Connecticut western news., 1883-04-25
CANAAN IN 1900.
 [Continued.I

will mention only two,-the Franklin
 place, now occupied by N. C. Ward,
 and the beautiful residence of MT D. l..
 Freeman. Suffice it to say that scores
 of new houses have been built and old
 ones enlarged, repaired, repalnted and
 beautified until there is scarcely house
 in town that does not present an attract
 i've appearance and show signs ot thrift
 and enterprise. It is remarked by
 strangers visiting Canaan that they dls-
 cover no old, dilapidated buildings,
 which are always an eyesore Ill any
 town. There are none, at least at
 Canaan depot and vicinity.
 Seventeen years ago, hardly any to-
 bacco was raised here to-day 1t IS one
 of the leading crops. Canaan has be-
 come shipping point for tobacco and
 much that is raised in surrounding
 towns is received and paid for here. A
 tobacco warehouse is demanded here
 and probably soon will be established.
 There is no better location for one in
 the state. The enterprise of our citi-
 zens is shown when we state that the 1 Tobacco Growers Mutual Insurance
 company is Canaan institution and
 does large business all over the state in insuring growing tobacco from loss or damage by hail storms. The hay pressing business has grown to large
 
 The Insurance agency of Messrs A. T. & M. Roraback represents the best com panies in this country and has rapidly grown to be @ business of great magni- tude. The Allen quarries are located in this town and have been developed within less than 10 years. Here all the white marble was obtained to build the capitol at Hartford and for other large buildings in Hartford and other cities Although idle at present, such valuable property cannot long remain so.
 Public spirit has extended to the cem- eteries in town. They have been en- larged and put in perfect order, walks and drives laid out in them and tic grounds kept in @ neat, tidy and perfect condition. A public park has been opened near our village. It is delight full grove and pic-nics are held there in summer. One store has been added in East Canaan; there are three there now. We have two lawyers in this village, but l as we are Q law abiding community, | home talent seldom furnishes criminal | case still the lawyers have plenty of office business and their services are sought from other towns. We have four clergymen residing in town and the re- suit of their labor and influence must necessarily be high standard of relig- ion and morality in town. We have two skillful physicians and we think we are highly favored and fortunate in posses sing two such gentlemen worthy the confidence of the community and so eminently fitted for their profession. We are now supplied during the whole year by a meat market, a fish,oyster and fruit dealer and milk peddler. Let either of them stop business and then we could appreciate how great con- Tenience they are.
 The object in writing this article about Canaan is to awaken deeper in crest in the future welfare and upbuild- ng of Canaan and good way to infuse and zeal is by taking a retro spect and seeing what has been accom- plished in 17 years. Who will not say that we find ground for encouragement md tongratulation on the achievements already attained? There are many i'm we hay. not al. ded to, but sufficient has been mentioned to direct thought in the right direction. Now or the future.
 The population of the town of North Canaan in 1900 ought to be at least 50 per cent greater than to-day. Even this 7illage ought to be built up continuous y as far west as Almerin Gillette s, north o Judge Granger's, east to the brick yard and south to N. c. Wards In each of these directions there are many desirable building lots. How shall we stimulate the building of these resi- fences? By first creating demand for This can be done if we will only improve the means at our com nand. Nature has provided us the sites or locations on which to build manufac- ;ories and the rest must be done by our capitalists. They can find far nobler lse for their time and money than in cutting off coupons on government ponds. Capital invested in manufactur- ng enterprises will return them larger ate of interest. It will bring into town hundreds of people and furnish employ n1nt for them, will cover our building ots with dwellings,, will furnish an in- Creased business for our merchants and jradesmen and home market, for all farm produce The money thus put into circulation will benefit either di- rectly or indirectly every person in our town; will furnish more business for our railroads and in fact keep every wheel of trade moving. If our own capitalists will not awake to this fact and move in this direction, then we must induce cap- italists from other places to invest their money here. We must encourage them by providing their manufacturing sites at reasonable prices and by offering ev-