Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-08
For THE STAR
EXCURSION FROM WARRINGTON.
No. IL.

MOnuay morning followlng a very rainy
sabbath. found Us on board the train cross
ing the Connecticut river at Hartford, on our
way to
MANCHESTER,
situated but ten miles from Hartford on the
eastern edge of the Connecticut valley. The
township is quite large, and almost wholly
destitute Of romantic scenery, being a culti-
waited plain. The manufacture of silk. cotton
and WOODEN fabrics has built up several small
villages, but the only one Of note is Msnches-
ter Green, and even this place has lost its
greatness In former times, travellers from
Hartford to Providence and Boston, breakfast
ed at Woodbridges Tavern, the most noted Of
any in that region. Washington and La Fay
ette, as well as many of the Revolutionary
fathers, have been its guests. But the open
ing of railroads diverted travel, and the Green
became almost desolated. However, the peO-
pie were not to be discouraged, and as wealth
could not flow into their villages by the stage
load, some other means was soon sought to at
tain it.
But what could be done? Had not Cennec-
tlcut ingenuity appropriated everything? No
oLe wished to compete with old established
firms; hence something new must be thought
OF. Finding nothing promising faiTer profit,
they concluded to run opposition to all the old
ladies and children in New England, by estab-
hshlng knitting factory. Capital came from
almost every house, and large factories were
soon built, giving quite new appearance to
the Green. An agent was despatched to Eng
land to purchase SIX machines, which were on
hand before the room was ready to receive
them. WOOdbridge's Tavern was used for a
boarding house.
The fabric produced by these machines was
knit tube about Is inches In diameter, and
of any length, called stockinet. from which
they manufactured various garments. These
English machines are upright, about four feet
high, and must be so placed that the operator
may walk freely around each machine They
were all placed ID one room, from which Wis
ltors were excluded, but being personally ac-
qualnted with the Superintendent, / was per-
Initted to enter and examine them. 1t would
De impossible to give a minute description
out the most noticeable thing was that every
sutch had two needles, and instead of knit
ting with one thread, the English machines
had four, which were always 90 degrees from
each other, On the tube. When the machine
was In action there was very peculiar YER
mleular motion at the four knitting points, as
they passed around after each other quite
rapidly.
10 my surprise, however, / was informed
mat these machines were very inferior. In
the hrst place they could not stand within six
feet OF each other, as there must be room
enough for two operators between them; and
secondly, 1t was difficult to tell when a stitch
was dropped on the opposite side. noticed
mat whenever this did occur the machine was
stopped. Tender yarn could not be used, nor
could very coarse fabric be made
AS soon as these machines commenced oper-
ating, machinist was detailed to obviate these
objections, which he did in three months Not
only were the difficulties overcome, but other
valuable improvements were effected, pro-
duclng quite different machine No patent
has been applied for, the proprietors believ-
ing II lar better TO keep the machine from
public view. was however permitted to see
1t, only with the understanding that should
not diyulCa auv-hiDp pxba hr
could be made. However, | can say this
much, that the machines stand close together
and tho operator is in sitting posture There
are also six knitting points. One new machine
VIII produce about twice the amount CT work
the old one can, and will knit as fast as $500
women.
From this fabric garments were made by
the women and children within a circle Of
twelve miles from the place Manchester has
thus become the center of a great industrial
movement, and distributed its weekly pay
mentS 10 thousands. Agencies for the sale Of
goods have been established in Boston New
York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore and Man
chester "stocklnet" carries the name of that
humble village all over the land. This for a
quiet rural summer retreat, is excelled by few
places Try 1t next season; taste their peaches
pears, cherries, and luscious fruits Of many
KINDS, and probably you viii be inclined to
do 1t second time.
+.
Were you ever in Rock Island, Illinois and
do you not recollect that keen, black eyed
gentiemanly grain merchant, who bought M
every load OF oats that came to market, and
monoPollzed the trade in spite of his competi-
tors: Dla You never see the same person in
= Inlca Boston, or New York, threading his
way between all classes of money-makers' and
driyipg trade where trade could be made
Will the ladies Of Washington, ID. c., forget
tne New ork cloak and mantilla store at the
cerner u Ninth street, mean will they for
get Us proprietor VIII the coteTie at Lafay-
ette institute forget how breathlessiy they
listened to the song Beautiful Star" " with its
accompaniment, or the scene of those inimit-
aole comics, and the phrase I" Hain't ALWAYS
used you well l' You do remember this West,
ern, Eastern, Northern, Southern, CosmopoI-
ltan gentleman, who has travelled the world
over, do you! Then you know the companion
with whom in ''a buggy carriage" spent the
day. And this, Of itself, is sufficient to have
passed pleasant day. We first visited the
"Notoh in the Mountain situated in the
northerly part Of Bolton, and made famous
not only for its scenery, but for its mica slate
qaarries; These quarries have furnished beau
tiful looking flag stones for payements In al
most all of our Atlantic cities. The walks ap-
preaching the Capitol in Washington are paved
with stones from this place. But the auarries
are now wholly closed. The mica slate, as it
called, is q mica SehiSt, and wears 80 rapid
- e.os bnefo Is now no demand Tor It,
On passing the mountain at the Notch, the
scenery changed from the plain of the Con-
necncut River valley, to rolling hills and mar
row vailies. From this place, over the entire
eastern part Of Connecticut, all of Rhode
Island, and that part of Massachusetts, be-
tween Rhode Island and the Atlantic, the
surface is like huge concealed waves. The
erests OF these waves or bills ere from four to
eight miles apart, and invariably richly wood
ed, contrasting finely with the cultivated val
lies between. In the early settlement of this
country turnpike company was formed to
build roads from Hartford to Boston, and from
Hartford to Providence. These roads were
built rs nearly as possible in direct lines over
the hills and through the vallies, and the
mails, as well rs travel and freight, were
forced over the routes for few years; but il
was soon ascertained that by q little varistion
nearly q level road could be built, and il was
soon accomplished, and parts of the old turn
pike xere closed. / we'll remember the differ
ence IN labor rs well rs in scenery, as L walked
back and forth from Hartford to Boston over
both the old and new roads. From the crest
OF every bill on the old road you had FIRE