The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-06

| Visit 10 Worcester, Etc
THE HOME OF COUGH.
On Monday morning week we took the ex-
cellent cars of the Portland Saco and Ports
mouth Railroad, than which, like the Steam
ers ofthe Portland and Boston line there is
no better managed or safer line of public tray
ell in the whole country. In the same car
rode "Fanny Fern" and James Parton, who
have been spending the summer at Old Or
chard Beach. Mr. Parton, it seems, is to try
his han1 in the lecturing line during the en-
suing winter and if he should succeed hall
| as well on the Lyceum rostrum as he has as
| biographical writer, he will indeed prove an
| attractive and popular lecturer.
| Arrived at Boston we looked over the new
passenger station OF the Boston and Maine
Railroad, which has cost quarter of a milli-
on dollars; and it is very convenient through
| out, with its offices in the front overhead, and
gallery around al sides of it. Four tracks
two for outgoing and two for incoming
trains are almost constantly in use.
A new parcel room has recently been open
ed by Superintendent Merritt, in which small
parcel for safe keeping may be left and
check received thereof, without extra
charge. We found the arrangement to work
admirably, and it might be adopted with good
results by other Roads.
Crossing the city, we tosk the Boston and
Albany cars for Newton Lower Fails where
we had been invited to attend the united sill
yer wedding festival of Hon. Thomas
Rice, and the marriage of his son with an ac-
complished young lady of Worcester The
ceremony took place at st. Mary's Church, a
very ancient ediice of sixty years'o of age or
more; and what is more singular, it is the on
ly church in the village. One, would suppose
thatln these days of religious aggressive prose-
iytlSln or the progress of religious ideas, that
some one ofthe other denominations of chris
tians would secure foot hold in this old and
pleasant village.
The Charles river literally winds for space
OF fifteen miles thro ugh Newton and the wat
er privilege is improved by Mr.. Rice and 9TH
ers in the manufacture, of book and common
printing paper on a large scale.
The next morning we proceeded TO "the
"S.io "a ehO OOAnAAOuWCdlLu -Iuc culcFpTlS-
ing inland city of the old Bay State-now
second only to Boston. Worcester has by
the recent census rising 41,OOO in population
and valuation of nearly 34OOO,OO being an
increase Of over $30OO,OOO during the past
year. The rate of taxation is $17,4O per
$1,000, against $14,4o last year, and seventy
six persons pay tax of over $1,000. The
manufacture of all kinds of agricultural imple-
ments, partially for the California market;
railroad cars with the well known name OF
Osgood Bradley upon them; melodeons, fac
tory machinery wire, etc. etc. are carried on
largely. Main street presents some fine spec
linens of buildings for stores, offices, or halls,
built OF either white marble, granite, brown
free stone, or iron.
The State Lunatc Hospital occupies
large and elevated portion of upland, and has
now about four hundred and twenty-five pa
tients. By the politeness of the physician in
charge we "walked the wards" Oft conva-
lescent gallery in both the male and female
wings, and found every thing in the incest
order. A movement is in progress for the re-
moval OF the hospital to high track of upland
two miles distant, as by the increase of build
ing around it, the institution is in thickly
settled portion of the city, and the inmates
require perfect quiet. As tho csate owns Tue
land, it is hoped thai the site may subserye
The purpose ofa State House, and bring about
the removal Of the Capital to Worcester, as it
is so centrally situated; and besides tbe Leg.
islature would be relieved of the great temp
tations, of one kind and another which
large city like Boston presents. 1t is also
proposed to establish grand Union Railway
Station in place of the three or four now ex-
isting, and thus obviate the confusion of the
travelling public, the crossing of so many
streets and of the beautiful common,
The Boston and Albany road has two, the
Worcester and Nashua one, the Providence
and Worcester and the Norwich road one, and
the level location is admirably suited to a
union of all these.
There is considerable extension of building
and population toward what is called New
Worcester, at the west end Of the city, and
cogtly residences, churches, schoolhouscs, and
work shops are in process of erection. 1t was
near this portion of the city that the explo-
sion of nitro glycerine took place last summer
and we were interested to see the extent of
the injury done, and the repairs of the ruins
which are now just completed.
The Dread Female Seminary, very ex.
cellent school here, rears its stone towers
| like formidable European fortres on an
eminence at this portion Of the city, while on
another height opposite, at mile or two dis
tant, stands the Roman Catholic college.
| We regret that we were unable to visit the
substantial building of the American Anti
quarian Society with its large library of his
torical works Illustrating American history
in particular, and the speciality it has of
bound volumes of ali the leading newspapers
| of the country.
| Two rural cemeteries, one at each extreme,
are said to be-very beautiful. The first Meth
odist and the Universalist Societies are each
building large and elegant churches, and a
Catholic cathedral has been erected as far as
| the basement story and rooted over, which
will be occupied until funds enough will war
rant the putting up of the walls.
The Free Institute of Industry, standing
ona commanding eminence at the southerly
portion of the city with its handsome build
/ ings, we were not favored to visit but we
learn that Hon. Stephen Salisbury, one Of
the most wealthy and public spirited citizens
of the place has just made another donation
to this institute of $4,000 in cash and lot
fla I'd about three acres in size, by which to
enlarge the grounds and building. This
makes the total of his donations for this pur-
pose amount to $15O,OOO.
But the free public library We did see, and
it is an honor to the city and to its founder,
the late Doct, - Green, whose portrait and
full length statue in sitting position, adorns
the main hall.
A free reading room containing all the lead
ing newspapers of the country, among which
| it was not unpleasant to notice the Maine
State Press, is placed in the basement, easily
accessible from the street or the main hail.
The city erected the building, which is solid
and suitable one, and appropriated yearly
| amount for its replenishment.
We were forcibly reminded in view of such
munfcent gifts for the literary culture of the
people such as we saw here, of our own stu
| alton in these respects, and the question was
suggested mentally, when will some benefac-
| for arise to suitablv endou, o,r.D1r