New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-19


ourselves the old village of Waterford Following the
wet bank of the Hudson SOUTH the manufacturing city
Of COhoes Is reached pushing up to Waterfront On inc
north and extending its borders on the south 10 meet
those of West Troy West Troy the headquarters OF the
lumber trade opposite the CITY OF Troy ana connected
with /. by two steam ferries the project OF building
bridge has already been considered Watervhet, an
ordnance post of the u g. Army with its cluster OF fine
buidngs constituting the arsenal aons, so that within
the circle OF few miles, Of which Troy proper Is the
center there are several Independent municipalities all
with a common interest. whose focus Ia in Troy.
MANY fortuitous circumstances have contributed to
build up each Of these places and perhaps few points
objects Of 80 varied interest az the envrons
Troy The New-York and Erie Canal has terminus at
West Troy and contributes to the lumber and grain trade
OF that place. The Lake Champlan Canal begins at Troy
and feShts by this highway add 20 the business Of
that city, The navigation OF the Hudson ends at Troy,
bat this natural highway whchat first essential
10 the prosperity Of the city, has gradually taken tho
second place, as the Hudson River Railroad terminates
here. The navigation Of the river has been for many
years becoming uncertain, and since the blinS OF
the Albany Bridge the channel between that city and
Troy has become very shallow, so that the large river
steamers have made their trips with greater rrcguarty
each year. In addition TO water connections by the
canals to the west and north Troy has the best of railroad
facilities. The Ncw-York Central Railroad has branch
10 this city, and the Rensselaer, and Saratoga Railroad
opens the country TO the north. The Troy and Boston
Railroad brings the local traffic It's line bnt the con-
nection with Bostop is delayed for the completion OF the
Hoosac Tunnel.
All the large factories we're first built about various
waterpowers the city, and still cluster in the OLD
neighbOrhoOds Burdens mills, and those near Ida
Falls have already been mentioned At the north OF the
city is the State DAM which furnishes power to many
establishments, notably to the paper and flour mills at
this point The manufacture OF mathematical instfu-
ments and Of surveyors transs levels and compasses
hoe
the place. Among the novelties made at Troy are the
paper boats which for racing to be coming INTO
favor TrOys industries started in 1912, during the war
with Great Britain, and ultimately langushed and pros
pered under various tariffs. until the necessities OF
the late civil war put them enduring foundation
beyond, it is hoped. the need Of legislation.
The settlement of Lansngburgh begun at an earlier
date than Troy The rapids in the Hudson at that time
impeded navigation and now the State Dam limits II.
Lansngburgh has como through the various experiences
Of nearly all old places In early days its men OF capital
devoted their money and talents TO purchasing produce
and sending it to NewYork At later period they built
large establishments for packing beef and pork and malt
houses for the preparation OF brewers grains and after
ward erected extensive brewerles themselves Nearly
all these of the past. But one mathouse remains;
1t is model of order and cleanliness and is noted for its
superior malt for making family pale ale" The grain
from which this malt made principally raised in Can
ada and brought to the mathOuse doors by the canal
Lansingburgh IA now principally noted, aside from the
beauty OF its streets which have been compared to those
OF New Haven for s large brush and oclob factories
industries furnish employment to nearly all OF
the population which il said to be about 1908 Much OF
the work drawing brushes is done at the homes OF the
workmen and there is hardly home among the working
classes in which member OF the household is not
connected with this staple product Of the village
BY crossing the bridge at the upper end of lansing
burgh one may reach the village OF Waterford in sara
toga County Some manufacturing is done here, prnc
s,a 1anan of
which have become widely known. Here the Mohawk
River enters the Hudson. little further to the SOUTH
al the Falls OF Mohawk reaches the city OF Cohoes
which owes its rapid growth and prosperity 10 ts mag
nRcent waterpower This has been developed by the
CohOes Company who and control the entire water
power of the Mohawk River at this point They have
constructed of the finest dams and gatehouses IN
the country to direct the water of the river to their ca
nails OF which they have SERIES so az to use me water
under six different falls having aggregate head ana
fan of 100 The company lease the waterpoWer Win
the lot at rate OF about $40 annum for each horse
power The power costs less than Onethrd as much as
steam power and is always ready and trustworthy" Stu
ated here are the Harmony Mills, composing substantial
buildings, and the most prominent objects seen OH ap
preaching the CITY, They Incorporated in lo5 ana
now run 2O5OOO spndles 4i23 looms, employing 26 le-
male and 1913 male hands. They have capacity OF
1886 yards OF cotton cloth week. consuming 100000
nound of cotton. This work is distributed over five
mills In addition TO these mills there are many others
manufacturing Undertaking. &c. At this point also is
the Cohoes Straw Board Mil, and the Cohoes Rolling
MILL making shafting bar and band iron. Both Water
ford and Cohoes are the Rensselaer, and Saratoga Rail
road and are thus put in connection with all points Of
the country.
West Troy opposite the City of Troy, and in Albany
County, is the headquarters of the lumber trade and on
this line transacts large amounts OF business But per-
haps this place is better known TO the country
at large by the beoundery which has for several years
furnished the churches Of the United States and Canada
with bells and chimes There is also large chair fac
tory here The United States Arsenal at Watervlie fur
nished employment to great number of men during the
war; but it now comparatively idle. 1t covers large
area and has numerous extensive buildings erected for
its various purposes.
Lying on the Hudson River between Troy and the west
bank Of the Hudson is Green Island afOrding ample
for extensive shops These works cover large
area, and have been added to year by year until they
have attained gigantic proportions. The celebrated Troy
coaches originally made here; the manufacturers
however have kept with the wants Of the age
cessively turning their attention to Omnbuses and street
and railway cars, and TO the magnificent drawing
These not only widely distributed
through this country and Canada but Of late years have
been sent TO the various South American railways.
Troy and Lansngburgh viii some day or other unite
last year bin was introduced into the Legislature for
this purpose but oits provisonsdid meet with
the approval OF the inhabitants OF the Burgh and its
final passage was defeated The other villages
mentioned may day be consolidated, and
IN enumerating the industry and population
OF the Troy district they all should be included To
supply all these factories with fuel has taxed the river
boats TO their utmost, and until lately the entire Winter
had he obtained while navigation open. The
Importance this demand has however led TO the com
pletion of the Albany and Susquehanua Railroad, by
which this part Of the Hudson is brought into direct
necton with the anthracite coal region OF Pennsylvania
The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company which has for
years sent coal TO Rondou and thus by supplied
this district showed their appreciation OF hs market
10y leasing this road Seeing that the supply OF wood fuel
In Ney- England now TO be suppanted by COAL they
stretched their for this trade also by leasing the
Rrne-alaer and Saratoga Railroad This Company last
wear mined nearly three and Oneha millions OF tuns OF
hnr.o hHm anlN