Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-10-14
Edieorfal Correspondence.
BosToN, Oct. 4, 1869.

DEAR HERALD knew that Boston
was being made larger each successive
year by additions at the South End and
the filing up of Back Bay, but supposed
that Faneuil Hall and all things Of ye
olden time connected with this city would
be held sacred, and that they would no
sooner interfere with the original place Of
their streets than they would cut off a
limb from the great elm on the common,
or disbind the military company known
as the "Ancient and Honorable Artillery, y
which, by the way, took a pleasure 81 trip
to-day to Portland in the pelting storm,
marching from Faneuil Hall to fife and
drum music from those veteran drum
mers, Dan Simpson, in his eightieth year,
Gilman Page, in his seventy first year,
and the two old fifers, 81 Smith, eighty
one years OLD, and J. Stanley, in his seven
tieth year.
Now, when Bostonians have such rever-
ence for old things as to rejoice in having
such ancient music as this, instead of hav-
ing Gilmore's Band, which, in silence,
marched at the head of the column, who
would suppose that they would ever suf-
fer the ancient landmarks of Washing
ton, fremont, Devonshire, or Hanover
streets to be altered
But with commendable reverence for
old things, there is also, in Boston, pro-
gressive and practical element that moves
the city along to the music of the present
age. Hanover, Devonshire, and the
south end of fremont streets, were too
narrow to afford ample scope for the i'm
mense business that had conferred at these
points. Legislative aid was invoked, and
authority was given to the city guardians
to widen these streets. In Devonshire
and fremont streets, the work is nearly,
or quite, completed. In Hanover, it is
now in progress. A space of about
twenty-three feet wide is made at the up
per end of the street, and at tho lower
end it is, as understand, to be only six
teen feet wider than before. This will be
Il great improvement. The building
fronts now being made are much nicer
and higher than the old ones were, and
the inside finish of the stores will be much
better.
The fronts of the buildings have gene
rally been torn down, but in a few in
stances the buildings have been moved
back. This was done at the large and
elegantly furnished hotel on the corner of
fremont and Roylston streets-the "Ho-
tel dc Pelham"
The street at this place was to be
widened seventeen feet. The hotel was
deemed too valuable to be torn down,
therefore it was proposed to move it back
the required distance. 1t was known
that brick buildings could be raised, and
small ones had been moved but never
had the attempt been made upon one as
large as this. But it was decided to move
this, and move it they did, without asking
the people for moment to yacate it. The
job was nicely done, for we understand
that there was not crack made, or any
damage done to the building or furniture
in consequence of its change of place.
Another great improvement for Boston
is to be made. Washington street is to
be extended north till it reaches either
Square or some other point
equally as far north, SO that person
from Fitchburg Depot can get into Wash
ington or State streets without taking the
circuitous and blind route through Dock
Square, or past Schollay's Building
Water street has been graded SO that
its ups and downs are less apparent than
in days of yore, and the fill where it
crosses Deyonshire is over four feet deep.
1t is at this point-on Devonshire, be-
tween Milk and Water stroets-that the
site of the new Post Office is selected.
The excavations for the foundation of
the building are already made, and show
the size of the contemplated building. 1t
is estimated that the edifce will cost
about 81, 000, 000-so / think it safe to
count the cost at about $5.000,000, for es-
Inmates on public work., / notice, gener-
ally strike considerably under.
In excavating for this building the
workmen struck upon nice spring of
fresh water, that boiled up from below
To reach the point from whence it issued
from the rock, parties bored down about
fifty feet through the hard clay, till they
reached u marine deposit without finding
he rock bed from which the water runs
II is proposed to tube this spring, and, if
possible, have it come up into the build
ing.
Whoever lives ten years from now will
probably know nothing of Fort Hill but
from ms mory or hearsAy, for it is to dis
appe 7 entirely. \ street is already cut
through, about fifty feet below the base
of the buildings that once stood upon its
summit The material of which this Hill
is composed is " hard-p an," that costs
about ten dollars per yard to dig ont and
carry off But Notwithstanding the great
expense lDhl suu>l bc ILCuIIGN, tu6 NH
will be moved off into the edge of the
bay to make another street to be called
Atlantic avenue.
These improvements. named are not all
that are being made in Boston. We
noticed many corner lots" where build
ings were torn down to give place to 9TH
ers more in accordance with modern fash
ions and the requirements of the present
age. Granite is favorite building mate
rial in Boston, and the edifices made of it
have an air of plainness and permanency
that seem congenial to the tastes, Gus
toms and character of the solid men of
Boston. IL.
The HoosICK TUNNEL.-The excava-
lions in the Hoosick tunnel have recently
been interfered with by the occurrence of
a soft place, but the workmen have at