St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-01-05
LETTER FROM CONCORD.


a very, very old saying, yet it is
lust as true today as IT was the day
when first uttered, many years ago.
II is often the case that one has TO
he deprived of a comfort before he
can fully appreciate its value. The
comparison which wish o make at
this time is not confined to the mar
row limits OF a household, but in the
broader sense, embracing the whole
community in which one lives and
associates. About three weeks ago
| left my home in your beautiluItown,
and am now temporarily located IN
the beautiful New England city OF
Concord, N. II. Beautiful, did ! say?
Well, yes, in a certain sense Concord
is beautiful city 1t has some
beautiful streets, fine residences, good
business blocks, very fair churches, u
passablc opera house and several
good public halls 1t is the capital Of
the state and contains beside the state
house, a magnificent government
building, in which are thcpost office,
u. S. marshal's and other govern
ment officials Offices, also Il fine
court room, in which are held the
sessions of he U. S. courts for this
district. This structure is OF modern
architecture, and rejects great credit
alike upon the architect and builder
It's exterior is OF beautiful, almost
white granite, from quarrles within
the state. The wood work OF the
interior is of natural oak, and all the
internal arrangements seem most
deliberately and conveniently made,
especially the post Office de
partment, which occupies nearly all
The first floor The building is in the
center OF perfect square, containing
about 112 acres, surrounded by a tine
concrete walk, protected by an
elaborate granite curbing. Broad
concretcd walks lead from the four
corners and through the center on
two sides to the four entrances. 1t
is by far the finest structure in the
city. Just across the street on the
north side is the state library, in a
partially finished state. This struc-
ture is also of a light colored granite,
and judging from appearance OF that
portion which is completed, it will be
equally as grand as the government
building above described. The
state asylum, which is located
at the extreme west end of Pleasant
street, is fine institution in every
sense of the word. The building:
are of modern architecture, and
the grounds, embracing many
acres are very charming and
picturesque, and everything about
the establishment suggests the gooC
taste and judgment OF those who
have to do with the unfortunate
occupants inside.
The new state prison buildings, 10
Gated at the extreme north end o.
State street, and quite out in the
country, are fine and substantial
structures, and have, as yet, baffled
the skill and cunning of all culprit.
who have ATTEMPTED an escape
With all these beautiful structures
Concord contains hundreds OF poor
shabby and unsightly houses, shop:
and stores, compared with which
your poorest residences would seen
almost palatial.
Concord is not "hustling" city
1t is very countryhed, and is at least
f fifty years behind almost any Other
city of It's size in New England, il
point of push and "go-ahead-itive
ness" In one sense it is not unlik,
5 st. Johnsbury in that its capitalists
seem content to iavest their none,
in stocks and bonds outside the city
1t is not a good manufacturing
/ center like the sister towns of Nash
$ ua and Manchester. The principa
business seems to be in the genera
mercantile line, and embraces man
stores, both wholesale and retail
a the retail prices of general commod
e ties are rather higher than those a
st. Johnsbury, and it is more ez
pensive place in which to live.
e While Concord is quite a lterar
e town, yet it contains conspcuou.
! ly large number of low and illiterat
people. The general morals of tn
= people are altogether too loose,
IL and drunkenness, profanity and a
e kindred vices are painfully noticeab
on the streets; and how can it /
otherwise when rum is freely (almo.
l. as openly sold every day, as sod
a or ginger ale are sold i'll St. John
bury in the hottest mid-summ,
days. In later letter | may d
scribe some Of these "dens" and no
they are tolerated by theauthoritie
Just now everybody is busy pr
tt pairing for the converting of the leei
a lature, which meets in Ianuar
III Later, if it will agreeable to vol
* readers, | will inform them as to II
. movements of the machinery, aft
" the button is pressed, R.
1t A Courts Busy Day.
ct The Burlington Free Press saws
st the term of the Chittenden count