Connecticut western news., 1877-12-21
As He Saw Us A week or two since

correspond nee to that journal by a party travelling through this region a few weeks since. This week we give another commu-
 'ication from the same source which will be fc und below:
 | ''Lraving the charming little village of Lime Rock. with its nestness and quiet, be nind us, we made our way oyer pleasant road, through delightful country to Falls Village, busy little burg in the town of Canaan on the opposite side of the Housx- tonic river. The drives throughout this p 'rliou ot Ll,chfeId County are romantic in the extreme, presenting to the eye of the traveller ever fresh and varied scenery
 while tue blac,ng air which blows among
 he noble hills that seem heaped and pilen all about, gives tone and yigor to the sys- tenn. The large and well kept farm houses here and there surrounded by broad acres of rich and highly cultivate6 laud, indicate an industrious and thriving popula ton. The tn ught invariably rises to our mind as we sss through any portion of New England. and observe the improvements that have been made by the sturdy sons of toll upon the face of nature, W hat an incalculable amount ot labor has been here expended by generation after generation of men to improve the stubborn and rocky soil which | now looks so smooth and ferlile.' Win so much lahor be expended upon these hills ny ! the men of this generation? Is query which has often been suggested to our mind. The race of sturdy old farmers is dying out in Nv England: the old substan- tlal homestead is being deserted by farm CTS sons for the log cabin On the frontier, and the more productive soil of the West ern States and Territories IS lurirg away many who would add to our wealth and in- 1uence. Winding along tue bank of the Honsatonic, which here flows angrily along over rocks and stoness presenting a striking contrast to it's ugglsh motion above the falls, the road is for nearly the entire dis tance embOwered in trees which grow lux uriantly on either side of u path, watered so boun,ifully ny the crystal waters of thus n"ble stream. Ruins of iron forges which once stood thick along the banks of the riv- CT may still be seen-forges in which were made the anchors and guns which quipped many gallant ship of our navy during tbe Revolution. aud the later contest with the Mother Country. These cannon and anch- ors were cast here in the iron works a' Furnace Village, now Lskeville, in the town of Salisbury. We have been shown copy of the Centennial address of Judge 5 muel Church, a native of Salisbury, late Cu!ef Justice of the State, delivered in lS4l on The one hundredtn anniversary of the first town meeting held under the charter from the colony, from which we take the following extract: Before the commence. mcnt ot the war Mir. Richard smith, an Flu, glish gentleman uf whom I have tefore spok D, had purchased the furnace at Fur nace VIlage-then the only foundry. l be- lieve, in the state. Upon the breaking ou, of the war 9th, Revolution being loyal ist, he returned to Eugland and left his es- i tate without an agent. It was not copfis. Gated. but the State took possession of it, and appointed the late Col. Joshua Porter their agent in the management. Here. op l OCu0Ia OA thC SOuGuJs AAIkO 4uAutltiVo Ot cannon. shot and shells were made in aid oi the Revolution from the iron ore of the town, and the orders of the Governor and Council upon their agent were fr quent foI these n,crsssries of war. John Jay and Governor Morris were often here ss agents of Congress, experimenting the casting and proof of rhe guus The cannon were ln- tended chi. fly for tue navy. and after the close of the war the navy, to a considerable extent, was supplied with uns from this town. The ship of Commodore Truxtou. the Constellation, in her brilliant and des- perste conflict with the French ships, In suTgent and Vengeance, was armed with Salisbury cannon, as vas the popular ship. tue ConstituIion-'Old fronsides.". These guns were not of beautiful or finished work manship,, but they were of the most test worthy metal
 These digrt ssions will never bring us 10 the object of this communication it we al = low too free indulgence in them. Pass ing across the H 'usa,ouic. upon a bridge over the secthirg, rushing waters, we quick ly arrived at Falls Village. Tue place makes no prt tentions to beauty, either ot location or adOrnment. It has been fol years back quite business centre for a limited country about. tut owing to in creased rsilIoad facilities 1t has lost mucl. of it's importance. We found here severa, stur. do,ug thriving trade. U. H. Mi ner, an old merchant carries large, W, l-s lccted stock of general merchandise, keeps his g"oos in good shape. has an attractive store, neat aud tidy, and employs gentle manly clerks. he has an ,xIensive tr.de with the Armers of the vicinity. c orge w. Hall, ayoung merchant occuphs srore in the same building, and from gener- al appearances has large trade. He Cur. ries very light stock of dry goods, dealing principally in groceIies, boots aud shoes, and ready made clothing, He is live mrrcl,ant. knows tue warts of his custom. CTS, and supplies them. H. goes fr.queui. to N W York, watches the markets Atten- llveIy and has tue reputation of N goou buyer. He sells an excellent quality oI goods at low figures. K. W. Spurr desls in iunlber, hardwsre &c. G. V. Capron runs an attractive little jewelry store. A. F Brown supplirs tue D, ople hereabou 8 with stoves and tin-wsre. T. Tucker has a very pleasant little drug store. neatly ar- ranged aud wei! stocked with goods in hls line. The Dudley House affords the hes' of entertainment for man and beast, as oul own experience can ts,ify. The N.lionnI Iron Bank is located here and is sad to b+ very strong institution, and no wonder, | for the iron companies all about do lheii