USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881 > Part 40
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and Milford.
" MENDON the 26 of March, 1781.
(See Milford Records, vol. i. pp. 19, 20.)
341
SUMMARY, COMMENTS, ETC.
I am not certain that I correctly understand this statement as the committee intended. Milford is credited with its proportionable part of two State notes, amounting to £2,404; its proportion, or one- third, of the ministry and school-money, not specified ; with a balance due out of Mendon treasury of £2,000 ; and finally with its contin- gent share of reserved money, £500. It is debited with obligations to pay certain notes, amounting to £241. Now, we do not know, from the committee's statement, what Milford's proportionable part of the two State securities was, nor what their one-third of the ministry and school money was, nor whether any part of the nnadjusted balance in the treasury was likely ever to come to Milford, nor what the value of the then much-depreciated paper currency was. It is not impos- sible that the committee may have meant that the note of £2,000 should cancel every thing due to Milford. I do not see clearly through it all, and therefore leave the matter to the curiosity of more expert readers. It is pretty certain, in view of paper-money depreciation at that date, that our infant treasury did not start off with a very flush outfit. Whoever wishes to estimate the nominal value, will, of course, remember that the New-England pound (£) was rated at $3} ; and they will not forget, that, during the year 1781, Continental paper- money ran down to $2 in coin for $1,000. Some of the other securi- ties named in the committee's statement were doubtless of far greater value ; of how much, I need not presume to say.
The next best thing I can do in this line of historic finance, as eon- cerns our town, is to present a table showing the amounts which have been raised annually for the following-named principal purposes, - general town-charges, highways, schooling, and extra objects. I omit warlike and military items, because already treated of in another chapter, and because many of them were re-imbursed by the State. Pounds, etc., are rendered in Federal money.
342
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
YEAR.
General Charges.
Highways.
Schooling.
Extras.
Total.
1780
$66,950 001
$3,333 00
$70,286 67
1781
1,000 002
$300 002
66 67
1,366 67
1782
750 002
100 00
850 00
1783
666 678
100 00
766 67
1784
1,400 00
100 00
1,500 00
1785
333 33
400 008
100 00
853 33
1786
4
400 00
100 00
500 00
1787
4
400 00
100 00
500 00
1788
333 335
400 00
100 00
833 33
1789
166 675
400 00
100 00
666 67
1790
166 675
400 00
133 33
700 00
1791
333 335
400 00
133 33
866 67
1792
266 675
400 00
133 33
800 00
1793
266 675
400 00
200 00
866 67
1794
233 336
400 00
200 00
833 33
1795
516 675
400 00
200 00
1,116 67
1796
416 675
400 00
233 33
1,050 00
1797
333 335
600 00
266 67
1,200 00
1798
250 005
600 00
266 67
1,116 67
1799
2,666 676
600 00
266 67
1,483 34
1800
300 00
600 00
266 67
1,166 67
1801
330 00
600 00
266 67
1,196 67
1802
400 00
600 00
266 67
1,266 67
1803
600 00
600 00
266 67
1,466 67
1804
700 00
600 00
266 67
1,566 67
1805
800 00
600 00
300 00
$200 007
1,900 00
1806
800 00
600 00
300 00
1,700 00
1807
800 00
600 00
300 00
1,700 00
1808
1,000 00
600 00
300 00
1,900 00
1809
1,000 00
600 00
300 00
1,900 00
1810
1,000 00
600 00
300 00
1,900 00
1811
900 00
600 00
300 00
1
1,800 00
1812
800 00
600 00
400 00
1,800 00
1813
800 00
600 00
300 00
1,700 00
1814
700 00
600 00
400 00
1,700 00
1815
600 00
600 00
400 00
1,600 00
1816
850 00
600 00
400 00
1,850 00
1817
850 00
600 00
400 00
1,850 00
1818
850 00
600 00
400 00
1,850 00
1819
500 00
600 00
400 00
1,000 008
2,500 00
1820
1,000 00
600 00
400 00
2,000 00
1821
1,200 00
600 00
400 00
2,200 00
1822
1,400 00
600 00
400 00
300 009
2,700 00
1823
1,700 00
600 00
400 00
2,700 00
1824
1,200 00
600 00
400 00
2,200 00
1825
.
1,200 00
600 00
500 00
4,634 3910
6,934 39
1 Depreciated currency. 2 Lawful silver money. 5 Paid in work.
$ Not specified.
4 Very hard times.
6 Donation of $300 to Phinebas Eames, whose house was burnt and some of his family. 7 Sundries. 8 The Town-house. " Additional appropriation.
10 This may be called a rectification and indemnification tax. In 1819, when the Town-house was built and had to be paid for, the town party and parish party were In hot controversy. The latter stood out against paying their taxes, alleging that they were not legally assessed.
343
FINANCIAL TABULATIONS.
YEAR.
General Charges.
Highways.
Schooling.
Extras.
Total.
1826
1,400 00
600 00
400 00
2,400 00
1827
800 00
600 00
400 00
1,800 00
1828
800 00
600 00
400 00
1,800 00
1829
1,000 00
600 00
600 00
400 001
2,600 00
1830
1,000 00
600 00
500 00
-
2,100 00
1831
1,000 00
400 002
500 00
-
1,900 00
1832
1,000 00
600 008
500 00
2,100 00
1833
1,000 00
600 00
600 00
150 001
2,350 00
1834
800 00
600 00
700 00
700 001
2,800 00
1835
1,200 00
600 00
800 00
· 2,600 00
1836
1,500 00
600 00
800 00
2,900 00
1837
1,000 00
900 00
800 00
2,700 00
1838
700 004
800 00
800 00
-
2,300 00
1839
1,000 00
800 00
800 00
-
2,600 00
1840
2,000 005
900 00
800 00
3,700 00
1841
2,000 00
1,100 00
1,000 00
50 006
4,150 00
1842
2,000 00
1,200 00
1,000 00
1
4,200 00
1843
.
1,600 00
1,000 00
1,000 00
1,000 001
4,600 00
1844
2,200 00
1,000 00
1,200 00
900 006
5,300 00
1845
3,300 00
1,000 00
1,200 00
200 001
5,700 00
1
We have now reached a period when the annual financial reports assumed a more methodical and systematic form, and were nearly all regularly printed. I can therefore summarize their contents with more convenience to myself and instruction to my readers than secmed pos- sible with their less complete predecessors. The following table of ten columns will show, 1st, the year; 2d, the total of receipts into the treasury ; 3d, expenditures of every kind on account of the poor ; 4th, ditto on account of roads ; 5th, ditto on account of education ; 6th, ditto on account of the fire-department ; 7th, ditto on all other accounts ; 8th, total of disbursements ; 9th, cash and dues in the treasury ; and, 10th, the balance of town indebtedness over dues. In this table I shall not attempt to exclude military expenditures, but shall include them under the 7th head. . The financial year ends vari- ously from about the middle of February to the first week in March.
The courts sustained them, and the assessors lost their case. The town party took counsel, and levied this special tax to rectify and indemnify losses. The parish party resisted, but had to submit at last, the courts sustaining the tax. The terms of the appropriation were so framed as to square up the whole matter, principal and interest. (See report of decision, chap. xiv.
1 Making roads. 2 Cash. 3 Work again.
4 United States surplus revenue being received.
5 The town trying to reduce its debt from year to year.
6 Fire department.
344
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
YEAR.
Receipts.
Poor.
Roads.
Education.
Fire- Department
All others.
Total Disbursements.
In Treasury.
Balance Debt.
1844-45 .
9,874 86
485 21
2,526 51
1,279 87
1,118 47
439 47
5,849 53
2,257 71
5,821 41
1845-46 .
7,944 99
626 23
212 64
1,295 74
390 22
3,798 23
6,323 06
1,621 93
4,715 86
1846-47 .
7,048 63
1,256 61
116 33
1,314 12
83 84
2,148 23
4,919 13
2,129 50
4,723 45
1847-48 .
6,632 81
450 00
843 90
1,507 54
96 22
3,020 58
5,918 24
827 78
4,859 13
1848-49 .
10,744 00
1,234 59
3,113 42
1,500 95
17 87
3,653 08
9,519 91
1,346 09
4,469 52
1849-50 .
17,080 66
5,153 24
2,018 09
1,019 81
256 58
7,165 19
15,612 91
1,467 75
9,251 02
1850-51 .
18,373 53
1,540 00
3,893 43
7,692 26
282 95
3,775 42
17,184 06
1,189 27
16,913 99
1851-52 .
22,113 33
1,848 10
2,768 34
3,866 29
668 78
8,870 46
18,021 97
4,191 46
14,074 45
1852-53 .
23,722 39
1,861 34
1,628 43
4,304 74
1,258 03
10,609 53
19,662 07
4,110 32
14,889 67
1853-54 .
25,180 93
1,850 00
3,775 43
4,649 82
490 14
9,585 56
20,350 95
4,829 98
13,830 02
1854-55 .
52,368 85
2,415 40
5,089 12
5,315 07
3,060 47
32,312 77
48,192 83
4,176 02
40,873 98
1855-56 .
44,367 75
2,141 67
6,998 54
6,527 54
2,949 30
18,844 32
37,461 37
6,906 38
41,360 29
1856-57 .
37,472 53
2,300 00
3,409 75
4,930 86
3,200 00
12,916 38
26,757 19
12,544 77
35,105 23
1857-58.
45,809 73
2,294 31
5,653 37
7,381 13
5,900 00
18,676 10
39,904 91
6,735 59
39,914 41
1858-59 .
40,760 03
2,100 80
2,348 22
11,515 27
2,673 50
14,745 88
33,383 67
8,038 88
40,930 12
1859-60 .
42,221 27
2,578 19
4,407 98
11,381 43
3,526 20
16,514 40
38,408 20
11,548 76
36,062 74
1860-61 .
43,275 31
2,359 51
5,020 89
16,980 07
4,104 14
14,481 10
42,945 71
9,847 00
48,166 21
1861-62 .
65,243 22
3,076 44
4,902 36
8,819 72
2,818 65
37,057 54
56,674 71
20,486 94
57,013 57
1862-63 .
79,670 93 |
3,060 88
54 56
8,814 99
2,120 00
58,049 83
77,667 00
29,364 73
85,527 07
1
1863-64 .
202,628 55
195,871 30
37,814 87
107,185 13
1864-65 .
137,139 44
4,711 28
7,816 90
11,282 44 24,113 28 14,336 48
2,170 00 2,321 66 2,360 00
181,820 87 116,008 24 98,383 40
136,874 06 137,346 52
33,596 09
142,753 91
1866-67 .
110,384 62
5,600 00
8,122 68
19,758 76
9,841 00
84,344 33
108,866 98
24,479 44
157,220 56
1867-68
158,262 22
5,500 00
10,940 98
24,311 87
3,952 50
104,709 63 113,197 36
148,032 07 157,902 71
22,555 27
223,244 73
1869-70
133,854 57
5,000 00
10,578 10
20,515 88
7,149 89
77,447 14
132,092 14
21,738 31
223,211 69
1870-71 .
152,036 79
5,000 00
17,145 10
· 37,640 92
5,599 37
108,792 92
152,036 79
21,337 02
217,402 02
1871-72 .
166,618 88
5,744 73
20,010 68
27,251 35
5,750 00
106,959 35
165,716 11
17,787 70
214,365 07
1872-73 .
162,592 52
4,863 78
21,309 04
21,560 88
5,294 38
55,764 84
161,404 42
24,254 77
223,145 23
1873-74.
197,255 52
7,154 36
15,100 35
21,677 14
12,576 27
140,241 50
196,749 62
21,367 52
210,182 48
1874-75.
130,892 02
6,597 84
14,209 26
21,128 04
7,858 75
81,589 99
121,383 88
28,918 00
198,332 00
1875-76 .
125,195 78
8,660 00
12,973 47
21,648 90
6,150 00
71,830 75
121,263 12
14,932 63
200,967 37
1876-77 .
110,491 40
12,500 00
9,719 52
17,738 13
4,450 00
59,952 86
104,360 51
28,046 94
171,553 06
1877-78 .
106,664 10
13,364 86
8,908 95
20,698 94
5,440 00
52,095 47
100,508 22
32,610 60
171,989 40
1878-79 .
158,204 62
11,839 23
10,521 92
22,097 28
7,146 71
100,497 27
152,102 41
21,360 65
178,189 35
1879-80 .
114,093 40
10,315 16
6,136 20
21,828 73
5,053 37
61,280 31
104,663 77
9,429 63
185,020 37
1868-69.
158,611 65
4,998 40
11,227 31
24,133 05
14,286 24
1865-66 .
142,056 69
5,142 92
2,683 25
39,070 58
156,602 81
.
345
FINANCIAL TABULATIONS.
31,440 11
191,005 87
3,914 14
3,499 24
346
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
The last preceding table includes, under the head, " All other," a great variety of expenditures, among which certain kinds might be tabulated, perhaps, with interest to a few curious readers ; but it will hardly repay the necessary pains. In finding the balance of town indebtedness, I have merely deducted cash and dues in the treasury from year to year, excluding railroad stocks and all other town prop- erty which are termed assets ; because, though these so-called assets are valuable in their place, they are not available to any considerable extent for the liquidation of the municipal debt.
The town assets for 1878 were, -
Schoolhouses of all grades . $67,000
Two town-houses, engine-buildings, etc.
34,000
Public grounds, park, etc.
16,000
Fire apparatus
16,000
Town poor-farm and other real estate
4,000
Public library .
5,000
Cemeteries
5,000
Water-works
2,000
Sewerage
7,000
Stock as held in Milford & Woonsocket Railroad 50,000
Stock and bonds of Hopkinton Railroad .
15,000
All other miscellaneous assets .
28,600
Thus we have a nominal total of
$249,600
·
·
At the same time, our total indebtedness was set down at $204,600. I suppose these estimates and figures will not materially differ for 1880. [This was written in 1879, and not altered in 1880.] So our assets exceed our liabilities, as thus appraised, to the amount of $45,000.
What the taxable resources of the town have been during the ten decades of its corporate existence, may be partially understood from the following tabular statement. The records and documents down to 1830 were so defective, or required so much critical research to obtain reliable figures, that I excused myself from the task. The ratable polls for 1800 are put down at 163; for 1810, 194; and for 1820, 226. What the total valuation was from 1780 to 1830 can be guessed rather than authentically estimated. It probably ranged from year to year progressively from $150,000 to $300,000. I have gone by decades to 1860, and then for shorter periods.
347
FINANCIAL TABULATIONS.
YEAR.
Personal Estate.
Real Estate.
Total.
Polls.
1830 1
Not given.
Not given.
$389,941 00
344
1840 1
.
Not given.
Not given.
509,786 00
502
1850 1
Not given.
Not given.
1,196,792 00
1,492
1860 1
Failed to
get hold
of the data.
1861
$865,134 00
$249,050 00
3,274,184 00
2,429
1862
828,121 00
2,240,607 00
3,068,728 00
2,454
1863 .
954,279 00
2,250,871 00
3,205,150 00
2,565
1864 .
863,731 00
2,308,620 00
3,172,351 00
2,525
1865 .
1,159,989 00
2,424,560 00
3,584,549 00
2,432
1866 .
1,308,666 00
2,498,400 00
3,807,066 00
2,432
1867 .
1,574,466 00
2,543,012 00
4,117,478 00
2,551
1868 .
1,682,059 00
2,660,949 00
4,343,008 00
2,641
1869
1,688,666 00
2,865,079 00
4,553,745 00
2,638
1870
1,647,233 00
3,206,176 00
4,853,409 00
2,639
1871
1,467,544 00
3,326,952 00
4,794,496 00
2,662
1872.
1,574,861 00
3,575,071 00
5,149,932 00
2,725
1873 .
1,302,476 00
3,777,318 00
5,079,794 00
2,672
1874 .
1,274,762 00
3,814,270 00
5,089,032 00
2,691
1875 .
1,231,240 00
3,838,623 00
5,069,863 00
2;634
1876 .
1,218,246 00
3,852,175 00
5,070,421 00
2,523
1877 .
1,133,622 00
3,226,161 00
4,359,783 00
2,379
1878 .
1,994,353 00
3,324,874 00
4,419,227 00
2,482
1879 2
1,113,975 00
3,249,115 00
4,363,090 00
2,396
1880 8
1,102,069 00
3,282,816 00
4,384,855 00
2,385
Rate per $1,000
. $17.00.
Total tax
.
. $79,338.24
The principal kinds and amounts of property included in the valu- ations for the years indicated are presented in the following table : -
YEAR.
Taxable Acres of Land.
Dwellings.
Capital invested in Manufactures.
Establish- ments.
Horses.
Cows.
1861
·
11,8964 acres.
1,194
Not found. $687,482 00 Not found. 1,330,696 00 Not found. Not found.
Not found. 49 Not found. 199
486
556
1870
.
·
11,896
1,356
187.5
11,667
1,547
609
561
1879
11,688
1,585
636
659
1880
·
11,688
6
1,572
Not found. Not found.
636
626
483
658
1865
.
11,896
1,249
530
637
1 Personal and real estate valuations are not footed up in the assessor's books during these years. 2 Total tax this year, $78,219.00. 3 Tax on polls for 1880, $2.00.
348
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
The published statistics of the Commonwealth set forth that in 1865 we had 134 farms, comprising 7,353 acres ; that we had 2,445 acres of unimproved land, 414 acres unimprovable, 3,730 acres of woodland, and 2,377 acres cultivated ; that our farm-lands and build- ings were valued at $402,900, and our total of farm-property at $542,168. The total of this agricultural property, for 1875, is set down at $601,335. Thus it is obvious that Milford is not an agri- cultural town, and that the bulk of her valuation consists in other kinds of property. This is known to be largely real and personal estate invested in manufacturing and mechanical establishments. Of these I need not treat in this immediate connection, as they will come in under the next general head.
PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES AND PURSUITS.
The plain, old-fashioned forms of husbandry and domestic produc- tions predominated with our population down to 1820, - perhaps I ought to say till 1830 ; after which, the boot, shoe, and leather indus- tries began to assume commanding importance. But there was a marked inclination among our people to mechanical pursuits from the beginning, though the amount of production was comparatively small. We have no statistics of industrial production till the year ending April 1, 1837, and then meagre ones. These were collected and pub- lished by the State. They are so few, and occupy so little space, that I may properly quote them verbatim : -
"Cotton-mill, 1; cotton-spindles, 1,200; cotton consumed, 13,000 lbs. ; cotton goods manufactured, 80,000 yards; value of same, $5,000; males employed, 8; females, 14; capital invested, $15,000.
" Common sheep, 29; wool produced, 87 lbs .; average weight of fleece, 3 lbs. ; value of wool, $45.
"Boots manufactured, 128,000 pairs ; value of same, $212,000 ; males employed, 305; females, 37.
" Hides curried, 5,000 ; value of leather curried, $12,000 ; hands em- ployed, 5; capital invested, $5,000.
"Manufactory of chairs and cabinet ware, 1; value of chairs and cabinet ware, $1,500; hands employed, 2.
"Tinware manufactory, 1; value of tinware, $800; hands employed, 1.
" Straw bonnets manufactured, 4,000; value of same, $12,000.
"Value of varnish manufactured, $5,500 ; hands employed, 2; capital invested, $4,000.
" Value of clothing manufactured, $4,500; hands employed, 10; capital invested, $1,000.
"Value of shoe-pegs manufactured, $671; hands employed, 2; capital invested, $100.
349
PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES, ETC.
" Value of wagon-irons manufactured, $2,500; hands employed, 4; capi- tal invested, $400.
" Value of whips manufactured, $1,000; hands employed, 1; capital in- vested, $500."
This is not a very flattering display, it must be confessed. Nothing appears to the credit of agriculture except those twenty-nine sheep and their wool ; nothing of merchandise and trade; and probably some omissions in other departments. But statistics were then in their infancy, and it would be ungenerous to blame anybody.
Our next authorized embodiment of industrial products is for the year ending April 1, 1845. The returns from Milford are so con- densed that I may as well copy them entire. These abbreviations will be readily understood.
" Saddle and harness manufactories, 1; V. of articles m'd, $200; C., $100; Employees, 1.
" Hat manufactories, 1; hats m'd, 150; V., $375; C., $100; E., 2.
" Soap manufactories, 2; soap m'd, 100 lbs .; V., $425; C., $100; E., 2.
" Cabinet-ware manufactories, 1; V. of ware m'd, $1,000; C., $100; E., 2.
"Tinware manufactories, 1; V. of ware m'd, $150; C., $100; E., 1.
" V. of leather curried, $30,000; C., $2,500; E., 10.
" Boots m'd, 243,890 pairs; shoes, 10,550 pairs; V. of boots and shoes, $373,835; M. E., 482; F. E., 220.
" Straw bonnets m'd, 1,500; V., $1,500; V. of straw braid m'd, and not made into bonnets and hats, $12,500; F. E., 154.
" V. of building stone quarried and prepared, $3,500; E., 6.
"V. of mechanics' tools m'd, $1,150; E., 3.
"Lumber prepared, 250,000 feet ; V., $3,000; E., 6.
" Firewood prepared, 2,000 cords; V., $6,000; E., 27.
" Sperm-oil consumed in manufacturing establishments, 1,000 galls .; V., $1,000; all other kinds, 1,500 galls .; V., $800; anthracite coal consumed in manufacturing, 10 tons; V., $100; V. of all other articles of American pro- duction consumed, excepting cotton, wool, and iron, $225,245; V. of all other articles of foreign production, except. as above, consumed, $127,622.
" Sheep, 23; V., $77; wool produced, 72 lbs .; V., $12.
" Horses, 205; V., $11,045; neat cattle, 917; V., $18,022; swine, 414; V., $2,954.
"Indian corn, or maize, raised, 5,821 bush .; V., $4,657; rye, 804 bush .; V., $725; barley, 604 bush .; V., 453; oats, 1,929 bush .; V., $750; potatoes, 20,123 bush .; V., $6,036; other esculent vegetables, 1,521 bush ; V., $610; hay, 1,538 tons; V., $17,500.
"Fruit raised, 13,552 bush .; V., $5,000.
" Butter, 31,124 lbs .; V., $5,602; cheese, 17,444 lbs. ; V., $1,050,
" Shoe-pegs m'd, 333} bush .; V., $500; E., 2.
" Boot boxes m'd, 12,000; V., $3,840; E., 4.
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HISTORY OF MILFORD.
" Window-sashes m'd, 8,000 lights; V., $200; E., 1.
" Doors m'd, 250; V., $375; E., 1.
" Window-blinds m'd, 75 pairs; V., $187; E., 1.
" Beans raised, 300 bush .; V., $450.
" V. of wheelwrights' manufactures, $1,200; E., 2."
Our next showing is for the year ending June 1, 1855 : -
"Establishments for m. of cotton, woollen, and other machinery, 2; val. of machinery m'd, $15,000; cap., $5,000.
" Axe manufacture; axes, hatchets, and other edged tools m'd, 1,800; val , $875; cap., $300; emp., 17.
"Daguerrotype artists, 1; daguerrotypes taken, 3,500; cap, $1,000; emp., 2.
" Saddle, harness, and trunk manufactories, 2; val. of saddles, etc., $2,500; cap., $1,000; emp., 4.
"Hat and cap manufactories, 1; hats and caps m'd, 936; cap., $2,573; emp., 3.
" Establishments for m. of railroad cars, coaches, chaises, wagons, sleighs, and other vehicles, 3; val. of railroad cars, etc., m'd, $22,340; cap., $12,000; emp., 17.
" Establishments for m. of soap and tallow candles, 1; soap m'd, 25,000 lbs. and 800 bbls .; val. of soap, $4,100; tallow candles m'd, 2,000 lbs .; val. of tallow candles, $280; cap., $2,000; emp., 3.
" Chair and cabinet manufactories, 1; val. of chairs and cabinet-ware, $7,700; cap., $2,200; emp., 6.
"Tinware manufactories, 2; val. of tinware, $19,000; cap., $5,500 ; emp., 9.
" Currying establishments, 1; val. of leather curried, $18,000; cap., $6,000; emp., 7.
" Boots of all kinds m'd, 1,042,944 pairs; shoes of all kinds m'd, 5,048; val. of boots and shoes, $1,787,315.20; m. emp., 2,951; f. emp., 447.
" Establishments for m. of straw bonnets and hats, 1; straw bonnets m'd, 3,000; val., $1,436.25; m. emp., 1; f. emp., 2.
" Val. of building-stone quarried and prepared for building, $7,423; emp., 16.
" Val. of blocks and pumps m'd, $2,000; emp., 2.
"Corn and other brooms m'd, 6,780; val. of brooms, $850; emp., 2.
"Lasts m'd, 43,720; val., $11,030.
" Lumber prepared for market, 2,541,000 ft .; val. of lumber, $33,281; emp., 6.
" Firewood prepared for market, 3,119 cords; val. of firewood, $15,000; emp., 50.
" Horses, 365; val. of horses, $41,510; oxen over three years old, 116; steers under three years old, 56; val. of oxen and steers, $9,265; milch cows, 533; heifers, 37; val. of cows and heifers, $18,666.
" Butter, 19,467 lbs .; val. of butter, $4,866.75; cheese, 3,784 lbs .; val. of cheese, $302.72; honey, 583 lbs .; val. of honey, $104.94.
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PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES, ETC.
" Indian corn, 287 acres; Indian corn, per acre, 242 bush .; val., $8,923.75.
" Rye, 26 acres; rye, per acre, 11 bush .; val., $429.
" Barley, 9 acres; barley, per acre, 19 bush .; val., $213.75.
"Oats, 61 acres; oats, per acre, 22 bush .; val., $805.20.
" Potatoes, 208 acres; potatoes, per acre, 100 bush .; val., $15,000.
"Onions, ¿ acre; onions, per acre, 433 bush. ; val., $243.
"Turnips, cultivated as a field-crop, 5} acres ; turnips, per acre, 330 bush ; val., $726.
"Carrots, 3 acres; carrots, per acre, 698 bush .; val., $523.50.
" Beets and other esculent vegetables, 15 acres; val., $523.50.
" All other grain or root crops, 12 acres; val., $1,200.
" English mowing, 1,782 acres; English hay, 1,582 tons ; val., $31,640.
" Wet-meadow, or swale, hay, 479} tons; val., $479.
" Apple-trees, cultivated for their fruit, 26,480; val., $6,345.
" Pear-trees, cultivated for their fruit, 2,106; val., $446.
"Cherry-trees, 2,682; val. of cherries, $1,108.
" Peach-trees, 4,527; val. of peaches, $2,174.
" Cranberries, 563 acres; val., $4,072.
" Establishments for m. sashes, doors, and blinds, 1; cap., $900; val. m'd, $1,500; emp., 2.
" Establishments for m. of gas, 1; cap., $32,000 ; val. m'd, $6,000 ; emp., 4.
" Breweries, 1; cap., $2,000; beer m'd, 900 bbls .; val., $4,500; emp., 3.
" Bakeries, 1; cap., $6,000; flour consumed, 1,100 bbls .; val. of bread m'd, $15,000; emp., 11.
" Establishments for m. of boxes for boots, 3; cap., $4,500; val. of boxes m'd, $24,180; emp., 15.
" Swine raised, 647; val., $6,750.
" Val. of milk, $12,394."
In the census of 1865 we find the town to have increased its popu- lation to 9,108, its total valnation to $3,584,549, and its polls to 2,432. It had 134 farms, covering 7,353 acres, of which 2,377 acres were cultivated by 160 persons. It had meantime 2,117 acres of woodland, and 414 called unimprovable. The total value of its farm- ing property was $542,168. It had 49 manufacturing establishments, mostly in the boot and shoe line, yet a few others of importance, operating on an invested capital of $687,482, working up $2,546,414 worth of stock per year, employing 2,814 operatives, and turning out goods to the value of $3,956,292.
Without descending into further detail, I may as well come directly to the census of 1875. This far transcends all its predecessors in comprehensiveness, method of arrangement, specification, and com- pleteness. It shows a rapid and steady growth of the town in all the elements of municipal wealth, strength, and importance. She had
352
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
now a population of 9,818 souls, -4,883 males and 4,935 females. Her total valuation was $5,069,863, and her total productiveness per year $4,425,866. Her dwellings numbered 1,549, her families 2,103, and her legal voters, native and naturalized, 2,128. I cannot present in a more intelligible and condensed form the interesting particulars embodied in this census than by copying several of its tables. I find no convicts numbered among our belongings. Paupers are set down at 34, -19 males and 15 females. Under the head, " Classified Occupations," our general population is arranged as follows : "Gov- ernment and Professional," 71 males and 62 females ; "Domestic and Personal Office," 52 males and 2,363 females ; "Trade and Trans- portation,'' 347 males and 13 females ; " Agriculture, etc.," 259 males. Under the general head, " Selected Occupations " (Census, 1875, vol. i. p. 474), I quote in full : -
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