Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-23
Bellows Falls and its Progress.
BELLOWS FALLS, Feb. Is, 1871.

BELLOWS FALLS, Feb. 16, 1871.
This village is one of the five composing
the town of Rockingham and is situated
on the Connecticut river, at the falls from
which the village derives its name, and is
the junction of the Vermont Central, Rut-
land, Cheshire and Vermont Valley rail-
roads, giving it in all respects decided
advantage over any other village in Yer
mont for business purposes.
The water power is almost unlimited.
New England has not its superior, if
properly applied. The place, like many
others, has had its ups and downs. At an
early day it was the great central point
for business for the surrounding country,
and great thoroughfare for the Vermont
s'pod teams on their way to the Boston
markets to sell the yearly production of
their farms. 1t was not uncommon in the
winter to see thirty or forty of those speei-
mems of industry and economy stopping
for the night at the hotels in this place !;
but now the ''iron horse" has supplanted
them and the shrill whistle is heard in
stead of the merry laugh and dry jokes as
| they were handed around by the drivers
sitting around the cheerful old fireplace
with the huge back log brightly burning
in the "bar.room." The only resemblance
of the olden times is the kissing of the
steam engine to the red logerhead as it
was plunged into the "mug of flip" send
ing up the delicious vapor, but fire that
ruthless element has laid low all the old
land marks of the country itaverns in this
place and left naught standing but the
Island House to rest the weary traveller,
and good enough at that,-rone need
shun the place for lack of accommodation.
Five hotels and some eight or nine stores
have been burned, but notwithstanding
this, the enterprising citizens have rebuilt
in their places fine brick edi6ces that
would do credit to much larger town,
and business is pushing ahead. and ere
long Bellows Falls must take her place
among the 6rst-class manufacturing
| towns.
At an early day the water power came
into possession of Mr.. Atkinson. lawyer
of London, England, and remained in his
hands till 1885, and then was sold to
New York company, who began founda-
ton for q large factory, but the financial
crisis of 1887 put an end to farther pro-
gress of the work and the unfinished
structure stands as one of the many mon
uments of that years disasters in the
financial world. The property reverted
again TO Mr.. Atkinson, who has held it
since up to 1867, when it went into the
hands of the present company, who have
expended some eighty thousand dollars
the past year in repairing the dam aud
canal, and from present appearances the
power is to be used on an extensive scale
in due time.
An anecdote may illustrate the condi-
ton of this place for term of years since
1887, and account for its not progressing
like other places with less natural advsn-
tsges. Mr.. Atkinson, being resident of
England and a wealthy gentleman, had
to employ agents to take charge of his in
terests here, and appointed Col. Fleming
and one Capt. Green as agents to see that
his valuable property was properly cared
for, both being relatives of his, of course
paid quite liberal salary, and some of
the good people of Bellows Falls ventured
to express their belief that the faithful
agents felt that change in the ownership |
of the property would not enhance their
salary, and consequently the business of
the village did not progress as would be
desirable. A person; who we call Uncle
Jim, living in the village, like himself
and no one else, was accosted one day by
an out-of-town friend who says, "Well,
Uncle Jim, how does Bellows Falls get |
along? ~ "Well, not very brisk, we need
three or four funerals here to give the
Falls good start"
1t is needless to say either Uncle Jim's
remedy has been applied, or the natural
results of the far seeing progressive men
have stepped in, and Bellows Falls to-day
is weighing anchor for start, with fair
prospect of good voyage. Although the
ancient business men, such as Judge
Baxter, Gather of Gen. II. Henry and
John N. Baxter of your village and the
like have passed away, other enterprising
men are now at the helm, solid and
sound business men, in whom there is no
fear of trusting the future prosperity of
the place in their hands.
We cannot send you any sensation
news, such as fights, fires or runs doings,
as strong guards have been placed to pre-
vent them, both moral and legal.
In my last wrote you of the moral eff
forts in the temperance cause which is
yet steadily and strongly progressing, and
in connection with it deep interest in
the subject of religion. A united effort
of the churches have sustained series of
meetings conducted with harmony and
with good results. many have united
with the churches, others are interested
in the subject and the meetings are large
ly attended.
We would like to speak of the Youngl
Ladies' School in this place, but will de-
fer it to another time, as this is now quite
too lengthy. We will give notice to the
good people of Bellows Falls that they
may look out how they walk as they have
"a Child among ye taking notes
An faith he'll print m"
The Supreme Court commenced sitting
at Newfane this week. II
Sleighing is first-rate and lumbermen
are busy. 81"
Notwithstanding the nomina- 3
lions sent to the Senate Wednesday were
James I. @. Cook to be postmaster at Ben
nin0ton. and ]. w Moody To ha most. .