Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-06-20
M | S G E L L A N Y.
THE FAIRBANKS GREAT SCALE
WORKS AT ST. J0HNSBURY.

ST. JoHEsBuRY, W., April Is, 1857.
Whoever wishes TO see a thorough New
England Village should visit St. Johnsbury.-
The place is situated at the present terminus of
the Connecticut and Passumpsic Railroad.
say present terminus, because il is in contem-
plation to extend the line next fall TO Barton,
twenty-seven miles norihward, and ultimately
to carry it TO the Canada line, where il may
before long connect with direct line to Mon
trea.
Freshness, neatness, and quiet air of thrift,
are the characteristics of the Vermont villages.
The Town Hall is large and handsome brick
building, the churches are neat specimens Of
Ecclesiastical architecture, there are two excel
lent hotels, and fine hall for lectures and con-
certs. In short, ST. Johnsbury is model vii
lage, and its inhabitants rank high in the in
tellectual scale. They are leclure-going
people, and few more discriminative audiences
are to be found. There is, TOO, Choral So
ciety, which is well supported.
But the great feature of St. Johnsbury-the
heart Of the place, and the centre Of the busi-
ness-is the extensive and world-known scale
mandatory of the Messrs. Fairbanks. To
this establishment l recently paid visit, and
imagining that pen-andink sketch of what
there saw might be interesting to the readers
OF the Traveller, let me jot down my expert
ences among the scale makers.
The firm consists of Erastus Fairbanks,
senior partner. Thaddeus Fairbanks the inven-
tor, and Horace, Charles and Franklin Fair
banks, sons of the senior partner. All ofthem
are actively engaged in the manufacture ofscales,
or in the general management of the business,
either at headquarters or at the several agen-
cies in the larger cities in the Union.
The mandatory of the Fairbanks scales is
situated in a sort of valley or hollow, about
half mile from the railway depot. 1t was a
bright wintry morning when trudged towards
it, along the snow-covered road. Leaving the
main street just beyond the Town Hall, and
turning 10 the right, passed between high
banks, on which stood several fine dwelling
houses, owned by members OF the firm of their
employees. The road descended in gentle
angle until reached the works, which lay a
little TO the left of it.
There was nothing very imposing in the ex-
ternal appearance of the factory. 1t consisted
of an irregular cluster of buildings, one part
having been built on to another, as additional
business facilities required. On entering the
premises, Offices and store appeared on the
right hand; and in order to obtain permission
to see the factory, applied to headquarters,
and introduced myself to Governor Fairbanks,
who at once offered me every facility, and
placed me under the care of very intelligent
conductor. by whom was pilOted through the
place.
As it would be quite impossible to recount II
detail the various processes of the Scale manu-
facture, without the aid of illustrative diagrams
I shall not attempt more than general descrip
ton Keeping this in mind, let the reader &C
company me as wander through the depart
ments, commencing with the Foundery,