USA > New Hampshire > New Hampshire as it is. In three parts. Part I. A historical sketch of New hampshire. Part II. A gazetter of New Hampshire. Part III. A general view of New Hampshire. Together with the constitution of the State > Part 33
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ROUTES TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, PUBLIC HOUSES, &c .*
1. Boston, Concord, and Montreal Railroad. - This railroad, with its various connections at Concord, presents a favorable route to those who wish to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the vicinity of Lake Winnipiseogee. Leaving the cars at the Weirs, thirty-three miles from Concord, visitors take the steamboat " Lady of the Lake," and pro- ceed ten miles, to Centre Harbor. From this place the distance to the White Mountain Notch, via Conway, is sixty-two miles. The route from Centre Harbor to Con- way by stage is extremely pleasant, commanding a view of much fine scenery. At the latter place is a first-class hotel, called the "Conway House," under the charge of Mr. Fabyan, proprietor of the "Mount Washington House." Twenty-four miles from Conway is the " Mount Crawford House," or "Old Crawford's," the late residence of Abel Crawford, the " Patriarch of the Mountains," who died here at an advanced age in 1851. The house is kept by Mr. Davis, who married a daughter of Mr. Crawford. It is a favorite resort of anglers and sportsmen. Horses can be obtained here to ascend Mount Crawford, and from its summit, over a range of hills, to the top of Mount Wash- ington. Six miles farther on is the "Willey House," a large and well-conducted hotel, located near the old " Notch Tavern," previously described. The "Crawford House," or "Tom Crawford's," is two miles from this place, near the Gate of the Notch. From this place is a bridle path to the summit of Mount Washington, passing over Mount Pleasant, &c., as mentioned in the preceding article. This house is admirably conducted by Mr. J. S. Gibb. It com-
* See White Mountain Guide.
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mands a view of the Notch, and of most of the principal mountains in the range. Fabyan's well-known "Mount Washington House " is four miles farther on. It is a large, well-conducted, and spacious hotel, commanding an impos- ing view of Mount Washington, which is ascended from this point, there being two bridle paths a part of the way. White's Hotel is a neat and comfortable public house, half a mile distant, where horses and a guide may be obtained to ascend the mountains.
Those who wish to pass through Franconia before visit- ing the White Mountains can take the cars for Plymouth, fifty-one miles, and from thence by stage twenty-four miles to the "Flume House," an excellent hotel, kept by Mr. Taft. In this vicinity are the " Flume," " Pool," and " Ba- sin." Six miles farther on is the " Lafayette House," a good hotel, kept by Mr. Cobleigh, in the immediate vicinity of which are the Profile, or " Old Man of the Mountain," and Echo Lake. The house is romantically situated near the entrance of the Franconia Notch. At this place, as well as at the Flume House, horses can be obtained to ascend Mount Lafayette, which is only some five hundred feet lower than Mount Washington. For a description of these curiosities, see Gazetteer, under Franconia.
The distance from Gibb's to Fabyan's is about twenty miles, the road passing through Bethlehem.
2. Connecticut and Passumpsic River and White Moun- tain Railroads. - Visitors passing up the valley of the Connecticut by the former road and its connections take the cars of the White Mountain Railroad, at Wells River, and proceed to Littleton. The remainder of the distance -to Fabyan's - is accomplished by stage. The road follows the course of the Ammonoosuc.
3. Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad. - Visitors from
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Portland and Boston by way of this route usually stop at the "Gorham Station House," a large, commodious, and well-managed house, kept by Mr. J. R. Hitchcock. From this place a road has been laid out to the summit of Mount Washington, on the north side of the mountain.
4. Cocheco Railroad and Winnipiseogee Lake. - There is a route from Dover to Alton Bay by the Cocheco Rail- road, from thence to Wolfborough by steamboat, from that place to Conway by stage, and so on as in the first- mentioned route.
EDUCATION.
Common School System. - The people of New Hamp- shire early turned their attention to the subject of educa- tion. The General Court of Massachusetts passed a law, in 1647, establishing a system of public schools. This law extended to the inhabitants of New Hampshire, which was then united to that colony. It does not appear that the interests of learning were ever lost sight of, though the poverty and distress of the people, occasioned, or at least increased, by their many severe. conflicts with the Indians, prevented the full accomplishment of their laudable de- signs. The first law relating to schools passed by New Hampshire after it became an independent province was enacted in 1693, in the midst of a bloody struggle with the French and Indians. This law provided for the estab- lishment of a school in every town, subjecting those to a penalty of ten pounds which should fail to comply with its requirements. Other laws relating to this subject were passed from time to time, as the exigencies of the public seemed to demand.
"The old laws of New Hampshire," says Dr. Belknap,
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writing in 1792, "required every town of one hundred inhabitants to keep a grammar school, by which was meant a school in which the learned languages should be taught, and youth might be prepared for admission to a university. The same preceptor was obliged to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, unless the town were of sufficient ability to keep two or more schools, one of which was called a gram- mar school, by way of distinction." But these laws were not always carried into effect. Sometimes the frontier towns, on account of the great exertions they were com- pelled to make for self-defence, were exempted, by a special act of the Assembly, from the obligation to maintain a grammar school ; and instances were not wholly unknown in which there was a culpable neglect of duty on the part of other towns, either by evasion, or by direct violation of the statutes. Still, when we take into consideration all the circumstances of the case, the small number of inhabitants, their poverty, their exposed situation, and their numerous contests with a deadly foe, we are the more astonished that they should have accomplished so much.
The present public school system of our state is well devised, and is calculated to give every one an opportunity to acquire a good common education. The laws require each town to raise at least "one hundred and thirty-five dollars for every dollar of the public taxes apportioned to said town, and so for a greater or less sum," which is to be appropriated to the purpose of supporting the schools of the town. Each town may divide itself into school districts, and apportion the money among them according to its own pleasure. The town is also required to elect at its annual meeting a superintending school committee, con- sisting of one or three persons, whose duty it is to exercise a general supervision over the schools of the town, to
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visit and examine them, and to examine teachers. No teacher is allowed to commence a school until he shall have been examined and approved by the superintending com- mittee. The district is required to choose a prudential committee, whose duty it is to employ teachers, and to exercise a general supervision over the interests of the dis- trict. The branches ordinarily taught in the common schools are reading, writing, English grammar, arithmetic, and geography.
Any district wishing to support a higher grade of schools can do so by adopting the "Somersworth Act," * so called. This takes the control of the school entirely from the hands of the town committee, and gives the district power to choose their own superintending as well as pru- dential committee - the former to consist of not less than five nor more than seven persons. Any district adopting this act may establish and maintain one or more high schools, and if they have not less than one hundred scholars, may raise money at their discretion for the support of such schools.
Any two or more contiguous districts may unite for the purpose of supporting a high school or schools, or any sin- gle district in which the number of scholars exceeds one hundred, may establish such schools. This last provision is not intended to interfere with those which may adopt either of the other acts. In large districts much advantage is derived from a suitable gradation and classification of the scholars, even though a regular high school may not be established.
In addition to the amount raised by a public tax for the support of schools, every banking corporation in the state
* A law passed in 1848, giving a certain district in Somersworth power to establish a high school, and afterwards amended so as to apply to any district which should adopt the same.
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is required to pay to the state treasurer a sum equal to one half per cent. of its capital stock, for the same purpose. This is called the Literary Fund, and is divided annually among the several towns, according to the number of schol- ars reported as having attended school, during the year preceding the time of division, not less than two weeks.
The several towns are required to appropriate a sum equal to three per cent. of the amount by law required to be raised for the support of common schools, which is to be expended by the county commissioner for the support of Teachers' Institutes within the county.
The governor and council are required to appoint annu- ally a commissioner of common schools in each county in the state, who, in their associate capacity, constitute a board of education, with power to choose a chairman and secretary. It is the duty of each commissioner to spend not less than one day in the course of the year in each town in his county, for the purpose of advancing the in- terests of education, by addresses, inquiries, and other means that circumstances may require. It is also his duty to take charge of any Teachers' Institutes that may be held in the county, and to make report of his doings to the sec- retary of the board.
The board of education have power to recommend school books, and methods of instruction and discipline suitable to be pursued in common schools. They are re- quired to make a report annually embracing such infor- mation and suggestions as may seem to them useful. From the report for 1854, made through the secretary, Hon. Hall Roberts, the following statistics are copied : -
Number of school districts reported, 2294. Do. schol- ars, 87,825. Average monthly wages of male teachers, exclusive of board, $16.42 ; do. females, $7.18. Number
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of male teachers in the summer schools, 43 ; do. females, 2077. Number of male teachers in the winter schools, 1153 ; do. females, 1127. Amount raised by taxes for schools, $166,973.88 ; do. contributed in board, fuel, &c., $12,376.68 ; do. of income from school funds, $8519.53 ; do. of railroad tax for schools, $4827.68 ; do. of literary fund, $15,576.23; do. raised for Teachers' Institutes, $4050.00. Total raised for schools during the year, $212,324.00.
Academies and Private Schools. - The number of incorporated academies in the state, as reported by the board of education, is 46. Many of these are in a flour- ishing condition and well sustained. The oldest, and one of the most prosperous, is Phillips Academy at Exeter, founded and endowed by Hon. John Phillips, LL. D. It was incorporated in 1781. Some of the most distinguished men which our country has produced received their early training at this institution. It's funds amount to $70,000.
New Ipswich Academy was incorporated in 1789. It has received large donations from the late Hon. Samuel Appleton, and is now called, in honor of him, the New Ipswich Appleton Academy.
Kimball Union Academy, established at Plainfield in 1813, has funds amounting to $40,000, principally the donation of the late Hon. Daniel Kimball, the income of which is devoted chiefly to the support of indigent young men preparing for the ministry.
Gilmanton Academy, at Gilmanton, incorporated in 1794, has a fund of $7000.
The New Hampshire Conference Seminary, at North- field, is under the control of the Methodist denomina- tion.
The New London Literary and Scientific Institution has
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been recently established at New London. It is under the direction of the Baptist denomination.
In addition to these, there is a large number of unincor- porated institutions and private schools, many of which do good service in the cause of education. Some of them are kept in operation the entire year, others only for a short period of time.
Dartmouth College. - This institution of learning was founded in 1769, by Eleazar Wheelock, a clergyman of Lebanon, Connecticut. Believing that much might be done for the Indians by giving them the means of acquir- ing an education, he received into his family, for the pur- poses of instruction, several native youth, among whom was Samson Occum, of the Mohegan nation. Occum proved to be a person of superior abilities, which encour- aged Dr. Wheelock to persevere in his efforts to spread the gospel among the savages. But finding that it was difficult to accomplish this by means of white missionaries, he conceived the plan of founding a school at which he might receive Indian boys, and prepare them for mission- aries and teachers. In pursuance of his design, he re- ceived into his family, in 1754, two boys of the Delaware nation.
The school soon began to attract the attention of the public, and to receive the aid of the charitable. In 1763 the General Court of Massachusetts voted that they would bear the expense of the education, board, and clothing of six children of the Six Nations for one year. They were accordingly selected, and admitted to the school.
Among the early benefactors of the school was Mr. Joshua Moor, of Mansfield, Connecticut, who gave a school house and about two acres of land. In honor of him, the institution was named Moor's Indian Charity School.
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Meanwhile the school continued to prosper. Many emi- nent men and benevolent societies both in Great Britain and America made liberal donations to it ; but the increased expenses called for new exertions on the part of its friends. For the purpose of gaining more assistance, Dr. Wheelock sent Occum, with the Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, of Nor- wich, to Great Britain. Occum was the first Indian min- ister who had ever visited that country, and, as might have been expected, attracted considerable attention. He .preached in all the principal cities of England and Scot- land with great success. Between 9000 and 10,000 pounds sterling were collected, and a board of trustees ap- pointed to receive the funds, to be drawn by Dr. Whee- lock, as he should have need. Of this board the Right Hon. William Legge, Earl of Dartmouth, was president.
Dr. Wheelock now determined to establish a college in connection with his school. But as there was already a flourishing institution of that kind in Connecticut, it was deemed expedient to locate it elsewhere. Moreover, the progress of civilization had driven the Indians from his immediate vicinity, and it was thought that by removing to the wilderness he might more successfully carry out his views. After listening to various proposals, and consult- ing the trustees in England, he fixed upon the western part of New Hampshire as the most suitable locality for the infant college, though he did not then decide upon the precise spot.
The next step was to obtain a charter, which was granted by John Wentworth, the royal governor of the province, in the name of George III., ordaining "that there be a college erected in our said province of New Hampshire, 'by the name of Dartmouth College, for the education and instruction of youth of the Indian tribes in this land in
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reading, writing, and all parts of learning which shall appear necessary and expedient for civilizing and Christian- izing children of pagans, as well as in all liberal arts and sciences ; and also of English youth and any others." This was dated December 13, 1769. In the same instru- ment Dr. Wheelock was appointed president. A grant of five hundred acres of land in Hanover had been previously given to the college, and at this time the entire township of Landaff was also granted to it. Other donations, both of land and money, were made by various individuals in New Hampshire and in the eastern part of Vermont, then called the New Hampshire Grants.
In the spring of 1770, Dr. Wheelock, with two com- panions, set out on an exploring tour, in order to choose the most eligible place for the college and school. After visit- ing several proposed localities, he finally selected Hanover ; and in the autumn of the same year he removed thither with his family and pupils, making in all about seventy persons. There were no accommodations, excepting two or three log houses. The location was an extensive plain, shaded with a growth of lofty pines. Upon a few acres the trees had been felled previously to his arrival. They immediately set to work to build dwellings, and also a col- lege edifice; but the autumnal rains setting in early hin- dered their progress. During the winter they were exposed to many hardships ; yet it is stated that, "in this secluded retreat, and in these humble dwellings, this enterprising colony passed a long and dreary winter. The students pursued their studies with diligence; contentment and peace were not interrupted even by murmurs." During the next summer various improvements were made, and the wilderness soon began "to bud and blossom like the rose."
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EDUCATION.
The first commencement was held in August, 1771, when four young men received the first honors of the col- lege. For some years, in addition to Indians in the school and college, a number of English youth were supported wholly or in part by the funds, with the understanding that they should go as missionaries when they had com- pleted their course of study. But the difficulties that sprang up between America and the mother country pre- vented the accomplishment of their benevolent purposes, as the Indians refused to admit them to their territory. But few of the Indians educated by Dr. Wheelock became missionaries, though many of them proved useful as teachers and interpreters.
In the mean time the commencement of hostilities be- tween Great Britain and her American colonies seriously embarrassed the operations of the college by depriving it of its expected support. But in this extremity, Hon. John Phillips, of Exeter, made a liberal donation. The Continent- al Congress also made a grant of $500. From these and other sources sufficient means were obtained to keep the college in operation during the war. But Dr. Wheelock did not live to see the return of peace. He died on the 24th of April, 1779, in the sixty-ninth, year of his age. He was succeeded by his son, John Wheelock, then a colonel in the United States army.
On the cessation of hostilities President Wheelock re- solved to visit England to solicit aid for the institutions un- der his care. In this he met with a tolerable degree of success. In 1785 the legislature of Vermont granted the entire township of Wheelock to the college and school. The next year a new college building was commenced.
After the revolutionary war it was found that the title of the college to the township of Landaff, which had been
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granted to it by Governor Wentworth, was precarious. It had been previously granted to others by a former govern- or ; but, as they did not fulfil the conditions of the charter, it was declared forfeited, and afterwards granted to the college. But after the war the first grantees renewed their claim, and finally recovered possession of this township. The state, however, made other grants to the college, which more than compensated for the loss.
The college continued under the care of President Whee- lock until 1815, when he was removed by the trustees, with whom he had been having difficulties for a considera- ble time. In the mean time a committee had been ap- pointed by the legislature to examine into the state of af- fairs at the college, and report accordingly. This was done in 1816, and an act was then passed altering the charter of the college, increasing the trustees from twelve to twenty- one, appointing a board of overseers, and changing the name of the institution to Dartmouth University. A majority of the trustees, however, together with President Brown, the successor of John Wheelock, and Professors Shurt- ยท leff and Adams, refused to comply with the requirements of the act, and appealed to the judicial tribunals. Mean- while the university was organized, and took possession of the buildings and apparatus ; but the officers of the college continued their instructions in private rooms. In 1817 the case was decided in the Superior Court of New Hamp- shire in favor of the university. The case was then car- ried to the Supreme Court of the United States, which, on the 2d of February, 1819, reversed the whole proceed- ings, and declared the act of the state null and void, thus placing the college in a firm position by relieving it from the fear of legislative interference.
The New Hampshire Medical Institution was established,
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in connection with the college, in 1797, and is still in suc- cessful operation. The annual course of lectures begins on the Thursday succeeding commencement, and continues 14 weeks.
The Chandler Scientific School was founded by Abiel Chandler, Esq., late of Walpole, who bequeathed to the trus- tees of the college the sum of $50,000, in trust, " for the establishment and support of a permanent department, or school of instruction, in the college, in the practical and useful arts of life." This department was organized and put into operation in 1852.
Moor's Charity School was long kept in operation in connection with the college, and under the direction of the president ; but it is at the present time suspended.
The institution is now in a prosperous condition. With- in the last year (1854) a fine observatory has been erected and furnished with instruments, through the munificence of George C. Shattuck, LL. D., late of Boston. The va- rious libraries connected with the college contain upwards of 30,000 volumes. The faculty of the institution, in- cluding the medical. department, consists of the president and 14 acting professors. Number of the alumni, 2825. Do. medical graduates, 844. Do. undergraduates in 1854, 252. Do. medical students, 63. Do. in the Chandler de- partment, 38. Commencement is on the last Thursday in July.
SUCCESSION OF PRESIDENTS.
Accessus.
Exitus.
1769.
Eleazar Wheelock, D. D., 1779.
1779.
John Wheelock, LL. D. 1815.
1815.
Francis Brown, D. D. 1820.
1820.
Daniel Dana, D. D.
1821.
1822.
Bennett Tyler, D. D
1828.
1828.
Nathan Lord, D. D.
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We cannot close our brief sketch more appropriately than by quoting a few extracts from the speech of Profess- or Brown, made at the second festival of the Sons of New Hampshire, celebrated in Boston, November 2, 1853. Referring to Dartmouth College, he says,* -
" She was not founded for New Hampshire alone. Es- tablished with no seclusive policy or purpose, and conse- crated as she was, from the beginning, to the two great ob- jects of being a handmaid of religion and a mistress of learning, that both might be diffused, each moving in har- mony with the other, she has gathered her sons from various regions, and invigorating their bodies by the fresh air of the mountains, and their minds by the discipline of her studies, she has sent them forth in due time, east, west, north, and south, through every state, all over the world. She might ask you to accompany her, as with a mother's pride she followed one and another in his path through life. She would take you beyond the seas, and point you to some standing before kings as the representatives of their country ; to others on the shores of the Bosphorus, in India, in China, and the Sandwich Islands, laboring with a man's energy in the noblest of moral enterprises, solving the grandest of problems, to make a Christian and intelli- gent nation out of a people superstitious, ignorant, and degraded. She would point you to still others establishing the schools and incipient colleges, and directing the print- ing presses of Oregon and California. Leading you back from the great circuit, she would pause in every state in the Union, and name the writers, the jurists, the senators, in whose breeding she had some share ; and, finally, end- ing where she began, she would take you, in her sorrow and pride, every 24th of October, down to the sea side,
* Second New Hampshire Festival, p. 96.
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RELIGION.
that you might bend in reverent affection, and meditate be- side the grave of her greatest son."
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