Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-06-25
Letter from Boston. Mass.

| Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
BosToN, June 2l.-The Hub City, Tor such
| is Boston called, is Il very appropriate name.
| From the top of Bunker Hill Monument We
| have the best view that can be had of the city
| and its surroundings. with Boston in the centre
| on a pcninsular. We observe railroads leaving it
| rom every point, crossing the Charles and Mys.
| tic rivers, which, uniting, form Boston harbor,
and the roads pass through the cities OF Chel-
sea, Hobestown, Cambridge, Brooklinc, Char;
lestown, East Cambridge, South Boston, and
other small towns, all suburbs of Boston. They
then branch off in every direction, passing every
few miles a Furnishing village or manufacturing
town.. Boston was settled in 1880 and received
it's name in honor of Rev. Jno. Cotton, who
| ,migrated from Boston in Lincolnshire, Eng
land. Its Indian name was Shawmut. Although
an old settled town, Boston made but little
Roadway in growth and prosperity before the
present century. Since 1850 her population
has increased very rapidly, and many Of the old
land marks have disappeared and are replaced
by ~princcly structures, and much new GROUND
has been made. For example, where the Maine
depot house now stands in lIaymarkct square,
there was an open canal a few years ago, and
the present railroad tracks now run over the
course Off to the water where Causeway street
is in the rear Of Chariestown. Between Prince
and Pitt streets, there was once il large mill
pond of many acres, which has been entirely
reclaimed aud built upon. That locality Is call
ed to this day the mill pond, and one OF the old
mills still stand, which has been converted into
Il stable. n large tract of land by Surrey, con-
Cove. was a body of water. 1t is now well i'm
proved. The peninsula on which Boston is
built originally contained 500 acres OF and, but
bv GRADUAL cucruacllment on tide water and hill
inv M, has now about 400 acres. Nearly one
half of the present city is built on made land,
and improved By grand massive buildings, many
of them of granite. The present area Of Bos-
ION, including South and East Boston, is COM
pnted at 300 acres. Its population in 1900
was -, 1000, and in 1890 $4,000. 1t now con-
tains over 20O, 900. It's valuation in 1865 Of real
estate was 1916 000,O 900. 1n looking over Il list
of the old tavcrns | find the first was opened
in 1914. and was located on the west side OF
Mechanics Row, between Dock and King streets;
other followed, the names of which vii! be ia
miliar to many of he old residents OF our town,
rs similar in name to taverns and streets to
those which once houri>hed in our own town.
Amongst them | will name Red Lion, near
Richmond street, established in 1866; Dragon
Tavern, on Union street. in 1856; Queen Tav-
cru. in lT3,22; British Coffee House, on King
street, in 1860; the Swami. on Pitt street; the
Indian Queen, on Royal Exchange street.
Amongst the most noted historical buildings
now standing may he found the old State House
at the head of State street, with one front on
Washington street. The lower story is now
converted into stores and offices. On its summit
are signal stats where are displayed the flags
Of different merchants when their ships are ap-
preaching the city. Faueuil Hall, called after
IL merchant Of Boston OF the same name. who
built it and donated it to the city to he used as
a town hall and market house. 1t has been
called by the Bostonians the Cradle OF -Ameri-
can Liberty. Within its walls the finest Spccl-
mems of American el0quence from the days OF
Washington to thoseo Of Webster were delivered
When trouble threatened the colonies Of George
the LII, the first tones Of defiance were utter
ed in this hall. The Bostonians appear proud
of it's possession. The building is u large one
with many windows, of no particular order Of
architecture, surlnounted by a cupola. The
lower story is still used as a market house.
The principal hall in the second story is IT feet
square, 2S feet high, aud contains several paint
ings, one in full length Of the donor Peter Fan.
ucil, one of Washington, one of Webster, and
one of Abraham Lincoln. AT the corner of
Dock square stands an ancient building. In
this building on the last day of May, 1873, Au-
yustus G.. Ludlow, First Lieutenant Of the
frigate Chesapeake, drew Il check for stores
sent on board, rcmarking at the time to n tcl-
low officer a. q reason for settling the account
then, the Shannon is in the bay and God only
knows where We shal! be tomorrow. The build
ing is over 200 years old. DAME! Wcbstcr's
home, at the corner Of High and South streets,
is a spacious block OF granite slate, now called
Webstcr's block. Erected ON the spot where
stood Webstcr's house on the stone front Of
the present block, is inscribed these words:
"Daniel Webstcr's home, above which is Mich
calculated to hold a figure s feet high, in which
the owners intended to place a bronze statue Of
Webster. Boston has a number OF parks To-
Gated in different parts of the city, varying
from one acre to fifty. Parks are Il great bless
ing to any community who are fortunate in
possessing them. The parks Of the British
Metropolis are often spoken Of as the lungs of
London, and with equal pr0priety they
may be styled the great breathing apparatus Of
every towon or city possessing them. At this
point, Mr.. Editor, [ will take the liberty to pre-
sent the assertion that the best investment the
citizens of our town could make, would be to
purchase the whole Of the southeast portion of
our town, bounded by franklin and Royal
streets, extending south into the creek and east
into the Potomac. This property has never
been improved, and never will be until the
marshes have been properly drained, which
could be done at but little cost to the
Corporation, if done gradually. This point,
in my opinion, is susceptible Of being
made into one of the most beautiful PARIS
that I have ever seen in any part Of the u. s..
The ground is undulating, and where the marsh
now stands could be made a fine pond for fish
ing, boating, &c. Trees could be planted out at
once, and the ground gotten gradually into
shape, and by the time they began to give US
shade, we shall have a beautiful park, that
would not only be an ornament to our town, but
would add more to our future prosperity than
any other investment that could be made, and
last, but not least, would insure to US the good
health of that portion of the town, which, al
though the marsh is beautiful to improve, has
been kept back on account of a proper attention
to the sanitary condition, by having the low
,r.rly o4 droipapn plantinu frees &n cntl1 ha