Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-14
7ANDRIA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
Letter from Hartford. Conn.

Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gazette.
HARTFORD, Conn, Aug. | There is no
CITY in the u. S., to my knowledge. that makes
4 more favorable impression upon the mind OF
the stranger at first sight than the city Of Hart
ford. Justly called the Queen City of New Eng
land. The grandeur of the many costly public
buildings and private residences with the beau
tiiul parks and grounds attached, could only
have been produced by her great wealth, and
Hartford is reputed to be the richest city IN the
l.. S. in proportion to population. 1t Is an Ola
town having been settled IN G55 by the Dutch.
1t made but slow progress for many years. In
1910 it contained about 10000 inhabitants.
Within the last fifteen or twenty years new en-
terpriscs sprung up and it has now reached
40 900. The increase has been caused
mainly by the establishment of insurance COM
panies; some of them have grown to immense
corporations with capitals OF from 20 to 80 mil
lions of dollars In addition to the insurance
companies it has 4 large manufacturing inter
est also. One which has added largely to its
increased prosperity and well known in the Y.
s., is the extensive pistol works established by
Col. Samuel Colt, which in connection with his
baket and other factories make one of the
largest enterprises ever undertaken by one man.
Ills property is situated in the southeast part
Of the city on the Connecticut River, and
for many years the land WIS Of but little value
He reclaimed it ut his own expense ut a cost OF
$50. 900 by building around it dy Ike GO feet
broad ut theto and about U.0OO feet in length
1t now cncluScs about - acres OF the most
beautiful part OF Hartford. ArmsmGar, on
Nlotherfeld Avenue adjoining the South Park,
was built by Col. Colt, and is probably one OF
the finest residences in this country. Its beau,
tiiul grounds artisically laid out and diversified
with walks and avenues, its sparkling fountains
and artificial lakes filled with fish of many Va
| rieticS, its long line Of greenhouses filled with
the fruits Of the zones and the richest flowers
and choicest plants of the world, its varcgated
landscape, all make it beautiful picture Tor the
artist 5 eye and give it more the appearance OF
| Il fairy scene than one Of reality. Strangers
| visiting this section Of the country should not
fail to stop and see the beauties OF this city, III
| Guiding Colts magnificent estate, which Is &C
ccSsiblc to visitors. COL Colt died some years
ago leaving his widow III income OF about
S4ul. uDU prr annum. The spot where once
stood the famous Charter Oak which was blown
| down by L severe gale in 1886, Is how marked
Ey q marble slab. In the State House in the
office Of the Secretary Of State is the original
charter framed in the wood Of the tree that once
concealed it from Sir Edmund Andres the flr$t
Cox. Gen of New Eng aud when he attempt
cd to wrcSt it from the people OF Connecticut.
The State House is an old building, having been
erected in l1!4. Tie Governor chair III the
Senate Chamber is made out Of the Wood OF
the Charter Oak. There Is asu full length
portrait of Washington and the portraits OF ~
| Governors Another place OF Interest Is ards
worth's Athcnrum, which contains SOME rare
relies of udcu times. Among them Is Benedct
Arnold watch Gen. Putnam 5 tavern sigh and
his sword BrewSer's chest that came over
with him in the Mayhower, revolutionary bolub-
shells, little mail bay used in lII5 to
carry the mail between Hartford, Middletown.
and New Haven. Main Street Is the prncl
pic street, extends about miles and Is sal! to
| be the most beautifully improved street ~ New
England The Connecticut Mutual Life and
the Charter Oak buildings are situated on tins
street and cost each one million Of dollars. The
City Hotel is also situated on Main street.
This is il new house, handsome and well turn.
ishcd. Hartford is well supplied with good
hotels, besides the City, the Allyn United
States and Amcrcan;they ART all first class and
well kept Utpublic institutions | will men
ton as most prominent Trinity College, the
Connecticut Theological Institute, beat and
| Dumb Asylum, Insane Asylum, Hartford Hos.
pital, Athcneum. and Il number OF beautiful
and costly churches, the most handsome (which
| 'H'''~
wealthy portion of the population: The streets
Of the city are McAdaIuized (which would
recommend Is being in my opinion the cheap
est and best for improving our own Aexan,,
tril streets The drives through the city and
about it arc unsurpassed Among them may
be mentioned to raIcott Mountain nine miles
west, to v est Hartford =! miles, Witherfeld
I miles, Prospect Hill. Huntington Mountain,
and last to Shipmans at hockey Till about
seven miles This is the most popular, and l
can well recommend i myself to those who
may visit Hartford. The city has been made
more lively than usual. especially in the neigh
borhood of the hotels for the past few days by
the delegates to the convention Of the National
Board of Real Estate Agents, which met here
on Wednesday last. 1t was largely attended,
and delegates reported from twcnty-six States
and territories. Virginia was represented by
the firms Of Robertson 4 Co., Of l.ynchburs,
and Green Il Wise, of our town, who are meln-
beers oi' the association. Memphis has been Sc,
lcctcd AS the next place Of meeting IN the ;;rd
Tuesday in October 1872. Yours. Ne,
Virginia.