Year: 1876

ton in public way the nltieth year of her exist
ence The celebration modest one, but still there
was sufficient pomp and glitter to make 1t an enjoyable
and memorable holiday for the thousands who particle
pated in it, For the the weather all that
could be desired but the in a wretched
condition for the multitude OF promenaders who filled
them during the day and evening There was pro-
fusion of flags and bunting all the public and many
private buildings and OF course the inevitable ringing
OF bells and booming of cannon, as the day came and
went


CEREMONIES


The morning features of the celebration consisted of
childrons frocs and singing in Huntington Hail. which
had been most eaboratey decorated, and later IN the
day the more solid and formal exercises took place.
Mayor Charles A. statt President OF the day and
made a brief congratulatory speech calling the cit
izcns to order and he followed In turn by varoua
other gentlemen past present residents of Lowell
A brief interval between the speeches was occupied
with choice music, both vocal and instrumental


GENERAL BUTLEE's GRAFTON


General Butler who had been selected the orator
OF the day, was then introduced.


In beginning his Grafton he addressed the multitude
his friends and noighbors, and then went TO give
glowing and eloquent description of how the now
second important city OF the State looked to him
nifty years ago. He slender boy of less than ten,
he said, when, with fur skin cap drawn closely





his throat, he walking from New Hampshire
Christian Hill, cloudlcss spring afternoon, keeping
pace with country sleigh and picking his way
from snowdrn to snowdriit Having impressed upon
hearers a clear idea Of the rustic desolaon OF the
locality half century since he remarked that IL
then the largest he bad and by far
the most magnificent view that had greeted his
eyes, The speaker then continued standing, as ho
has lately done, upon the spot and looking upon
Tho elv rtfh lind aphE with fha
population industries Of busy city, the great
change that has taken place within his memory Ia
scarcely to be reazed-a change most interesting be-
1t Is typical Of the growth of our country not
more wonderful, however, than those upon our
Western border. Then only small cluster OF
buildings marked the city of Buffalo still smaller
cluster around the steamboat landing all there
OF Cincinnati, and Pittshurg known only
hamlet at the head waters OF a'igaton OF the Ohio,
while ST. Louis, which now claims TO draw TO II the
capital Of the nation, consisted IN It's most important
features OF buildings built by the French and Spanish
inhabitants OF LOUISIANA purchased by our government
of Napoleon scarcely twenty-five years before; and
Chicago, the extent OF whose commerce and business
enterprises threatens TO rival New York with a
claim ranked among the first cities of the globe,
had hardly dwelling IN II moro important in COM
parson with It's present palaces than the burrow OF
the animal from the Indian appcation of which it Is


CHARACTERISTIC AxEcDorE.


The General amused his hearers with account
of how he evaded paying toll in crossing the bridge.
and also gave his impressions of scght- ofhnnd pom
formnncc which he witnessed the first evening after
his arrival in Lowell but his asionlshment at the en-
terainmen not near wonderful as his effort Ia
swallow a raw oyster the next morning, an experiment
which he did not repeat Tor some years aiterward
The Lowell OF nty years ago was now contrased with
the Lowell OF to-day, with its 10000 inhabitants,
tcemng with the most successful industries, being
in fact the industrial capital of the State aud
perhaps OF the nation. The speaker deprecated the
fact that the growth of the city had not been ever
greater than II has, atributing the TO the crcum
stance mat tne owners OF nlil properly mere dd no'
live here ana gIvo the city the advantage Of their
pcndture, their public spirit and the investment aud
the reinvestment OF the money earned by the citizens
under their own eye, in tue place where II was earned.
Another cause which retarded our prosperity, quite
frequently overlooked came in the years ls4s49 and
tho discovery of gold In California During that
fever Lowell lost nearly 800 young and mddle-aged
men, who lett for the golden State, and they were
among the best, most energetic and most enterprsinp
OF citizens they would not have had the energy 60


THE FUTURE or LOWELL


In spite OF these general drawbacks, at which have
limited, continued General Butler, believe in tnt
future Lowell can look forward with the brightest
hopes prospective In wealth and population
in a manifold increasing ratio; that IN two decades
more she will double her present population To tha
view has been objected that water power be ng
substantially exhausted Lowell has nearly reached her
limit OF expansion, but this erroneous. other
cities have grown quite rival in branches Of
production which were not dependent upon water
mower nj all Who shall saw that m the next ten years
ano her Of Gods good gifts to through inventive
genius may not be received by the finding of motive
power still cheaper aud more effective than stcamt
and IN such where better than Lowell the
energies OF such power for manufacturing purposes be
appcd1 Other hopeful omens Tor the city mentioned





cheap transportation and the acquisition and expendi-
turc OF capital by the citizens Tor the bene-
fit Of the city. The General here paid tribute
Of remembrance to those to whom the city
most ndchtcd-Kirs Booth, Daniel Moody Fran
Jackson, Claudius Wilson, Alexander Wright,
Israel Whitney and T.. B Bigclow The matters OF
education aud religion then described going
hand in hand with the spinning jenny, and the result
has been that aggregate population OF tho same SIG
has oecn more noted for It's good order quiet aud
honest integrity. No stupendous crimes aud com.
paravcy but very few OF the ordinary ransgrcssiona
have thus far disgraccd town, that no city n
the United States Of the number OF nhabitantf
show so clean criminal record hs ours and wheH
that record is read the very largest portion VIII bs
simple breaches OF necessary police regulations
There is still another topic which justice TO the gaL
liant aud noble dead will not allow me TO pass In 81
lence; whose deeds throw the most brilliant lustrt
upon tho bright escutcbcon of the fame OF our city.
While other and cities In the county OF Middo
claim the high honor Of the first blood shed IN Tho
war of the Revolution 10 obtain our liberty Lowell tho
younger OF them all, has the sill greater glory
OF the FIRST blood shed IN the streets OF Baltimore In the
war for the preservation of those liberties and the free
government which it's birth to Lexington and
Concord Our city can point with Jus thable pride ia
the fact that regiment OF her soldiers were
first welcomed at the nations capital its
saviour and was tho hrst and only, and I
will be the last, regiment who found their
bvouac tho senate Chamber OF the United States.
Fired by tho patriotic examples OF these her patriots,
who. minute men, first answered to the call TO arms
to the nations life Lowell poured forth her
without SUM or measure 10 the armies OF the Union,
that no considerable battle fought east OF tha
Aleghanes where The blood Of Lowell soldier was
not she'd and no collection OF graves OF those who died
for their country by disease more deadly than the hui
Jet is complete unless II contains the mOudering ashea
OF son OF Lowcll-hs blood yielded up In behalf
Of his country life need not here call the roll Of
those our sons and brothers. glorious not only in
ciiys own history, but In the history or country.
Sorrowing hearts Of weeping wives, mothers, daugh.
tcrs, SISTERS brothers and fathers have not yet
ceased TO bleed Tor the loss OF their dear who
remembered IN anguish but whose memories will,
when the soft touch Of the magic hand Of time hai
soothed all grie shine forth with vivid recollection
OF their valor, their patriotism and their sacrifices


MINOR OBsERvANcEs.


During the day there meetings and reunions ofvs
rious assocatons including Ladies' Centennial Orga
nizaton the government Of the Middlcscx Mechanics
Association, the city government tho clergy aud the
members OF tho city press and visiting journalists
There woro present numerous veterans and octogcn-
arans who were Hospitality entertained in old FASH
ioncd way by the citizens and committee charge OF
tho celebratOu