USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 62
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 62
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By the division into six water-tight compartments, the iron pipes, which run the whole length of the ship, and the two Worthington pumps, capable of discharging 3,200 gallons per minute, and driven by steam, or, together with the pumps, con- nected with the engines, 12,800 gallons, the vessel is equally secure in case of fire or leaks.
The main boilers, four in number, were designed by James Montgomery, Esq., and built by J. S. Underhill, of the Dry Dock works, New York.
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1
696
HISTORY.
The engines were built at the Atlantic works, East Boston. They are oscillating engines of about eight hundred horse power, very compactly arranged, with as great a regard for economy of space as is consistent with safety of action. The iron-work is massive, but of superior finish; the cylinders are fifty-four inches diameter, with three feet length of stroke; the great shaft which drives the propeller is thirteen inches in diam- eter ; the propeller itself is fifteen feet six inches in diameter.
Le Voyageur de la Mer is rigged as a full ship. Her rigging and sails, as well as every thing else used in her construction, are of American material and manufacture. Capt. Frank O. Eldridge had a general supervision of the work, and will com- mand the steamer on her first voyage, and until she is delivered to her illustrious owner. Capt. Eldridge is well known to our shipping merchants as an able and successful commander, late of the ship Nor- Wester, one of the finest ships out of the port of Boston, in which he made some of the best passages on record.
The exquisite finish of all the details in her deck arrange- ments, and throughout the whole ship, renders it evident that no expense has been spared, and the vessel will be a model of neat- ness and beauty, strength and speed, and admirably fitted in every way as the steam yacht of a sovereign prince.
The following is a list of vessels which have been built at East Boston, and is as complete as a critical examination of the sources of information at our disposal would allow .* The great proportion of first-class vessels will show the rapidity with which the Island has taken her place with the most exten- sive ship-building towns.
* In this table, the names of the builders, so far as they can be ascertained, are desig- nated in the following manner : --
1 Brown, Bates & Delano. 9 Robert E. Jackson.
2 Samuel Hall.
10 Andrew Burnham.
Brown & Lovell.
18 Joseph Burke.
Daniel D. Kelly.
12 C. F. & H. D. Gardiner. E. & H. O. Briggs.
5 A. & G. T. Sampson.
13 Hugh R. McKay.
20 William Kelly.
6 Jackson & Ewell.
14 G. & T. Boole.
21 Otis Tufts.
7 Paul Curtis.
8 Jarvis Pratt.
15 William Hall.
16 Pratt & Osgood.
17 Samuel Hall, Jr.
3 Donald McKay.
22 Burkett & Fyler.
1834-51.]
VESSELS BUILT AT EAST BOSTON. 697
Year. Name.
Tons. Year. Name.
Tons.
1834 East Boston * (steam ferry- boat)
66
Arrow 2
78
1835 Maverick 1 (steam ferry- boat)
66 Samoset 2 734
66 Essex 1 (steam ferry-boat)
Moses 3
700
Niagara 1
460
66
Ocean Monarch 3 1,301
1839 Akbar 2
642
66 Peterhoff 2 500
Galena
99
66 Telegraph 2 119
1840 Barnstable 2
Sultan
355
66 Iosco 2
267
1841 Walpole
612
A. Z. 3 700
66
Spartan
188
1848 Belle 2
65
66 Massachusetts 2
353
Jenny Lind 3
533
1842 Zephyr 2
148
66 Martha Worthington 180
897
66 Gazelle 2.
115
Caleb Curtis 4
186
Belle 2
74
66 Uncle Amasa
70
1843
Antelope 2
372
1849 Plymouth Rock 3
960
66
Fanny
84
66 Hazard 2
400
66 Frolic
88
Helicon 3
400
1844 Sappho 2
319
66 Eagle 5
199
66
Coquette 2
437
66 Edmund Dwight 2
200
66
Citizen 2
360
Reindeer 3
800
66
Midas 2
186
Eutaw 2
199
Edith 2 (propeller)
407
66 Lantao 2
593
1845 Carioca
163
Parliament 3 998
92
66 Massachusetts 2 (propeller)
750
1850 Moses Wheeler 3
900
66 Washington Irving 3+
751
Cornelius Grinnell 3
1,118
66 Despatch 2
88
Sultana 3
400
66 Montezuma 2
90
Race Horse 2
514
66 R. B. Forbes 21 (iron steam tug)
330
66 Antarctic 3
1,116.
Samuel Cook
125
66 Surprise 2
1,262
1846
Odd-Fellow
229
Daniel Webster 3
1,187
66
Anglo-Saxon 3
894
Meridian 6
1,350
66 Lacon
175
66 John Bertram 6
1,100
66 New World 3
1,404
66 Zaza
140
66 Mail2
190
66 Staghound 3
1,534
66 Solon
66
1851 Game Cock 2
1,392
66 Emporium
78
Andes 5
450
* Clock & Upton, of New York.
1 First ship built at East Poston by Donald McKay, for Train's line of packets.
59
f
66
Peytona
269
Olive Clark 2
66 E. F. Pratt
140
66
1847 Minstrel 2
66 Era 2
187
372
66 Anglo American 3 704
66 Andrew Bastow -
198
66 L. Z. 3
698
HISTORY.
[1851-55.
Year.
Name.
Tons. Year.
Name.
Tons.
1851 Mermaid 2
500
1854 Lightning 3
2,083
66
Flying Cloud 3
1,782
Bostonian
1,100
Staffordshire 3
1,817
66 Panther 7
1,260
R. B. Forbes 2
756
Swallow 9
1,435
66 North American 3
1,464
66
Abby Whitman
232
Winchester 6
1,474
Champion of the Seas 3
2,447
66
Flying Fish 3
1,505
66
Northern Eagle 10
665
Sea Bird 2
315
66 Arcadia 11
705
66
A. Devereaux 4
115
6.6
Fanny MacHenry ?
1,237
Hoogly 2
1,264
66 Fatherland 12
1,542
1852 Lady Franklin 8
475
Barreda Brothers 13
770
Old Hickory 4
432
66 Enoch Train 7
1,650
Julia Anna 6
200
66 James Baines 3
2,526
66
Golden Fleece 7
967
66 Warren Hallet
199
66
Polynesia 2
1,075
66 Commodore Perry 3
1,964
66
Sovereign of the Seas 3
2,421
66 Blue Jacket 9
1,791
Aurelia
200
66 Santa Claus 3
1,256
66 Laurillia 5
175
66 Weymouth 14
1,370
John Gilpin 2
1,075
66 Oriental 2
1,654
66
Queen of the Seas "
1,400
66 Benin 3
692
Westward Ho 3
1,650
66 John E. Thayer 7
1,918
Winged Racer 6
1,767
66
Blanche Moore 3
1,787
Bald Eagle 3
1,704
6.6 Zephyr 4
1,200
66 Golden West "
1,400
Indiaman 13
1,165
66 Flying Childers 2
1,150
Halcyon 15
671
1853 Empress of the Seas 3
2,200
Japan 3
1,964
Radient 7
1,300
King Lear 9
1,936
Fire Fly 4
385
66 Friend 4 (pilot boat)
. 69
66 Cleopatra 7
1,550
66 Jane 4
66
66
66
Queen of Clippers 6
2,200
Fanny 4 66
66
84
++. .. ..
66 Alert 2
1,194
66 Wyvern
73
66 Defender 3
1,413
Amphitrite 2
1,687
66 Robert HI. Dixey ?
1,252
66 Fearless 5
1,200
66 Azor 7
430'
66 Empress 7
1,293
66 Reporter 7
1,100
66 Edwin Forrest 4
1,200
66 Golden Fleece "
1,585
66 Mariner 7
1,230
66 Elvira 16
1,138
66
Romance of the Sea 3
1,500
523
Well Fleet 7
1,260
66 Hayward P. Cushing (re- measured) 159
66 Challenger 9
1,400
66
Halcyon 9
93
66 Mystery 2
1,200
66 Antelope 2 (steamer) 415
66 Great Republic 3
4,556
1855 Zephyr 3 .
1,184
Wizard 2
1,600
Chariot of Fame 3
2,000
66 Donald McKay 3
2,594
Lightfoot 6
1,996
66 Abbott Lawrence 3. 1,497
66 Quickstep 17
66 Eringo 11 323
Star of Empire 3
1,635
1855-58.]
VESSELS BUILT AT EAST BOSTON.
699
Year. Name.
Tons.
Year.
Name.
Tons.
1855 S. A. Stevens * (steamer)
140
1856 Joseph Peabody 19
1,198
Emerald 14
1,079
1857 Martha 9 1,197
Thos. Jefferson 4
995
66 Manuella 9
267
66 Ganges 18
1,253
Amelia 9
267
66 General Warren 18
340
66 Borneo 9
772
1856 Dragoon 9
1,433
66
Gemsbok 9
662
998
66 John Patterson 9
102
66
Endeavor 9
1,137
66
Fortuna 7
659
Lucy and Harriet 9
909
66 Belvedere 7 .
1,197
Norseman 9
811
Almatia 15
.473
66 Indian 15
786
Mastiff 3
1,030
66
Laughing Water 12
925
66
Minnehaha 3
1,695
May Flower 20 .
816
66
Henry Hill :
568
66 Salacia 4
451
66
Adriatic 3
1,327
66 Moneka 15
462
66
Baltic 3
1,720
66 Edith 2
34
66
Orion 7
1,297
66 Young Raven
15
66
Evelyn 7
1,197
Wide Awake (iron steamer)} 57
66
Mary Bangs ?
958
66
" Voyageur de la Mer " (iron steamer)
1,250
66 Endymion 14
1,327
66
Plutarch 4
1,322
page.)
66
Pomona 1
1,181
66 Argentine 21 (iron steamer) 118
1858 Cashangar 12 1,090
66
Achilles 19
529
66 Princess 13 1,080
Peruvian 16 1,165
16
Ceylon 15
716
Princess Royal 2ª 1,210
66
Susan Howland 1€
1,137
66 Highlander 2 1,049
Benares 13
1,440
66 Phaselus 11
24
66
Favorite 12
1,039
66 .Manjoor 7 (steamer)
816
66
Suffolk
76
Syren 81
66 Whip 12
18
A reliable and well-informed writer, in 1850, thus spoke of the facilities at that time for building ships at the Island : -
" There are now in East Boston four ship-yards, and two more in state of preparation, for building the largest class ships, in each of which, two or three vessels can be in the process of construction, as has frequently happened, at the same time. There are also five other yards and docks for building and re- pairing, with a floating dock and two marine railways; two extensive spar-making establishments, a number of sail-makers'
* James E. Simpson.
f Oliver Holden.
66
Sea King 7
1,166
Calliope 14
280
Florence 17
1,045
(See description on a previous
Harry of the West 9
Amos Lawrence 3
1,396
700
HISTORY. [1835.
and riggers' lofts, with a great number of smaller establish- ments and shops connected with and dependent upon the busi- ness of ship-building and repairing. In fact, there is probably no place in the United States, certainly none in New England, where may be found so many of the requisites and conveniences for ship-building. The constant employment of more than five hundred mechanics in the various branches of this business would of necessity render the arrangements very complete, and afford great facilities for despatch and perfection of work. The investments here in wharves and lands reclaimed from the sea are very heavy, and as improvements, they have been produced by no mushroom excitement, but by the steady application of money and labor for a great number of years; and they are, as might be expected, of a most permanent and substantial char- acter. The water front of Boston proper, between Charles River Bridge and the North Free Bridge, South Boston, is about two and a quarter miles. The water front of East Boston, upon the main channel of the harbor, from Jeffries Point to Chelsea Free Bridge, is three and one half miles, following the ' commissioners' line.' When it is considered that vessels of the greatest draught, like the British mail steamers, can lie at the wharves when carried out to the 'commissioners' line,' it will not fail to be apparent that the claims of East Boston to some commercial importance are not without foundation."
WHARVES.
There was formerly a wharf, called the "East Boston Com- pany's Wharf," next east of the Sugar Refinery, containing about twenty thousand square feet. It was completed Septem- ber 1, 1835, and was leased to Messrs. Locke and Ripley, who improved it for a wood and lumber wharf. They hired it for three years from September 1, at a rent of $300 for the first year, and $400 for the second and third years, payable quar- terly. The company reserved the right to land coal or wood on a part of it for the use of the ferry only, allowing a rent pro rata for the space so used. In 1838 it was comprehended within the boundaries of the land ceded to the Eastern Railroad
701
WHARVES.
1835.]
Company. It cost $4,000, exclusive of the water right, and in 1836 was valued at $9,000.
Mr. Lamson's wharf (now merged in the Grand Junction wharves) was built with solid stone walls, and filled in with earth one hundred and sixty feet square; the cost of filling in the wharf, including the stone walls, was twenty-eight cents a superficial foot. It was built for the purpose of erecting on it a steam factory for sawing mahogany, veneering, etc., and was to be extended on piers to the channel when the steam mill should be erected. Upon it were two buildings, fifty feet by twenty-five each.
Next to Mr. Lamson's wharf was Messrs. Locke and Ripley's lumber wharf, well supplied with lumber and building ma- terials.
At the foot of London street, with a water front of two hun- dred feet, were Tuttle's wharf and buildings, employed by fishermen in packing for exportation ; now occupied by Simp- son and Tuttle's dock, Carleton's, and Brown and Lovell's wharves.
At the foot of Liverpool street, with a water front of one hundred feet, was the wharf of Allen, Pigeon, and Pool, on which shops for making masts and spars were erected.
Next came the proposed site of the Merchants' Marine Rail- way, which, as has been seen, was never built, though an act of incorporation was obtained; the water front was 500 feet.
The lot next to the Marine Railway, the site of the first steamboat landing, was leased to Mr. Weeks for a fish wharf, and afterwards sold to him; it is now occupied as Weeks's wharf, and as a graving dock.
Next north of this was Mr. Aspinwall's wharf, with a front, of one hundred feet, used then and now as a mast-maker's establishment, under the above name ; it was sold for eight dol- lars a foot in 1834.
Next was Pratt and Cushing's wharf and dock, for marine railways for small vessels. This had also one hundred feet front, and was sold in 1834 for eight dollars a foot; it is now Holmes and Snelling's graving dock.
Next north was Miller's wharf, with two hundred feet front,
59 *
702
HISTORY.
[1858.
having four stores upon it, used for the inspection and storing of mackerel for exportation. Between thirty and forty vessels were employed at Miller's and Tuttle's wharf. It is now known as Miller's wharf.
At the westerly end of Maverick street was a wharf lot of one hundred feet front, now occupied by the East Boston Gas and Iron Company.
Next north of this was the Timber Company's property ; and the proposed site of the mills of the Maverick Water Power Company, which, though incorporated, never went into operation.
The names and situation of the different wharves at East Boston at the present time are as follows : -
Allen's, on Sumner street. Aspinwall's, from New street.
Belcher's, from Border street, near Central square. Boole's, at Jeffries Point.
Brown & Lovell's, foot of Sumner street.
Carleton's, 57 Sumner street.
Clifton's, Border, corner of Maverick street.
Maverick, from Sumner street, north side.
Mckay's, Border, foot of Eutaw street. Miller's, from New street.
A. Nickerson's, from Border, near Lex- ington street.
E. Nickerson's, from New, near Sum- ner street.
Pigeon & Pool's, foot of Liverpool street.
Pratt & Cushing's, from New street.
Shackford & Co.'s, from Border, foot of Lexington street.
Simpson's, from Marginal, near Jeffries street.
Ferry, foot of Lewis street.
Fettyplace & Bowker's, Border street. Grand Junction Railroad and Depot Company, Marginal street.
Googin's, Eagle street, near Gas-works. Hall's, Border, foot of Decatur street. Howe's, Marginal, corner of Jeffries street.
Jones's, Border street, corner of Cen- tral square.
Joselyn, foot of Maverick street.
Kelly's, Marginal, near Jeffries street. Kelly's Marine Railway, Sumner street, near People's ferry.
Lombard, from Sumner, opposite Paris street.
Cunard, near foot of Orleans street. Cunningham's, Sumner, opposite Bor- der street.
Curtis's, Border, near White street. Darton's, Border, foot of Lexington street.
East Boston, from ferry line, west of Lewis street.
*
Eastern Railroad, Marginal, between Lewis and Orleans streets.
Fernald's, Border, foot of Lexington street.
Sturtevant's, Border, foot of Eutaw street.
Tufts', foot of Webster street.
Tuttle's, foot of London street.
Weeks's, corner of New and Sumner streets.
Whorf's, Jeffries, corner of Maverick street.
703
COLONY OF SHOEMAKERS.
1836.]
COLONY OF SHOEMAKERS FROM LYNN.
Among the projects originated by the president of the com- pany for the benefit of East Boston was the establishment of a settlement of shoemakers from Lynn, on the fourth section ; after much conversation on the subject, the following plan was concerted between him and Mr. Ezra Mudge, an officer in the custom-house, and formerly representative from Lynn.
It was thought, that, from the favorable position of East Boston and the scarcity of houses in Lynn, it would be easy to induce industrious and moral men who had not the means to build houses for themselves to come to East Boston and set up the manufacture of shoes, provided the company would erect suit- able dwellings for their accommodation. Such dwellings. could be erected for about $1,500 each, large enough for two families, for which they would be willing to pay ten per cent. interest ou the cost, on a lease not exceeding seven years, with the privilege of purchasing at any time during the lease at a fair valuation. Workshops could be furnished by the tenants themselves, as one shop would answer for several persons. A village would thus be established, which would greatly increase the value of real estate in its vicinity. To encourage capitalists to under- take such an enterprise, the company could afford to give an extended credit to those who should purchase for the purpose of improving, instead of the usual conditions, requiring the first payment at the end of two years, and the rest in three, four, and five years, interest should be payable annually ; in this way the purchaser could apply his funds to building. Some of Mr. Mudge's friends were willing to join any company that would engage to build a sufficient number of houses to form a hand- somne village, and he would give his personal attention to secur- ing the successful issue of the project.
This plan gave rise to the following paper : -
" Boston, September 3, 1836.
" The subscribers, having read the annexed communication of Mr. Mudge, hereby agree with one another to enter into an association of not less than twenty nor more than thirty shares, the proprietor of each to buy of the East Bos- ton Company at their next sale two blocks of land of one hundred feet square,
704
HISTORY. [1836.
and to erect one double or two single houses thereon, and fence in our respec- tive lots before the first of July next, and let the houses as stated in Mr. Mudge's letter, -it being expressly understood that whatever the land shall fetch the company over ten cents a foot, after paying their proportion of the expenses of sale, shall be reserved as a fund by the association for the embel- lishment and improvement of the settlement under the direction of the asso- ciates.
" Provided the East Boston Company will lay out a suitable place for the settlement, grade the streets, and give a spot for a meeting and school-house ; and in consideration of the services of Mr. Mudge, in superintending the erec- tion of the buildings and founding the settlement, that the company shall appro- priate one block of land, and erect a house and stable thereon for his use, free of rent five years, then to be presented to him if his exertions in promoting the ends of the association shall be satisfactory, otherwise said house, stable, and land shall be conveyed to said associates for the benefit of said settle- ment.
" Samuel P. Page, by E. Mudge
1 share.
John J. Emerton 1
E. W. Mudge 1
James W. Gerard
2 shares.
Samuel Jones
2 66
(with a privilege of 2 more.)
Francis J. Oliver . 1 share.
Wm. H. Sumner
2 shares.
J. W. Paige .
1 share.
Stephen White, by Wm.
Fettyplace 2 shares.
Aug. Heard 1 share.
Henry Sumner 1
Ezra L. Varney 1 66 C. B. Mason 1 66
Wm. Atkinson . 1
66
In all,
.
. 18 shares."
The location intended for the settlement was on the " Middle Farm," now section four.
On the 2d of March, 1837, the superintendent was informed by Mr. Mudge that he regretted to say that from removals, or from pecuniary circumstances, no reliance could be placed on some of his subscribers. The stringent state of the money market prevented those who could with difficulty live at home from removing to another place where a certain amount of extra capital would be required, even if their condition could be im- proved by such a removal. This project, in which Mr. Mudge took such an active interest, would probably have resulted in success had it not been for the universal financial depression which swept over the whole country, and included all classes of society ; as it was, the plan failed of realization.
705
LOBSTER WHARF.
1837.]
WEEKS'S LOBSTER WIIARF.
The lobster business at East Boston demands a place among the noteworthy occupations upon the Island. In 1837, Mr. E. Weeks commenced boiling lobsters in three kettles of sixty gallons each, and during that year sold about seventy thousand lobsters. In the following year, he purchased of the East Bos- ton Company a wharf at the foot of Sumner street for $2,225. So great was the increase of the business, that, in 1838, his pur- chases amounted to about two hundred thousand, and in 1839 to two hundred and fifty thousand lobsters. Mr. Weeks with- drew from the business in 1855, at which time the annual pur- chase amounted to about three hundred thousand.
Portions of the wharf have been sold at different times .: first, a part to Nathaniel Blanchard, in 1838, for $741.66; and sec- ond, a part to Col. Samuel Stimpson, in 1855, for $1,350.
The business, since Mr. E. Weeks sold out, has been con- ducted by John S. Weeks and Company, and the purchases amounted, in 1845, to two hundred and seventy-five thousand lobsters, in 1856 to three hundred thousand, and in 1857 to three hundred and ten thousand.
From the 1st of April until the 1st of August, the number of lobsters boiled averages 160 kettles a week, each kettle con- taining one hundred. Twenty wheelbarrows and four one- horse wagons are supplied with this indispensable requisite to the market of a city, and this occupation, apparently trivial, furnishes thousands of tables with one of the most acceptable of dishes.
LINSEED-OIL WORKS.
The building in which the operations of this establishment are carried on was originally built for and occupied by the Malleable Iron Company about twenty years ago. 'That com- pany failed. The building was then purchased by Messrs. Sturtevant, Atkins, and Company for the sperm, whale oil, and soap business. In 1843, Noah Sturtevant and Company com- menced making linseed-oil on a small scale, in a part of the
706
HISTORY. [1844.
building. They used the old-fashioned presses, and made about two hundred gallons per day, which quantity they afterwards increased to seven hundred gallons. The business promising well, in 1849, Messrs. James Lee and Company entered into it, and increased the manufacture to twenty-two hundred gal- lons per day. Six years subsequent to this purchase, namely, in 1855, Messrs. Morrell Cole and Son, and James Lee, Jr., bought the property from Mr. Sturtevant, and have made ex- tensive additions to the building, and improvements for the manufacture of the oil. They have conveniences for bleaching twenty-five hundred gallons per day, and for boiling sixteen hundred gallons per day. This establishment, from being one of the smallest, is now one of the largest, in the country. It is surpassed by none in its arrangements, and in the quality of its raw, boiled, and bleached oils, for painting. Twenty-two hun- dred gallons of oil and sixteen tons of oil-cake are turned out per day, all manufactured from the best Calcutta linseed, screened and cleansed from all impurities. The larger part of the cake is shipped to London, and about seven or eight hun- dred tons are annually ground and sold to farmers as food for their cattle. This oil meal is rapidly gaining in the estimation of the agricultural community as a valuable article of food, and farmers are becoming convinced of its superiority over Indian meal, or any other article for feeding milch cows; the quantity of milk being much greater with this meal mixed with Indian meal and shorts, than with any other diet.
The business done at these oil works is very large; the man- agers are enterprising men, and success attends their efforts. Their oil is of a high standard in the market, and an increasing business is evidence of their merited prosperity.
TUFTS'S BOSTON STEAM-ENGINE COMPANY.
Mr. Otis Tufts moved a portion of his works (the boiler de- partment) to East Boston in the early part of the year 1844, and occupied a small wharf on Marginal street, now a part of the property belonging to the Grand Junction Railroad Com- pany. During the same year, having purchased the estate now known as Tufts's wharf, he moved to that place, where, soon
.
707
STEAM-ENGINE COMPANY.
1844-54.]
after, he commenced building the hull of the iron steamer R. B. Forbes, which was launched in August of the next year, 1845, and completed in the fall of the same year.
In December, 1845, Mr. Tufts removed his entire works to East Boston, making his arrangements to build stationary and marine steam-engines, boilers, and heavy machinery in general. For the next five or six years his business was chiefly building stationary steam-engines and boilers, for which there was a great demand, and in making which he was very successful. During this time Mr. Tufts had largely increased his facilities for manufacturing machinery, but anticipating a still greater demand, he decided to go on enlarging his works and be pre -. pared to build as large machinery as could be made by any es- tablishment in the country.
With a view to enlist others in the enterprise, he devoted much time to the consideration of how it could be best accom- plished, and finally concluded to apply for an act to incorporate a company under the name of the Boston Steam-Engine Com- pany, with a capital of one million of dollars, which was granted by the legislature of 1853. In June, 1853, Mr. Tufts sold so much of his wharf as lay above the centre of Webster street, towards Sumner street, including the buildings thereon, with the machinery, tools, etc., in them, and also his good-will in the business, to the Boston Steam-Engine Company, he being the principal party in the company.
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