St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-04-09

Wheh the bricks begin to settle in a
certain way, and the kiln has sbrunken
TO certain proportions, the burner
knows it is time to slacken the fires.
and to gradually let them go out. The
idea is TO burn to ''cherry red - tbouob
this depends largely upon the quality of
the clay. They are divided into four
qualities-the face, arch. hard pale. and
pale. In burning, if there is too much
steam in the kiln, coming from the
moisture of the brick, they will whiten.
The hard times have also interfered
with this industry, though it has kept
in operation steadily, and thus far, the
stock made from year to year has been
sold. In the nine years of its operation,
S25,000 have been paid for labor, and
six millions of brick have been made.
In this time there have been used in
the vicinity of 1900 cords of slab wood,
at a cost of So, ,500-and all other ex-
penses including lumber and machin-
cry, have been about $4,000, all of
which has been paid in cash. A million
of brick were made last year. About
one half turn out to be good face brick,
and the other half can be about equally
divided among the other three quail
ties. A good many brick are sold to
farmers for sugar arches and for all 9TH
er purposes, as well as to builders here,
which takes about one-half of all that
is made, while the other half is shipped
over the railroads. Besides this COM
pany, there is yard here owned by
Ira Bagley, where many bricks have
been made, also one near the Lambert
Hastings place, which has more or less
been in operation. While we have
said considerable of this industry, we
have not told all there is to it; but the
reader will see by what we have said,
that brick making is no boys play, but
1t takes some money, some skill, and
considerable hard work.
THE RAILROADS.
The railroads are so closely connect
ed with the interests and prosperity of
st. Johnsbury, that we must give them a
passing notice, though it will be impos-
sible for us to give enough statistics and
figures to show the great magnitude of
this business. Ontside of the agricul-
tural profession, which is the most vi
tai interest of any country, there is
probably none that will begin to COM
pare in Importance with the railroad
industry. Millions of capital are invest
ed in this business, and our own CONN
try Is traversed from north to south.
and from east to west with the iron rail.
Ike the arteries of the human system.
Railroads and telegraphs have brought
a great revolution to the world, and to
no country more than to our own. The
whole system of public traffic has
SO changed within the last thirty years,
as to become Il matter of wonderment
IN the present, and of historical interest
IN the future. 1t is now thirty wears
since the Passumpsic railroad was built
to this place. 1t was then the first en-
terprise of the kind in this part of the
state. A good deal of interest in it was
manifested by all classes of people.
though now and then one would be
found who defended, and praised, and
M lint h., Il =
wagon, or the numbering old stage coach
as public conveyances. The older citi-
zens will remember how indefatigablv
the late Governor Erastus Fairbanks
labored for this enterprise and there is
no doubt but the people in all this re-
glon will agree in saying, that to his
business sagacity and foresight regard
ing this enterprise, is due much of the
prosperity of st. Johnsbury to-day.
The terminus of the road was at this
place for several years. And in the
meantime marvellous change appear
ed in the village of st. Johnsbury,-the
influence of which more or less extend
ed for miles around. Houses sprang I'D
like magic. People came here to settle
from all quarters. New hotels and new
business, such as had never appeared
here before, came in regular order.
The value OF property rapidly advanc-
ed, not only to village proprietors, but
also to real estate owners in all the sur
rounding towns. For years the pas
senger depot here was the magic resort
of all classes on the arrival of trains,
and it is not forgotten to this day. Far
mers, who formerly saw the stock they !
sold for the last time in their own
yards, now followed it to the stock
yards and to the cars. And ever since,
Monday has been an important day to
the drover and the farmer.
The recent settler here does not note |
these things like the old resident. To
US, who were young in those early rail-
road days, it seems almost like dream
in looking back and contemplating the
of changes. But this is the
experience of all business centres
starting with small things and rising
with the demands of business enter
prise. While many other things have
contributed to the prosperity of St.
JOhnsbury, it is due to the railroads to
'ay that they have quickened the pub
ic pulse-giving new life and new Wig
II to the whole community.
There is vast business done over