 granite stones some
Of which are 81 by so feet, and four
stories in height. This block of stores
and wharf were three years in building
On the end of this wharf is an observa-
tory, com mauding an extensive prospect
The whole was completed in 1889, at a
cost of 5000 900. Among the numer-
Gus wharvcs, there is one that covers an
area Of eight acres The whole extent
of wharves and docks now occupying
the margin of the shores within the har-
Dor of Boston, exclusive of those in
CharlestowD, exceeds 8 miles.
The fact that Boston is peninsula,
requires many artificial means to and
from the surrounding country The
:. Neck between Boston and Roxbury
was formerly the only passage to Bos-
ton, except by water This neck was
over one mile in length, and so low that
high tides swept across it, making Bos.
ton at times really an island In the
course of time, it has been raised to
proper level, ornamented with trees, and
nearly covered with buildings on each
side, so that it now forms the widest
and pleasantest avenue to the city. There
are several roeds or avenues taken from
the sea, by drawing in earth and form
ing highway for travel. at great cost.
The western avenue, as il is called. is a
substantial dam, about mile and half
in length, and from 60 to 100 feet in
width. This dam encloses about 600
acres of fats, over which the tide former
| ly flowed from TO 10 feet. A parti
ton dam divides this enclosure, and
forms, by the aid of food aud ebb tide,
a full aud receiving basin, thereby pro-
ducing, at all times. a great hydraulic
power. Cost. 100000. The yearly
receipts or nett earnings of this road
vary from $4,000 to 10000 The pro-
prietors claim a perpetual franchise.
Ip addition TO these, there are numer-
GUS bridges. The one leading to Charles
town is 1903 feet in length aud AZ in
breadth, and cost $4,000 The nett
earnings of the bridge have been from
Sll 900 to $4,000 yearly This bridge
is now free, being owned by the State.
The bridge leading to Cambridge is g.
1870 feet long, and cost s7G,667. Its re-
ceipls are over $4,000 per annum.
This bridge will become state property
in 1879. Various other bridges lead in
and ont Of Boston, but they are Of mi
nor Dimensions, and many Of them free
Canal bridge, leading to Vast cam.
bridge, will remain in the hands of pro-
prieiors, yielding handsome yearly ia-
come. nntil1s79, when it becomes State
property.
The iron horse and rail, from seven
different points, diverge and lead into
the hsart Of New England aud the west.
Nearly all Of these have their bridges,
| mr. viaduets If emf ance and denarture