Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-05-29
From the Rutland Herald
Bellows Falls-its Industries and
History, Etc.
BEI.Lows FANS, MAY %.

n
not tell your readers that this is pleas
ant, picturesque place-that the hill'
come closely down on either side, anC
only the beautiful Connecticut here sep
arates the Green Mountain from tn,
Granite State-that the people are kind
and courteous to strangers, as well as tc
those who are to the manor born. But
| may suggest some of the changes that
forty years have wrought, not so much
in the falls, properly speaking, or in the
adamantine surroundings-as in the way
of doing business here-the people-the
times and the tendency of trade and the
customs of commerce. 1t is not half a
century since the main com ercial chan.
mel to the seaboard was by flat boats on
the river to Hartford, and the first time
| was ever here remember the eddy,
below the falls on the Vermont side, and
at the outlet of the canal, was full of
such freight craft, awaiting their turn
to pass up through the locks and into
opposite what was then the Chaplin farm,
above where now is stretched across the
river the Sullivan railroad bridge
Setting poles, as the boatmen called
them, with one end braced against the
broad shoulder of the inland sailor, so to
speak, and the other thrust against the
side of the canal, pushed slowly along
up stream the heavily loaded boat. In
these days the Wentworths were young
men, and faithfully supplied much of
the surrounding territories with dry
goods, salt, tea, Goldfish, tobacco, West
India sugar, and even New England
rum OF 80 per cent. proof, which could
be brought up the river and over "swift
water" from Hadley to Brattleboro, and
thence past Dummerston ferries and Put
ney meadows to this port, cheaper than
by carriage from Boston through Keene
and over Surrey hills or Westminster
heights. Then Captain Thomas Dun
ham, of Chesterfield, N. H., and Edward
Perry, of Cavendish, and Daniel Reed
of Windsor, were in the full tide of sue
cess in their laborious yet jolly calling.
Now all have passed away, and change
sits at the doorway Of trade. The
Wentworths do indeed remain to enjoy
In ripe old age the wealth accumulated
by their early years of mercantile toll,
but | scarcely know another. The fiat
boat is broken, the canal gate which
used to open wide to let it pass is rotton,
and has given place to the paper mill
power. Railroads and cars are found to
be more useful and the river is left as
of yore-but lumbermen only Use it for
their huge drives of logs, driven down
from Coos County and Essex, and the
Canadian borders. Hotels have changed,
been burned down, built up again, made
wrecks of fortune for their builder. and
have been profitable for the second
conner.
The estate and canal property here so
long owned by parties in England, has
passed into the hands of live Americans.
and some four or five paper mills are
erected just below the canal, where used
to be the locks before alluded to. These
mills manufacture from old rags. and
weeds (jute), old sacks and Eastwood.
and poplar trees and spruce shavings, an
excellent quality of paper, adapted for
the use designed. How strange indeed
are the discoveries of science nothing
is lost-no substance on earth can be de-
stroyed, only changed. Change is mark
ed on all things. saw to-day huge piles
OF what looked like worthless, dirty.
bales OF waste material, scores of cords
OF wood, prepared and preparing for the
grinding, which few years ago would
only have served the manure heap, or
for the builder, or the kindIing of fire.
l will attempt no description of the pro-
cess by which the change from waste
and wood to paper is effected, but the
Herald reader must come and see for
himself, in order to understand. Ia 1887,
or about that time, some parties com.
menced to blast the rocks just below the
falls, on the Vermont side. and to Law a
foundation for factory. Failing for
want of funds to complete the job those
ruins have ever since remained as a Gu
riosity. To-day | saw at distance a
good looking man, whose head was sill
vered Ger with age, sitting on those
rocks, and with his cane directing gang
of men employed to finish that blasting.
A new addition to the last and largest
paper mill is to be made. | was told
that this gentleman was one of the own.
ers One of the Messrs. Russell, of Law.
renee, Mass. Verify, what cannot mon
ey, mind and muscle do2 Intelligence
enterprise, industry and wisely directed
effort can accomplish, under the permit
of the Almighty, | had like to have said
all things.
In this connection, Mr.. Editor. if the