Litchfield enquirer., 1859-07-28
LITCHFIELD, THURSDAY, JULY ss, 1859.
From the Courant.

From the Courant.
 Just forty years ago, in 1919, gazetteer of Connecticut was prepared and published by the late Dr. John O. Pease, and the man who subsequently, Senator John M Niles. The book is valuable now chiefly as means Of tracing in a reliable and authentic way, the numerous changes that have with that time occurred in Connecticut. At that day there was neither canal nor railroad within this State and the town of Litchfeld, (now doom- cd to dWindle from its inaccessibility, was es- teemed well accommodated as 50 roads, "there being five turnpikes leading from it." But, in certain moral changes, still greater progress has been made than in the means of intereeni- munication. In 1919, the writer says, "Of the various manufactures of the State, those of domestic spirits, consisting principally of gin and cider brandy, claim the first rahk as arti- cles of exportation and for their aggregate value. The principal seat of the gin mauufac- ture, is in the county of Hartford, particularly in the towns of East Windsor, Enfield and Windsor. There are in this county, 2l gin distilleres, some of which are upon an exten- sive scale The business IS pursued extensive ly and advantageously, and employs great amount of capital. The gin manufactured in the aforesaid town is of an excellent quality and is mostly sent abroad for market These two towns having engaged so extensively in this manufacture and taken the lead of all otll- ers it is not improbable that some one of them may ultimately become the Scheidam (a town in Holland famous for its manufacture of gin,) in America. This business furnishes ready and advantageous market for grain and wood, and contributes in no small degree to the agri- cultural prosperity of the county. In addition to the spirits manufactured at these establish ments, large quantities of beef and pork are fattened. It has been estimated that nearly 1000 head of beeves have been fattened at the several dstlleries in Hartford County in one season, besides great number of swine" The same man who wrote the above, lived to print in our columns, over his own signature, his hearty denunciation of the whole liquor-trade as pestiferous business in all it's bearings, and to sustain the thorough legality, constitution ality, and sound policy of our present Prohib- itory Statute, which outlaws the whole busi- ness and puts the dealers under the ban of public opinion, as we'll as outside of all help from the courts of the State That Judge Niles was conscientious and patriotic in the view he ultimately took, no man, who is ol,l enough to know what Connecticut was forty years ago. and who will take the trouble to explore her from corner to corner as she is now, can for moment doubt. Drive where you will ill private conveyances ride in any public stage or travel on any railroad of our State, and no competent judge will fail to see the marks of thrift and accumulating capital and widely diffused material prosperity through out our State All of the old men speak cheerfully of the improvements that have been made. We remember very striking testimony to this effect in the memorial address of Rev. Joab Brace of Newingtcn, who is as compe- tent witness on such point as can be call cd and find in the following extract from the sermon of Rev. Dr. Calhoun of Coventry, cor roborative testimony from an unimpeachable source i:
 Forty years ago there was but little prop erty in this parish, or in the county of Holland, compared with what is now possessed. This was apparent not only from the aspect of buil- dings, orchards, fences, the cultivation of farms, and the appearance of domestic animals, but from the furniture of dwellings, and the equipage then in use. There were then in this parish but four houses painted white, but four floors covered with carpet, and less than half q score of four-wheeled vehicles. Even the ex- pense of whitewash, as an application to the walls of houses was incurred by few of the in- habltants. And these were not the only ndi- cations of poverty compared with the present. There were few persons who had money at in- terest, or were the possessors of stocks, con- pared with the runiber who were in debt, and whose farms were mortgaged. Even our larg- CT and smaller farmers were obliged to resort to banks to save their property from foreclo- sures or attachments, to what would now be considered fearful extent.
 And what was the reason of this depres- sion in worldly circumstances The people were industrious, and in all respects, but one, frugal. The expense of living was small, com pared with that at the present time. Their gains aeere consumed, and they aeere oppressed by the use of intoricatimg drinks. Think of the annual expense of manufacturing and storing in cellars fifteen hundred or two thousand bar rels of cider, and then drawing it out and bringing it forth quart at time Think of the expense of making, transporting to distil- leries, and converting into cider brandy, an equal amount to be consumed here and else w.ere Think of the expense of hogsbead af ter hogshead of rum retailed to this little com munty during the season of having and har- vesting. Think of the expense of supplying various kinds of intoxicating drinks with which to express their respect and hospitality to friends who called to see them Think of the expense of providing these drinks abundantly for all gatherings military, social, eccle- siastical and clerical. Think of the expense incnrred at stores and tayerns for liuuorS dealt out in small measures. Examine the ledgers of our merchants, and learn what proportion of their trade was in intoxicating drinks. Learn how much idleness. litigation and crime were then occasioned by their use.