Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-21
@Ortester @aiIg SPY,
THE DAILY SPY.
For the Daily Spy.

Blackstone canal. BY means of this aqueous
road to the tide-water, vast quantities of flour
grain, coal, and many other articles Of COM
merce were shipped to this town, and from
thence distributed throughout northern Mas
sachusetts, Eastern Vermont, and Western
New Hampshire. In return the farmers
found a quick market for their surplus pro-
duce, and the manufacturers of cotton and
WOODEN goods, more convenient, and less
expensive way of shipping their goods to mar
ket. 1t was at this time that oak timber for
ship-building, cut from the pastures and for
ests in this vicinity first found market in
the various ''ports" on our seaboard, and this
branch OF trade became quite extensive, and
profitable. The canal was of the utmost inl-
portance to the future prosperity OF this town,
and the benefits conferred have been perma-
nent-it was the means Of transferring large
country trade from Boston to New York, and
Providence, and Worcester came in for her
share OF the profits in the exchange. Wor-
cester increased rapidly in inhabitants, and
wealth, and became one Of the most impor-
tant and beautiful towns in the common
wealth,-a position which she still maintains
1t was said by the late eminent statesman of
our city, Hon. John Davis, that '4he Black
stone canal was the making Of Worcester, > in
what way will soon be seen. Although the
canal is now obsolete, ami numbered among
the things that were, majority OF share
holders in this town did not really lose
money in the enterprise, as the advance in
the price OF real estate, more than compensa-
ted them for their losses i'll the canal proper
ty-
The next enterprise of much moment, was
the building OF the Boston and Worcester
railroad The capitalists OF Boston saw the
importance OF communicating with this town
by rail, so as to regain the large trade which
had been lost to them for many years, and in
order to do this efectually the railroad must
tap the canal at its terminus here, and trans
fer its carrying trade to the road, and conse-
quentiy the country traffic to their warehouses
the plan was carried out most etlectually
as the result proves. Had it not been that
the canal terminated here the railroad would
have passed to the south OF US, providing US
only with branch road, the reason for this
was to avoid the ''deep cut" which at that
early period of railroad building was consul
cred almost an insuperable difficulty in the
way. This road once established between the.
''City of Notions" and the ''Heart" town made
itquite necessary that other roads should ter
inmate here; thus 1t will be apparent 10 all
that the old canal was the salvation of us, as
a business place, by causing railroad commu-
nication with the outer world at nearly all
points OF the compass, giving to our enterpris-
ing people uneXcelleI advantages for trans
acting business in all its variety of forms.
With these advantages at hand our valley has
been filled with extensive manufacturing es-
adjustments, from one end to the other, in
which may be heard the busy hum of industry
at ali hours Of the day and night, giving full
employment to thousands OF artisans and la
borers, and from which vast quantities of cot
ton and WOODEN goods, machinery in all con-
ceivable forms, boots and shoes in immense
quantities, agricultural implements of the most
approved kinds, wire Of all sizes, the best in
the world, which Is used extensively through
the world in musical instruments, for tele-
graphs, by which all parts OF the country are
brought together at Il moments notice, and
which is used i'll vast quantities by our fair
population as matter OF convenience and to
add more perfect symmetry to the form al
ready provided by nature. ALI of these man
ufactured goods are shipped over these iron
avenues to all parts Of the civilized world; all
OF these enterprises have made our city what
she is and will continue to be as long as the
spirit Of Young America" shall dwell within
her borders, and may its shadow never be less.
After few years the people thought they
required more light, and better light than
could be obtained from the head of a sperm
whale-more light they asked for and re-
ceiYed. The Worcester Gas Light Company
was Incorporated and became an institution of
our city. For time the shareholders III this
company could see nothing but darkness in
their new light. The pipes leaked, the gas
lmpregnated the earth in many places and de-
stroyed shade trees, and rendered unfit for
use wells of water. The stock was at dis
count for time. But this state of things did
not long continue. The management of the
business changed into other and ADLER hands;
the leaks were stopped; better light was fur
nshed; the owners put dividends into their
pockets; the works were extended whenever
it was necessary to do so, and the company is
now dong profitable business in spite of
kerosene and other oils the stock is worth
large premium, and none of it is offered Tor
safe.
few months since new enterprise was
planned by some of our enterprsing citizens,
charter was obtained, the requisite funds
subscribed, and horse railroad was manu-
featured, and is now in good running order,
and dong profitable business When this
ne" enterprise was first agitated, and while
In progress OF construction, it was made an
object OF reproach by many of our citizens
1t was SAID that the road would never he built
that it never would bea paying properly. thai
it would be a great nuisance in our henntit,l
streets, and many other remarks equally wise
The stock was taken by our liberal citizens
who worship something besides the almiphtv
dollar, by men who had the true interest If
our city at heart. The road is built, it is and
will be paying property, and it is great
convenience to thousands of our citizens and
great nuisance to very few people, and
their numbers are growing beautifully less
We grant that it is somewhat inconvenlent to
those people who travel i'll their own carriages
and TO those who are engaged in transporting
heavy goods. This Inconvenience arises
mainly from the carelessness of the driver,
in not passing on to and off of the track in Il
proper manner, and from the streets being
rather narrow on some portions of the route.
This difficulty will soon be remedied by wild
ening and paving the streets. Arguments are
used by our kind friends on the borders UNI
favorable to the road, but they must be made
stronger than they have been, or they will die
from sneer weakness, or perhaps railroad on
the BRAIN. There are many arguments in ia
Yor OF the road; few Of the most prominent
we Will mention: 1t is perfectly safe, quick
AID comfortable mode of conveyance from
one portion oil our city to another; it enables