USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > The Lowell Directory 1839 > Part 2
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The population of Lowell in 1826, was about 2000; in 1828, 3532; in 1830, 6477; in 1832, 10,254; in 1833, 12,363. The present population doubtless exceeds 19,000.
The first effort to promote manufactures in this place, was made in 1813. In conse- quence of the restrictions that were laid on commerce, and of the war with Great Britain the attention of many enterprising men was directed to domestic manufactures. Captain Phineas Whiting and Captain Josiah Fletcher, having selected an eligible site on Concord river at the Wamesit Falls, about a hundred rods from the Merrimack, erected at the ex- pense of about $3000, a large wooden build- ing for a cotton manufactory. In 1818 they sold their buildings and their right to the wa- ter power, to Mr Thomas Hurd. Mr Hurd afterwards fitted up the wooden factory and erected a large brick one, and several dwell- ing houses, and improved the same for fabri- cating woollen goods. The woollen factory
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HISTORY OF LOWELL.
was destroyed by fire on the 30th of June, 1826, but was rebuilt immediately after. Mr Hurd continued the business until the great pressure in 1828, when he was compelled to assign his property for the benefit of his cred- itors, and which was afterwards purchased by the Middlesex company.
About the year 1820. Messrs Patrick T. Jackson, Nathan Appleton, and Kirk Boott, of Boston, entered into a design to form a company for the purpose of manufacturing cotton goods, particularly calicoes. Thev accordingly commenced an enquiry for a suit- able water privilege. A large number of priv- ileges were examined, and for various reasons were rejected. At length Mr Paul Moody, then connected with the manufacturing estab- lishments at Waltham while on a visit to his friends in Amesbury, met with Mr Worthen, a gentlemau of taste, with views congenial to his own, to whom he mentioned that an ex- tensive water privilege was wanted by the a- bove named gentleman. Mr Worthen re- plied " why do they not purchase the land around the Pawtucket Falls, in Chelmsford ? They can put up as many works as they please and never want for water." This con- versation resulted in a visit of these gentle- men to this place, and from observation they were both satisfied that the privilege was ex- actly what was wanted. The pawtucket ca-
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HISTORY OF LOWELL.
nal was immediately purchased by Messrs Jackson, Appleton and Boott.
This canal was projected about the year 1790, and the proprietors were incorporated in 1792, by the name of " The Proprietors of the Locks and Canals on Merrimack riv- er." It was open for the purpose of facilita- ting the transportation of wood and Jumber from the interior to Newburyport. It is a- bout one mile and a half in length, and four sets of locks, and was built at the expense of $50,000. Its direction is nearly east, and it enters Concord river just above its junction with the Merrimack, where the water is thir- ty-two feet lower than at the head of law- tucket Falls.
It is worthy of remark, that a few years before the purchase was made by Messrs Ap- pleton, Jackson and Boott, an engineer was sent to this place, by a number of gentlemen in Boston, who made a report that there was no water privilege here.
The company made the first purchase of real estate on the 2d of November, 1821 .- They began the work about the first of April, 1822. On the 10th of July they began to dig the canal broader and deeper, and let the water into it about the 1st of September, 1823. Five hundred men were constantly employed in digging and blasting. The gunpowder used in blasting, amounted to $6,000, at one
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HISTORY OF LOWELL.
shilling per pound. The whole expense of digging the canal was about $120,000. It is now sixty feet wide, has three setts of locks, and the water in it is eight feet deep, and is calculated to supply about fifty mills. In dig- ging this canal ledges were found consider- ably below the old canal, which bore evident traces of its having once been the bed of the river. Many places were found worn into the ledge, as there usually are in falls, by stones kept constantly in motion by the wa- ter; some of these cavities were one foot or more in diameter and two feet deep.
The principal water-power, together with a large amount of real estate, is owned by a company called " The Proprietors of Locks and Canals on Merrimack River," with a capital of 600,000. They dispose of mill- rights and lands as they are wanted. Besides these they have a large Machine Shop, in which they manufacture machinery and cars and engines for Railroads, and employ from 200 to 300 workmen.
The first Manufacturing company, in point of age, as well as capital, is the Merrimack. It has a capital of $1,500,000, with five large brick factories, containing 37,344 spindles and 1,253 looms. It employs 437 males, and 1,400 females, and consumes 5,000 bales or 1,500,000 pounds of cotton annually It manufactures, bleaches and prints 6,590,000 yards annually.
2*
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HISTORY OF LOWELL.
The Hamilton Manufacturing Company, has a capital of 1,000,000, three large brick factories, containing 20,992 spindles and 564 looms, and employs 830 females and 230 males. It consumes 5000 bales of cotton, , manufactures 100,000 yards per week, or a- bove 5,000,000 yards per annum. Two of the mills make twilled goods, the other one plain.
There are also a bleach and print works be- longing to this company, in which part of the goods are converted into calicoes and fancy articles
The Appleton Manufacturing Company, with a capital of 500,000 dollars, has two large brick factories, containging 11,776 spin- dles, 380 looms, and employs 65 males, and 470 females. It uses 36,000 pounds of cot- ton per week, and manufactures 5,000,000 yards of cloth annually.
The Lowell Manufacturing Company, with a capital of 500,000 dollars, has one factory for cotton goods. containing 5000 spindles, and 144 looms. They use 30,000 pounds of cotton, and make 55,000 yards of cloth, and 2,500 yards of carpeting, and 150 rugs per week. They manufacture the Kidderminster and Brussels carpets, and rugs of various kinds and patterns. They employ 200 males and 375 females.
The Middlesex Manufacturing Company,
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HISTORY OF LOWELL.
with a capital of 500,000 dollars, has two brick factories in operation, containing 28 sets of Cards, 4,620 spindles, 38 Broadcloth and 92 Cassimere looms. They employ 185 males and 350 females, and consume 600,000 pounds of wool per annum.
The Suffolk Manufacturing Company, with a capital of 450,000 dollars, has two large brick factories, containing 11,364 spindles, 352 looms, employs 70 males and 460 fe- males. 'They manufacture twilled goods, 90,000 yards per week, and use 4000 bales of cotton.
'T'he Tremont Manufacturing Company, with a capital of 600,000 dollars has two fac- tories, containing 11,520 spindles, 404 looms. they consume 34,000 pounds of cotton, and manufacture 125,800 yards of cloth per week, and employ 70 males and 460 females.
The Lawrence Manufacturing Company, with a capital of 1,500,000 dollars, bas in operation 5 factories, running 31,000 spindles, and 910 looms. weaving 37 and 41 inch wide, No. 30 and 14 cotton fabricks, and employ 1450 operatives.
The Boolt Cotton Mills, with a capital of 1,200,000 dollars, have erected four large factories, three of which are in operation; al- so, eight blocks of boarding houses, contain- ing eight tenements each.
The Belvidere Manufacturing Company,
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HISTORY OF LOWELL.
employ about 70 operatives, and manufacture 5000 yards of flannel per week.
The Lowell Bleuchery, has a capital of 50,000 dollars, employs 30 to 40 hands and bleaches 4,800,000 yards per year.
On Concord river, a short distance from the city, there are powder works, belonging to Oliver M. Whipple, Esq. at which is made powder of a superior quality. 30,000 kegs of 25 pounds each, are made annually.
To these establishments may be added the Card and Whip factory, Planeing Machine, Reed Machine, Grist and Saw Mills. Also, in the immediate vicinity, Glass Works, and a Furnace supplying every description of cast- ings. Also, Flour Mills owned by. Messrs Hale, in which from 200 to 500 barrels of flour of the best quality, are manufactured per week.
Houses for Public Worship. There are in Lowell, 13 houses for public worship, viz: one Episcopal, two Orthodox Congregation- al, two Calvinist Baptist, two Methodist, two Universalists, one Free-Will Baptist, one Unitarian, one Christian, and one Catholic.
Schools. One High, six Grammar and 19 Primary.
In February, 1836, Lowell became an in- corporated city, by an act of the General Court, accepted by a vote of the people, April 11.
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HISTORY OF LOWELL.
CITY OFFICERS-January 1, 1839.
MAYOR. Luther Lawrence.
ALDERMEN.
Seth Chellis, Benjamin F. French, Oliver M. Whipple, George H. Carleton, George Brownell, Charles L. Tilden.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Ward 1. Jesse Phelps, Walter Wright, Eliphalet Brown, Perez Fuller.
Ward 2. William Fiske, Aaron H. Sher- man, William Upham, Henry J. Baxter.
Ward 3. Elisha Huntington, Thos. Hop- kinson, Horace Howard, John Mixer.
Ward 4. David Dana, Perley Hale, Ben- jamin Walker, William Baker.
Ward 5. Erastus Douglass, Rufus Paul, Garret J. Bradt, Benjamin Wild.
Ward 6. Calvin Goodspeed, Eli Cooper, Thomas L. Randlett, James L. Foot.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Amos Blanchard, Theodore Edson, Henry A. Miles, Elisha Fuller, John O. Green, Ze- nas Thompson.
Thomas Ordway, City Clerk ; Henry T. Mowatt, City Marshal ; William Davidson, Treasurer and Collector ; II. G. F. Corliss, Auditor.
CITY CHARTER.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :
SECTION ist. The inhabitants of the town of Lowell, for all purposes, for which towns are by law incorporated in this Commonwealth, shall con- tinue to be one body politic, in fact and in name, under the style and denomination of the City of Lowell, and as such shall have, exercise, and enjoy all the rights, immunities, powers and privileges, and shall be subject to all the duties and obliga- tions, now incumbent upon, and appertaining to said town,-and the administration of all the fiscal, prudential and municipal concerns of the city with the conduct and government thereof, shall be vest- ed in one principal officer, to be styled the Mayor, one select council, consisting of six persons to be denominated the Board of Aldermen, and one Council, to consist of twenty-four persons to be denominated the Common Council, together with such other boards of officers as are hereinafter specified. The Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council, in their joint capacity shall be denomina- ted the City Council, and shall not, except the May - or, receive any compensation for their services.
SECT. 2. The Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council, chosen as is hereinafter provided, shall enter on the duties of their respective offices on
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CITY CHARTER.
the first Monday of April in each year, and shall hold their offices for the term of one year from the time of their so entering on the duties thereof. And before entering on said duties, the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council, shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of the same. And such oath may be administered to the Mayor elect by any justice of the peace for the county of Mid- dlesex. And such oath shall be administered to the aldermen and common council, by the Mayor, being himself first sworn as aforsaid, and a certifi- cate of such oath having been taken shall be en- tered in the journal of the Mayor and Aldermen, and of the Common Council, by their respective clerks. And whenever, on examination, by the Mayor and Aldermen for the time being, of the returns of votes given for Mayor at the meeting of the citizens, holden for the purpose of electing that officer last preceding the first Monday of April, in each year, no person shall appear to have a ma. jority of all the vo'es given for Mayor, the Mayor and A dermen by whom such examination is made, shall make a record of that fact, an attested copy of which, the City Clerk shall read, on the first Monday of April in each year in the presence of the persons returned to serve as Aldermen and Common Council : and thereupon the oath of of- fice prescribed by law may be administered by any justice of the peace for the county of Middle- sex. And the board of Aldermen shall then pro- ceod to elect a chairman, who shall perform the duties of Mayor until the Mayor be duly chosen, and the Common Council a President, in their re- spective chambers, and being respectively organ- ized shall proceed to business. And in case any person elected Mayor of said city, shall refuse to accept said office, the same proceeding shall be had as hereinbefore directed, in respect to the or-
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CITY CHARTER.
ganization of the board of Aldermen and Common Council, in cases where there has been no choice of Mayor ; and the board of Aldermen so organ- ized, shall forthwith issue their warrant for a meet- ing of the citizens for the choice of Mayor, at such time and place as they shall judge most con- venient, and said meeting shall be organized, and the same proceedings had in all respects in rela- tion to the choice of Mayor, as hereinafter direct- ed in the twentieth section of this act. And in case of the unavoidable absence by sickness or otherwise, of the Mayor elect, on the first Monday of April, in each year, the city government shall organize itself in the mode hereinbefore provided, and may proceed to business in the same manner as if the Mayor were present.
SECT. 3. In case of the decease, inability, re- signation cr absence of the Mayor, the same being declared and a vote passed by the Aldermen and Common Council respectively, declaring such cause and the expediency of electing a Mayor for the time being, to supply the vacancy thus occa- sioned, the Aldermen and Common Council may meet in convention and elect a Mayor to hold the office until such occasion be removed, or until a new election. And in case of the death or resig- nation of any member of the Board of Aldermen, the citizens may fill such vacancy at any regular. meeting that may thereafter be convened for that purpose.
SECT. 4. The Mayor and Aldermen shall com- pose one Board, and shall sit and act together as one body, at all meetings of which, the Mayor, if present, shall preside, but in his absence, the board may elect a chairman for the time being : and said Board, together with the Common Coun- cil in convention, shall choose a clerk to be de- nominated the City Clerk, who shall hold his of-
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CITY CHARTER.
fice for the term of one year, and until another person be chosen and qualified to succeed him, re- movable however at the pleasure of the Mayor and Aldermen. Before entering on the duties of his office, the clerk shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of the same ; and shall keep a journal of the acts and proceedings of said board, sign all warrants issued by them, and do such other acts in his capacity as may lawfully and reasonably be re- quired of him ; and deliver over all journals, books, papers and documents entrusted to him, as such clerk, to his successor in office, immediately upon such successor being chosen and qualified as aforesaid, or whenever he may be thereto required by the Mayor and Aldermen. And the City Clerk thus qualified, shall have all the powers, and per- form all duties, now by law belonging to the Town Clerk of the town of Lowell, as fully as if the same were particularly enumerated, except in cases where it is otherwise expressly provided.
SECT. 5. The persons chosen and qualified as members of the Common Council of the city, shall sit and act together as a separate body, distinct from that of the Mayor and Aldermen, except in those cases in which the two bodies are to meet in convention ; and the Council mav from time to time choose one of their own members to preside over their deliberations, and to preserve order therein, and also to choose a clerk, who shall be under oath faithfully to discharge the duties of his office, who shall hold said office, during the pleas- ure of the council, and who shall attend the coun- cil when the same is in session, keep a journal of its acts, votes, and proceedings, and perform such other services in said capacity as the Council may require. All sittings of the Common Council shall be public ; also all sittings of the Mayor and Al- dermen when they are not engaged in executive
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CITY CHARTER.
business. Four members of the Board of Alder- men, and fifteen of the Common Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of busi- ness. And each of the persons chosen as a mem- ber of the Common Council shall, within two days after his election, be furnished with a certificate thereof, signed by a majority of the officers presi- ding at such election, which certificate shall be presumptive evidence of the title of such person to a seat in the Common Council ; but the Council however shall have the authority to decide ulti- mately upon all questions relating to the qualifica- tions, elections and returns of its members.
SECT. G. The Mayor of the city, shall be the chief executive officer of said corporation, and shall be compensated for his services by a salary, to be fixed by the board of Aldermen and Common Council in city Council convened payable at sta- ted periods : which salary shall not exceed Fifteen Hundred Dollars annually, and he shall receive no other compensation or emolument whatever; and no regulations enlarging or diminishing such compensation, shall be made, to take effect until the expiration of the year, for which the Mayor then in office shall have been elected. And the Mayor shall be vigilant and active at all times, in causing the laws for the government of said city to be duly executed and put in force ; shall in- spect the conduct of all subordinate officers in the government thereof, and as far as in his power, cause all negligence, carelessness, and violation of duty, to be duly prosecuted and punished .- Whenever in his judgment the good of the city may require it, he shall summon meetings of the Board of Aldermen and Common Council, or ei- ther of them, although the meeting of said boards, or either of them, may stand adjourned to a more distant day, and perform such other duties as the
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CITY CHARTER.
City Council may legally and reasonably require. And the Mayor from time to time shall communi- cate to both branches of the city council, all such in> formation, & recommend all such measures as may tend to the improvement of the finances, the police, health, security, cleanliness, comfort and orna- ment of the City.
SECT. 7. The administration of police,.the ex- exuctive powers of the city with all the powers heretofore vested in the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Lowell, are hereby ves- ted in the Mayer and Aldermen, as fully as if the same were herein enumerated, who shall be ex- officio members of the School Committee. The Mayor and Aldermen may also grant licenses to innholders, common victuallers, and retailers, within the city, in all cases wherein the Coun- ty Commissioners, for the County of Middlesex, on the recommendation of the selectmen of Low- ell, have heretofore been authorized to grant such licenses ; and may appoint annually such a num- ber of persons as constables for the city, and from time to time such special constables as the public service may require ; all of whom shall be remo- vable at the pleasure of the Mayor and Aldermen ; and the constables so appointed shall have the same powers as are by law vested in constables chosen by towns in this Commonwealth. And the Mayor and Aldermen may cause the public streets of the city to be lighted, and for that purpose may set up and construct lamps, gas pipes, or cther ap- paratus, such as public necessity or convenience may require.
SECT. 8. All other persons now by law vest- ed in the town of Lowell, or in the inhabitants thereof as a municipal corporation, shall be, and hereby are vested in the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of the city to be exercised by
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CITY CHARTER.
concurrent vote, each board having a negative upon the other, especially they shall have power to make all such needful and salutary by-laws, as towns by the laws of this Commonwealth have power to make, and annex penalties, not exceed- ing twenty dollars, for the breach thereof, which by -laws shall take effect, and be in force, from and after the times therein respectively limited, without the sanction or confirmation of any court or authority whatever: Provided, that such by- laws shall not be repugnant to the by laws of this Commonwealth ; and shall be hable to be annulled by the legislature thereof. The city council from time to time may lay and assess taxes for which towns are by law required or authorized to assess or grant money ; and also for all purposes neces- sary for carrying into effect the powers conferred by this act : provided however that, in the assess ment and apportionment of such taxes, the same rules and regulations shall be observed, as are now established by the laws of this Common- wealth, or may hereafter be enacted, relative to the assessment and apportionment of town taxes .- The city council may provide for the assessment and collection of such taxes, make appropriations of all public moneys, and provide for the disburse- ment thereof, and take suitable measures to ensure a just and prompt account thereof, and for these purposes mav either elect such assessors and as- sistant assessors as may be needful, or provide for the appointment or election of the same, or any of them, by the Mayor and Aldermen, or by the citizens as may be most conducive to public good, and shall also require of all persons entrusted with the collection, custody or disbursement of public moneys, such bonds with such conditions and such sureties as the case may require.
SECT. 9. The city council may provide for the
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CITY CHARTER.
appointment or election of all officers necessary for the good government of the city, not otherwise ยท provided for ; prescribe their duties and fix their compensation ; cause any street or streets. public places or squares in the city to be graded, paved, macadamized or repaired ; and cause permanent sidewalks to be constructed on the same in front of buildings at the expense of the owners thereof; and temporary ones in front of vacant lands at the expense of the abuttors or of the city, which side- walks, when accepted by said council, shall be after- wards maintained at the expense of the city, when- ever the convenience of its inhabitants may require the same, and cause drains and common sewers to be laid down through any streets or private lands, paying the owners thereof such damage as they may sustain thereby ; and require all persons to pay a reasonable sum for the privilege of open- ing any drain into said public drain or common sewer; and lay out, make and continue or discon- tinue all city and town ways or streets within the limits of the city ; and widen or straighten county ways within the city, in such manner as the pub- lie convenience may require ; and any party ag- grieved by such building of -ide-walks, laying of diains or common sewers, and alterations of ways, shall have the same remedies as are provided by law for the doings of County Commissioners .- The city council may also make and establish ne- cessary or fit rules and by-laws for the inspection, survey, measurement and sale of timber, brick, wood, coal and bark for fuel, brought into the city for sale, and for the regulation of carriages in the streets of the city, appoint certain places in the streets and squares of the city, as public stands for wagons, carts, sleds and carriages of every de- scription, and ordain fit penalties, not exceeding twenty dollars for the breach of any ordinances,
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CITY CHARTER.
rules and regulations so made and established, to be recovered by complaint of any officer or other inhabitant of the city, before the police court there- in for the use of the city. The city council shall also have the care and superintendence of the pub- lic buildings, and the care, custody, and manage- ment of all the property of the city, with power to lease or sell the same, and to purchase property in the name and for the use of the city whenever its interest or convenience may require. The city council may by a committee, by them appoin- ter, or by instructions to any officer having charge of the streets, appropriate, set off and reserve, as sidewalks, such parts of any streets of the city, as may be necessary for the safety, convenience, and accommodation of foot passengers, and permit or direct posts of stone or wood, or trees, if necessa- ry, to be placed along the edge of said side-walks to protect the same, or the passengers travelling thereon.
SECT. 10. All the powers and authority, inves- ted in the Boards of Health of towns in this Com- monwealth, are hereby transferred to, and vested in the city council, to be carried into execution by the appointment of Health Commissioners, or in such other manner as the health and cleanliness of the city may require, subject to such alterations as the Legislature may from time to time adopt.
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