The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-12-26

shall speak Of some of the manufacturing
interests and the general enterprise Of
Hartford. Strictly speaking, this is not
4 manufacturing city, loaded and groan-
ing with giant cotton and wooden mills,
whose population, as Of necessity, would
be foreigners, like lloyloke, Chicopee and
Thompsonville, a little higher up the riv.
or; but OF a different class where mcchan-
ic arts largely predominant.
Colts arms company is one of the lead
ing features, and is the best model Of ac-
tive business energy in our midst. The
great quantities Of arms Of all kinds man.
ufactured for this country and Europe,and
may say for the whole, world is the best
guarantee Of its success and usefulness
and the high position it has attained may
well please the spirit Of enterprise Of our
people. Wherever is heard, in any land,
the click Of 4 revolver or the crack of a
rife be sure that Colts name and fame has
been sounded. This establishment has
employed as high as 5000 hands at one
time, in filling contracts for France and
Russia and other powers. The new and
terribly Obstructive arm called the Cat
ling gum is now made here. 1t is said
that it will be more effective than the ia.
nous French mitrailleuse which showered
bullets on the Prussian hosts, like hail
stones. This factory is situated on the
banks ofthe Connecticut, and has a dyke,
shutting out the river at high water.
thirty-two feet above rivers level, and
enclosing 1913 acres Of land. This dyke
was built by Colt, and all expense borne
by him, though it is a great help to Hart
ford in keeping the river in It's proper
course during the ~pring food. Its cost
was $4,000.
The Roper Sporting Arms Co., is an.
other rapidly growing institution here.
Their spccialitics are the American four.
shooting hot gun, and the six shooting
rifle. they employ a large number Of
hands.
Cheney Bros, are silk manufactures,
The celebrated American Cheney silks,
considered the finest and best in market ;
They have a branch establishment at
Manchester, a few miles west Of this city.
Silk thread and twist, and all kinds of
silk fabric is manufactured by this COM
pany, and y. T. Stewart Of New York, is
one their heaviest patrons.
The Weed Sewing Machine are made
here, as well as the celebrated American
Organs, over thirty different styles. Pa
per boxes, envelope, button factories, and
lnnumerablc lesser branches of industry
arc here carried on, All Of which goes to
show a brain and sincw working people,
the tread-mills Of our existence, without
which We should cease to exist.
Our public buildings arc many, but as
your space will not allow correspondents
to spread themselves generally to the ex.
cluslon ofvaluablc reading matter gilmore
general interest. | shall confiue myself
to one, in this lctter,and that briefly. The
Wadsworth Athenium is an art gallery,
and rclict depository. Some very fine
paintings, are here exhibited one, the Or
iginal painting Of Bunker Hill, by Trum.
bull. 1t also holds the city library of
10000 volumes, and Young Mems Read.
ing Room. 1t is much irequented, es.
reclally by strangers TO this city. Indi-
an curiosltics, Of war, and tools and finery
generally. One thing to be seen which i,
looked upon with delight, and with covet-
business by the ladies, is the head dress of
some Indian princesses, made from the
sealps Of humming birds, displaying all
the hues Of the rainbow, and more too.
The Pilgrims chest attracts notice. A
Mayfower keepsake, with a rusty, plane
bearing a thumb ~indenture, from constant
use, in its guarded side, nearly an inch
deep. The Charter Oak, a selection of
its trunk, is carefully encased in glass.
Military armor, ancient and modern, and
wardrobes Of distinguished generals are
here carefully preserved. The %geologist
and naturalist need have no lack of study
and amusement here, and the antiquarian
need seek no further for undiscovered
mysteries.
had intended to speak Of II school
and school buildings, but must defer it
for the present, as | fear ! an t~ransgress-
ing the rules ofbreyity. b. :. W.