The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-09
N Il W = n q Z a u y.
he Herald Commi.sioner,s Report.

The County Of Hampden-ks Origin--Ancieat
Settlement Spring fetd-Ths National Armory
Population from 1920 to ls50-Yalne asd H.
crease Of Proper,y-HoW Distribxted-
twrol Character-Land-Pr Productions Corn,
Oats, Rye, Barley, Wheat, &C.. &c.-ParioSs FRO
d~ctS-Manuf Observation-Disclosures of Cotton awd
Wooden Factories - Fowndries, &c.-Papr Mil,
Miscellaneous Articiss-Poscder Whps-Va
Tue of Stocks and other Inrestments-Of Homses
Bar~s, and Other Buildings Historical Inet
deNts- The Rebellion of 17s7-Ethan AAsn.
The county of Ham pden is the Young America '
OF Massachusetts, is it is the youngest county
In the State. 1t was incorporated in 1912, being
then carved out of the "Old County of Hampshire
and named from the great English patriot, the best,
II not the greatest that ever lived 1t is rich
and fertile country and is renowned for the beauty
OF its scenery the reatness of its water power and
the general prosperity Of its very intelligent popua-
hon. Though the most youthful, it is far from being
the least prosperous Of the several great divisions
this commonwealth as will appear from glance at
it's statistics. 1t has for its shire town the oldest set
Element in western Massachusetts,, Springfield, the
ancient Agawam, which dates from 1885, and there
fore is one of the most venerable places in the State
At that time the territory on which the settlement
and when the cost Of the crusade against the Pc
quods was assessed-for it is not Florida Indian wars
that alone cost money-Agawam was counted among
the Connecticut towns. In 1888, however, the peo-
pie declared that they belonged to Massachusetts,,
and with Massachusetts the place has ever since re-
manned. The name of Springfield was taken in
1640, probably from the "rivers, brooks, streams
and springs that there abounded in the territory
thus designated, and which was much greater
than the present citys boundaries. 1t is believed
that the place was incorporated in 1641. 1t has
always been an important place from the time that
It makes its appearance in history Ii Is great bu
siness centre, and presents very lively as well as
. very elegant Appearance. In Philips War it suf-
fered severely at the hands of the Indians. The
National Armory that is there established Is famous
on many accounts Like not few other institutions
of consequence, it has risen high from small begin.
niDgs Springfield being favorably situated for the
purBoee, and having previously been recruiting
station was selected early in the Revolutionary War
as military depot, where ammunition was made
and arms made and repaired. Its recommendations
were its central situation its easness OF access and
its inland position, which placed 1t beyond the
chance of being suddenly attacked by the enemy.
In 1874 the new government Of the United States
established the present armory, being thereunto in
duced by the consideration that many of the con-
veniences desired were already in existence. Great
additions have since been made to It, and 1t now has
high reputation The growth and prosperity OF
the town, it is all hands admitted are largely due
to the existence OF the armoy For some years past
. quarrel has been going on about the mode Of gov
erinR the institution, and at present the subject is
receiving the attention Of committee appointed by
the President of the United States.
The population of Hampden in 1920 was % ,O2l;
In 1880, 81 $40; in ls40, 1885, and in 1850 it had
increased to 5e224. There are twenty towns in the
county, two OF which-ChicOpee and Holyoke-
were made, the one in 1S48, and the other in 1885,
and taken from the territories Of Springfield aud
Il fnn1
14720 inhabitants in 1s40; in 1850 in connection
with the two new towns named they contained
26G30 persons so that very nearly the whole popu-
lar increase of the county from ls4O to 1850 was
made BY these places. Palmer increased from ,l50
to ,S96; Westfield from AGO to 4,0l0. No other
town increased sufficiently to be specifically meu-
toned. Several towns lost in the numbers of their
Inhabitants particularly Russell and Montgomery.
In lS40 the property of Hampden was officially
valued at SO lSs 423 IL in 1885, at s22 621 22O 77
showing an increase Of almost twelve and half
millions. Springfield. notwithstanding the loss Of
the valuable territory Of Chicopee, increased from
$36lO,l4l IS to 90 375 453 so; Palmer, from $685.,
5l9 to 81 2Os ,435 67 Westfed from 1904 317 so to
$1,563, 1853; West Springfield, from which Hoyoke
vas taken, from $500 $40 to 81 66l GAO so; Wilbra
ham, from 1887 1856 70 1928 ,2s7 so; Longmeadow,
from 834l ,713 to:$s45 1865; and Monson, from $780,
t73 So to- 9l6, lS5 go. Every town made some ad-
Hilton to I'd wealth, and in almost every instance the
bnount Of such ADDITION was larger. The new town
Of Chicopee was valued at $3,442 ,597, and it con-
tanned s3l9 inhabitants The new town of Hol-
yoke valued at 81 81, 1854, and its population
was 3,713.
As an agr iculturd region, Hampden stands very
high. Her tillage land amounts to 7O,Ol7 acres;
moving land and meadow, 44,75S; pasturage, 81
58S; woodland, 48 1856; uuimproved land, SIC, 1854;
uninprovable, 39.446; covered with water, 6S48.
There were produced in 1885, 222 $50 bushels Of In
dian corn; rye, lol 4s7; oats, III 572; wheat 264
barley 2422; potatoes about - 900 bushels fruit,
about $40 900 bushels tens of hsy $685. of broom
corn, "a. The number Of horses raised was ,l26;
Of steers and heifers, s,l4s; Of sheep, 1900; Of
swine, 505S. The number Of barns was $500.
The other agricultural productions are-wool OF
all kinds butter, cheese honey, hops, maple sugar,
buckwheat, beans, cloverseed, fax, teazes, broom
seed milk &c., &c The value of the wool grown an
nually is probably about $4,000. The amount Of
butter made each year Of late cannot be much un-
der million of pounds. lie amount Of cheese is
almost the same. The honey produced Is not under
20 600 pounds. Maple sugar Is obtained, but not to
. very large account. The value Of frdwC0d, bark,
and charcoal, is 300 ,0Oe.
The number of cotton factories in Hampden, in
1850, was twenty seven, having les, l92 spindles,
officially appraised at 81 06l 814-probaby greatly
below their real value. Chicopee, which Is but five
years old, and which has grown almost a. fast as
lawrence, had eleven factories, and go sos spindes
Hoayoke, one factory, and 900 spndles, valued at
325z.Oc. The other towns engaged In this business
Ere West Springfield, Ludlow, Monson, Holland,
Bromfield, Chester, and WespeiQ.
The number of woollen factories is fifteen. Mon
son takes the lead and Is followed by Wales, Spring
6eld Blandford, Wilbraham, West Springfield,
Chicopee, and Ludlow. These factories were ap-
praised at $l29 900, in 1850.
There were thirteen foundries in Hampton, in
1850, Springfield Leading and then comes Holyoke,
Chicopee, Westheld, Monson, and Palmer. There
were three large mschineshops at Springfield, two at
1t Chicopee and two at Holyoke-valued, In all,
$4,000 -Four smallarm factories at Chicopee,
were appraised at $4,000. There is q small
factory Of the same kind at Longmeadow.
There nine paper mills, situated at West Spring
Geld Westield, Springfield, Russell, Chicopee. and
Blsndford. They were valued ct $97 900. There
were in 1850, two ropewalks, eighteen tan houses.
thirty eight grit mills hundred and thirty three
raw mills twelve distill houses, one brewery nine
pulling mills card factory, one oil factory, and
forty six mills for miscellaneous purposes.
The miscellaneous manufactures are:-leather,
lumber, rakes, cutlery, coaches and ali other kinds
Of vehicles, palmeaf hats, bricks, raw silk vinegar
henndx hn1fa and ahoea chairs and cabinet .rana