Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-15
Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquire
LETTER FROM ssDOWN EAST.v

WooNsocKEr, R. l., Aug. 8, 1872.
Finding the chilling East winds of Boston
too strong for weak pair of lungs, by order
Of my medical adviser, I havebeen seeking a
more congenial climate. + arrived at this
place few days ago, and hung up my "carpet-
bag" on the floor of one Of the delightful
rooms of the Woonsocket Hotel, where !
shall remain, Micawber-like, waiting for
something to turn up." If, like some of your
worthy county and State officials, there ap-
pears chance for good "fat take," may
become "citizen." 4a. ..... .a,
wooNsocKET, ~. .,,t 81!
the place where I now write, is a town Of
about $4,000 inhabitants, and is situated in
the northwestern corner of the State, one-half
mile from the Massachusetts, line, 80 miles
from Boston and sixteen miles from Provi-
dence-the latter city being one of the capi-
tails of the State. Rhode Island, unlike a
majority of the States of this once GLORIOUS
Union, has two seats of government; the other
being Newport, the celebrated and fashiona-
BILE resort, where, during the summer solstice,
the moneyed and other nabobs Of the country
do most congregate. .'..''
Woonsocket is prominently manufactur.
ing town, large proportion of the population
being engaged in cotton and wooden mills, of
which there are about thirty, in and around
the place. A large majority of the people
here belongto the foreign element-principally
French, Canadians and Irish; and it is esti.
mated that the two latter classes number
about 5000 sorls. The most of these find en-
ployment in the cotton and woolen mills,
where they work from $50 A. M. till Gas P.
NJ, one hour being allowed for dinner-thus
giving eleven hours and fifteen nsin.aes for
days work and earning from one dollar to
two dollars per diem each. As provisions,
board, clothing, etc., are considerably dearer
here than in many other parts of the country,
1 for one, can't imagine how they manage to
live and keep up a respectable appearance,
but they do. I suppose they have made the
study of domestic economy" speciality, and
as am not anxious to kao,o hoto to live on
such q small income with so large an "out-go,"
I have not felt sufficiently interested In the
matter to make minute inquiries. ...-......
.... THE HARRIS CASHMERE
which has become so popular as a material
for "business suits" especially in New Eng
land and the Western States, is manufactured
in this place-three very large manufactures,
employing over 1000 operatives, being exclu.
sively engaged in its production. Besides the
cotton and wooden mills, there is also done
here large business in the manufacture of
. IL: RUBBER GOODS, l;r ..'..
consisting of overshoes, boots, hats, overalls,
overcoats, etc., giving employment to large
number of people, who, I am happy to say,
are more reasonably compensated for their
labor.
wOOLEN BRAIDs '.'' ~
of all kinds, sorts and sizes are made in Woon.
socket and its neighborhood. Also cloth for
the manufacture of BLASTING gaiters," 80 com.
monty worn by ladies all over the world.
The celebrated Baily Washing and Wringing
Machine of the greatest labor-saving in
ventions Of the age, and next to the sewing
machine, woman's best friend-is manufac-
tured here, giving employment to rs or 100
workmen. ..a -, '..;. ..-:..
We have here two frst-class hotels, several
iron foundries and machine shops, seven
churches, q Temple of Honor, lodge of Good
Tenn 5,iars, and rum mills enough-if their
contents were emptied into canal-to food
the entire population. There being neither