USA > New Hampshire > The statistics and gazetteer of New-Hampshire. Containing descriptions of all the counties, towns and villages statistical tables with a list of state officers, etc. > Part 13
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Nashua and Acton, Worcester and Nashua, Nashua and Wilton, at Nashua; Manchester and North Wearc, at Manchester; and Sun- cook Valley at Hooksett or Sun- cook. It can be readily seen that almost any section of the country can be reached by railroad from Concord. The total number of miles of railroads in the city, be- sides side tracks, is over thirty. The dividend from the railroad tax exceeds that of any other town or city in the State by over $ 5,000.
The passenger station is a large building and also contains the busi- ness offices of the Concord and Northern railroads. The constant increase of travel on the various lines of railroads, which centre at this station, with the change of baggage and passengers from one line of road to the other, requires an enlargement of the depot, for the convenience both of the pas- sengers and of the employees of the roads.
Public and Business Buildings. The State House is located on Main Street. The grounds extend east and west from Main to State Streets, and north and south from Park to Capitol Streets, forming nearly a square plat of over two acres. These grounds are beauti- fully laid out with fine concrete walks, ornamented with a variety of shade trees, and the whole sur- rounded by an expensive and handsome iron fence.
The original building was built of Concord granite, quarried from the drifts which were cleft from the Concord granite ledges, by some powerful convulsion, many centuries ago. It was commenced in 1816, and was finished and occu-
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pied in 1819, for the first time. The whole cost, including grounds, was about $ 85,000, and it was the most expensive edifice in the State.
In 1865, the old capitol was en- tirely remodeled, and enlarged at an expense of over $ 150,000. It is now considered one of the finest buildings of the kind in New Eng- land. The addition to the center of the building was 28 by 50 feet. and on each wing 28 by 38 feet, making an additional area of 3,528 superficial feet. The first floor contains the Doric Hall, or what is sometimes called the Rotunda, 45 by 52 feet ; in the rear of this is the State Library, 26 by 45 feet : on the right, as you enter, is first, the Council Chamber, measuring 223 by 24 feet, and con- nected with it, is the Govenor's private room, 113 by 18 feet; in the rear of this, is the Adjutant General's Office, consisting of two rooms connected by a double door. The larger room is 223 feet square, the smaller 15 by 223. In the south wing are the rooms of the Secretary of State ; consisting of a small room 12 by 18 feet, and a larger room, 213 by 24 feet ; next to these rooms is the Treasurer's Office 202 by 21} feet; beyond this, is the Insurance Commissioner's and Superinten- dent of Public Instruction room, measuring 16 by 203 feet. On each side of the library is a wide stair- way, the one on the north leading to the Senate Chamber ; the one on the south, to the Representatives' Hall, and a door behind each, opening into the yard towards State Street.
On the second floor the Represen- tative's Hall occupies the center, extending across the building, 80 feet long, and 45 feet wide. The
Senate Chamber is on the east side of the north wing, measuring 34 by 35 feet; and there are in this wing, besides, two committee rooms, measuring respectively 20 by 22} feet, and 16 by 223, together with the stairway leading to the chamber and Senate Gallery. In the south wing at the head of the stairs is the Sergeant-at-Arms' room, 163 by 21} feet, and next the office of the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, and beyond is the State Historian's rooms: besides there is a wide stairway, a hall extending across the wing, and a stairway leading to the Representative Hall Gallery, and to the Cupola. The French roof affords eight commodious committee rooms, well lighted, and averaging about twenty feet square.
A spiral stairway leads from the base of the dome to the top of the cupola, 140 feet from the ground, upon which is surmounted a colos- sal gilt eagle. The view obtained from the windows of the cupola is very fine.
Doric Hall naturally claims the first attention of a stranger. It is supported by ten columns or pil- lars. Against the walls of this hall have been placed four large glass cases, in which have been regularly arranged the Battle Flags of the various military or- ganizations of New-Hampshire, who participated in the conflict to sustain the Union; also a list of battles, each regiment or battery was engaged in, is printed in gold leaf upon the glass. The floor is marble, tessellated in white and black squares and diamonds. The wainscoting and all the wood fin- ishing except the stairways of this
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hall, and all the rest of the build- ing, is of chesnut and oak, some of which is beautiful in color and grain.
The State Library has between 12,000 and 13,000 volumes besides pamphlets. It is handsomely and appropriately arranged for an in- stitution of this character.
In the Council Chamber, are systematically arranged, upon the walls, the portraits of all the Gov- ernors of the State from 1786 to the present time, handsomely painted, and set in large gilt frames. There are also the portraits of Matthew Thornton, Joseph Dudley, Jona- than Belcher, William Bernctt, and Simon Bradstreet. This cham- ber now presents the appearance of a handsome portrait gallery.
In the Senate Chamber, are fourteen portraits of Senators who have been Presidents of the Senate.
In the Hall of Representatives are the portraits of Washington and Webster in full size ; also Gen. De Graaf, Gen. John Stark, Gen. Poor, Gen. Cilley, Gen. Scammell, Gen. Whipple and Gen. Henry Dearborn. All these officers, with the exception of Gen. Poor, were at the surrender of Burgoyne, at Saratoga, in 1777.
Too much credit cannot be ac- corded to the Hon. Benjamin F. Prescott, Secretary of State, for his untiring effort and zeal in securing a large portion of the portraits in the Council Chamber, and many of the Generals of the revolution placed in the Hall of Representa- tives.
The Court House and City Hall is located on Main Street, north of the Capitol, and considerably elevated from the street. It was erected in 1855, at an expense of
over $40,000, and is a fine struc- ture. In this building is a large hall, the city offices, court room, and county offices. At the north end of State Street is located the State Prison. The central part and south . wing were erected in 1812; the north wing in 1833. In its present antique appearance it imparts no beauty to the city, nor much credit to the State, in its present condition. (For full par- ticulars see State Institutions.)
The County Jail is situated one mile west of the State House, and was erccted in 1853. It is a beau- tiful edifice, built of brick, and well arranged for the purpose it was designed for.
The New-Hampshire Historical Society is located on Main Street, and owns and occupies a large brick building. It was established in 1823, and now has over 6,000 volumes of valuable books, besides pamphlets and newspapers. There is quite a cabinet of Indian relics and other curiosities, many of which are of an antique character ; also, many valuable paintings. These rooms are opened daily, and are worthy of a visit from any stranger.
The City Library is in the City Hall building, and has over 7,000 volumes.
Newspapers. Monitor, daily ; Independent Statesman, weekly; Daily Patriot; New-Hampshire Patriot, weekly; The People, weekly ; Prohibition Herald, weekly. (See tables.)
The Asylum for the Insane is located on Pleasant Street about one half mile south-west from the State House. The buildings are spacious, conveniently arranged, and present a fine and imposing
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BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING, CONCORD.
EAGLE HOTEL"
EAGLE HOTEL, CONCORD.
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appearance. It is under State control, but is heavily endowed, and financially established on a solid basis, without requiring much State aid. (See State Insti- tutions.)
There are many fine business blocks in the city precinct, the largest of which are Stickney's, Brown's, White's, Sanborn's, Board of Trade building, Eagle, Colum- bian, Exchange, Merchant's, Rum- ford, Durgin's, State, James R. Hill, City, Hill's, Phenix Hotel, Phenix, Foster's, Pickering's, Central, Masonic, Statesman, and Moore's blocks. These buildings are large, brick structures, from three to four stories high (with one exception), the lower floors being generally occupied by stores of various kinds, while the upper are used for public halls, offices, and mechanical work, The Board of Trade building is located on the. corner of Maine and School streets, and was commenced in the summer of 1872, and finished in the autumn of 1873. It is three stories, with a handsome French roof, surmounted by a. fine dome, in which has been placed a large illuminated clock, with four dials. The lower story is for stores, while the upper con- tains the Board of Trade rooms, Young Men's Christian Associa- tion rooms, offices, &c. The whole expense of the building was about $45,000.
Mercantile Trade. The geo- graphical position, together with its extensive railroad facilities, has caused Concord to become the centre of a large mercantile trade. There are six wholesale flour and corn stores, whose annual sales are not less than $1,800,000.
There are about two hundred re- tail stores, and shops for trade of various kinds. Some of these stores are large, and do an annual business of nearly $100,000. Many of them are elegantly finished, and present a metropolitan ap- pearance, comparing favorably with those of any city in the State.
Hotels. There are six hotels- Eagle, Phenix, Elm, and Sherman House, in the city precinct, the Washington House, at Fisherville, and the Birchdale House, at Birch- dale Springs.
The Eagle and Phenix are first class houses, and are considered as fine hotels, in every respect, as are found in New England, out- side of Boston. The Elm and Sherman are respectable, and good houses, and receive a fair patronage from the traveling pub- lic. The registers of these four hotels show the annual arrivals to be 40,000. The Eagle and Phenix 14,000 each, and the Elm and Sher- man 12,000. The register of one of the hotels, this season (1873), shows that it was represented by guests from thirteen different States in one day. The registers of the Eagle and Phenix frequent- ly show daily arrivals of guests from six to ten different States.
The Birch-Dale House is located near Birch Dale or Concord Springs, about four miles west from the State House, and is a large and commodious house built expressly for summer boarders. These springs possess medical properties, and the water is pro- nounced very beneficial to inva- lids who are afflicted with various diseases. It has become a popu- lar resort, and the house is gener- ally well filled through the warm
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season. To show the popularity of the Concord Spring water, it is stated that two thousand gallons are annually sold by the glass in the city of New York alone. The house and springs are owned by Dr. Robert Hall, of Concord.
Manufactories. The manufac- turing business of Concord is con- siderable, various, and, many of its branches, important. If Con- cord possesses, as it is often stat- ed, water power nearly equal to some of her sister cities, it is evi- dent that it has not been utilized, except at Fisherville, to any great extent, to propel the machinery now in use in its various manufac- tories; neither have they, finan- cially received much foreign as- sistance, but depended upon capi- tal belonging to the people of Con- cord. The carriage business has been an important branch of in- dustry for many years. There are four manufactories, the largest of which is the Abbott, Downing Co. This firm has acquired a world- wide reputation for its fine car- riages, both for durability and neatness of work.
In 1813 the late Mr. Lewis Downing, then a young man of one and twenty years, came to Concord, from Lexington, Mass., and opened a wheelwright shop at the north end of Main Street. The capital with which he commenced business was $125, $75 of which he invested in a good set of tools. He commenced building common wagons with the bodies fastened down to the hind axle, and work- ed alone, finding ready sales for all the carriages he could make. After the first year his business so increased, that he employed two hands, which number was after-
wards increased as the business demanded.
In 1825 he commenced erecting shops at the south end of Main street, near his house. For twelve years he manufactured only wag- ons, the style of which underwent several changes. The first attempt at a spring was a wooden one reaching from the hind axle to the rocker; which was soon followed by the leather thoroughbrace, and successive styles of eliptic springs. The first chaise he made in 1826, and sold it to the Rev. Dr. Bouton, now residing in Concord.
In 1826 he commenced the man- ufacture of coaches, which have since made the name of Abbott & Downing famous the country over. That year he went to Salem, Mass- achusetts, and engaged J. Stephens Abbott, then a journeyman coach- body maker, to come to Concord and build three-bodies. Mr. Ab- bott arrived in Concord, Christmas eve., 1826, and made the first coach body ever built in New-Hampshire. The first coach was completed and went out of the shop in July, 1827, and was sold to Mr. John Shep- herd.
Mr. Abbott, after completing his job with Mr. Downing, went to Framingham, Mass., for the pur- pose of forming a business connec- tion, but concluded otherwise, and went to Providence, R. I., and worked a short time, but not feeling contented he returned to Concord in the fall, and became a partner with Mr. Downing, January 1, 1828.
Coach building became a leading feature of their business, and for the reason of the lightness, dura- bleness, and elegance of finish of their coaches, they soon found their way into every part of New
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England. It is worthy of mention that while other carriages have undergone an infinite variety of changes in style, the Concord coach was so near perfection in its line, at that early day, that it has scarce- ly undergone any changes in con- struction since.
The partnership of Downing & Abbott was dissolved by mutual consent in September, 1847; Mr. Abbott continuing business in the old shops, and Mr. Downing, tak- ing his sons as partners, removing to new shops, nearly opposite the Phenix Hotel.
These two firms remained in their respective places of business until January 2, 1865, with no ma- terial change, with the exception of Mr. Abbott taking his son E. A. Abbott as a partner in 1852, under the firm name of J. S. & E. A. Ab- bott. In the winter of 1849, the shops of Mr. Abbott were entirely destroyed by fire but were imme- diately replaced with more com- modious and convenient buildings.
January 2, 1865, the two firms were dissolved, and the heavy and popular firm of Abbott, Downing & Co., was formed, and the busi- ness continued in the shops for- merly occupied by J. S. & E. A. Abbott, Mr. Lewis Downing sen- ior, retiring from the business after active participation in it for nearly fifty-two years. This new firm continued in business until a change was made in January, 1873.
In the meantime another large carriage establishment had grown up in Concord under the name of Harvey, Morgan & Co., and for sev- eral years had been doing quite an extensive business. By previous act of the Legislature, an incor- porated company was established,
January 1, 1873, which succeeded the firms of Abbott, Downing & Co., and Harvey, Morgan & Co., called the Abbott Downing Com- pany, with a capital of $400,000. The officers of this corporation, are Lewis Downing, President, Edward A. Abbott, Treasurer, Frank L. Abbott, Secretary and George P. Harvey, Rufus M. Mor- gan, J. C. Harvey, Board of con- trol.
Thus it can be seen that the small wheelwright shop established nearly sixty years before, with a capital of $ 125, and employing but one man, has grown to a capital of $ 400,000 and employing over 250 men.
In the spring of 1870, Mr. J. Stephens Abbott, one of the orig- inal firm, died very suddenly at his residence in Concord, and in March 1873, Mr. Lewis Downing, senior, followed Mr. Abbott. But few business men, in this country, have, by their own individual ef- forts, as mechanics, left names more honorable, and more worthy to be handed down through life's great drama, for generations to come, than Lewis Downing and J. Stephens Abbott.
To show the constant increase of their business, it can be stated that when Messrs. Downing and Abbott formed a partnership in 1828, there were four forges in their shops; when the partnership was again formed in 1865, there were twenty-four forges and now the company have thirty-five. They employ 250 men with an an- nual pay-roll of $168,000, and pro- duce carriages of various kinds to the value of $ 500,000.
The question is often asked why Concord coaches and carriages
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havesuch a world-wide reputation.
The principal reason is the thoroughness of work, and always securing the best materials, and the best skilled labor. No paint is ever allowed to cover any de- fect in the wood or iron, that would have a tendency to weaken the carriage, on any consideration. Many parts of wheels, or other work have been stove before the eyes of the workman, which (as Mr. Downing used to say) was the most emphatic and cheapest argu- ment he could produce to let his workmen know that no sham work was allowed in their shops.
Their carriages have been sent to nearly every quarter of the globe, and, doubtless, no firm in this country is, at this date, as well known as the firm of Abbott, Downing & Company, carriage makers, Concord N. H.
The total value of carriages (including repairing) annually produced in the city is about $ 600,000.
The Granite business is an im- portant branch which has grown to large proportions within the past twenty years. Granite of the best quality has been known to abound in Concord for many years, but was quarried from large drifts or bowlders, which at some age in the past, were parts of the main ledge which had been cleft asunder by some violent convulsion of na- ture. These drifts from the granite ledges in Concord have been found as far south as Massachusetts line, but never to any distance north- ward eastward or westward. From these drifts, the stone for the Old State House, and other buildings was quarried.
The granite ledges, (or Rattle
Snake Hill) commence about one mile from the Capitol, north-west, and extend along for over two miles nearly parallel with the Con- cord and Claremont railroad.
Mr. Luther Roby, now living in the city, (1873) first opened this ledge on the southerly base and near what is called the " Pulpit." The piers for the Federal bridge came from this opening; also the stone was boated down the Merri- mack, to Manchester, by Mr. Roby and son, for the basement of the Manchester depot. They sent the first Concord granite to Lowell, Mass. The ledge now being so successfully worked by Mr. Hollis, was also opened by them. But the first great successful competi- tion with other popular quarries in Maine and Massachusetts, was in securing the contract to furnish the granite for the Merchants' Bank, Boston. Blocks of granite one foot square dressed in various forms were sent from Hallowell, Maine, Rockport, Quincy and some other quarries. Mr. Roby had the apparent temerity to send his block from the Concord quarry, and after careful examination as to merits of the granite from each quarry, the contract was given to Mr. Roby, the price hardly coming in as competition but the quality of the stone. It has been ascertained, by eminent chemists and geolo- gists, that the stone from the Con- cord quarries, is perfectly free from oxides or other mineral sub- stance, which on exposure to the atmosphere, would mar the beau- ty of some New England granite.
The award of this contract soon established the reputation of Con- cord granite, as being the then best in market. When the quarry-men
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at Quincy, only six miles distant from Boston, found that preference was given to granite quarried seventy miles away, they showed that shrewdness characteristic of Massachusetts business men, by securing nearly all the control of these ledges, and the heavy con- tracts pertaining thereto; and to- day the granite business in Con- cord, is largely controlled by peo- ple residing in Massachusetts.
Mr. Roby furnished the stone for the Custom House, at Ports- mouth, the Brooks house at Med- ford, and many other buildings, be- sides much of the stone work in the buildings in Concord. Like all new enterprises where goods are introduced into the market, and the competition is in the qual- ity, instead of the price,-and fre- quently much money is expended before actual profits are realized, the introduction of the Concord granite was not an exception. Mr. Roby may have the satisfaction of knowing he has been the means of first introducing this granite to the country and making it the gold mine of Concord; but it is feared that the credit which he is right- fully entitled to, has not been ac- corded to him.
In 1854, there were about thirty "men employed in the granite busi- ness. There are now (1873) in these quarries, $ 420,000 invested, em- ploying 491 men with an annual pay roll of $ 364,000, and annually producing stone in the rough, and dressed, to the value of $ 775,000. This stone is now used for building purposes in nearly all the large cities on the Atlantic slope.
The Page Belting Co. tan leather under Page's patent tanning pro- cess, for belting; capital invested,
$ 125,000; employ 75 men ; annual pay roll, $45,000; tan 15,500 ox hides, valued at $ 186,000, and manufacture 780,000 feet of belting, of various widths, valued at $ 350,000. Samuel Eastman & Co., belting and leather hose, cap- ital, $ 15,000, employ eight hands, annual production, $ 40,000. Con- cord and Northern Railroad's ma- chine shops, employ 204 men ; annual pay roll, $ 138,000; receipts, $ 290,000. Ford & Kimball, found- ry, employ 50 men; annual pay roll, $ 30,000; value of production, $ 165,000. William P. Ford & Co., foundry, employ 35 hands; pay roll, $ 20,000; annually produce sinks, stoves, plows, harrows and other castings valued at $ 54,000. Dunkley & Allen, machinists ; employ 24 hands, annual pay roll, $12,000; production, $ 40,000. Joseph Palmer & Co., manufac- ture Palmer carriage springs, em- ploy 16 men; annual pay roll, $ 13,200; annual production, $ 50, 000. Four bedstead and furniture manufactories employ 280 hands ; annual pay roll, $ 125,000; annual production, $ 429,000. Five har- ness shops, annual products, $ 240, 000. W. B. Durgin, manufacturer of pure silver spoons, forks and napkin rings, annual value of pro- duction, $ 75,000. There are also manufactured cotton goods, $ 235, 000; woolen goods, $ 250,300; me- lodeons and organs, $ 120,000; con- fectionery and bread, $ 100,000; sale boots and shoes, $150,000; printing, newspapers, job printing, $ 110,000; monuments and grave stones, $ 60,000; doors, sash, blinds and window frames, $ 50,000; lumber, sawed, planed and
matched, $ 99,675; Blanchard churns, $ 50,000; silver plating,
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$7,000; book binding, $20,000; picture frames, $ 70,000; photo- graph. business in its various forms, $ 55,000; gas, $ 45,000; plaster ground, $ 9,000; meal ground, $ 40,000; organ and me- lodeon keys, organ and melodcon reeds, organ and piano stools, arti- ficial limbs, mackerel kits, excel- sior, cement pipe, gas and steam fittings, files, stencil plates; be- sides there are carpenters, stair builders, slate and gravel roofers, undertakers, upholsterers, custom boot and shoe workmen, black- smiths, tailors, milliners, and va- rious other trades. The total cap- ital invested in manufactories of all kinds is $ 2,276,300; employing 2,145, men and boys, and 364 wom- en, who annually receive for their labor, $ 1,329,500, producing man- ufactured goods, to the value of $ 4,600,000. *The number of males and females engaged in in- surance, banks, stores and shops as proprietors or clerks, hotel clerks, book keepers &c., is estimated at 1,540. There are 28 lawyers, 22 physicians, 5 dentists, 28 clergy- men, besides school teachers, male and female.
Resources. All the resources in relation to stocks and bonds are taken as are individually given to the assessors under the law. It is stated that there are in this city, over $1,000,000 personally invested in western railroad stocks and bonds. Productions of the soil, $338,068 ; mechanical labor, $1,329, 500, clerical and professional busi- ness is estimated, at $924,000 *;
* The census of 1870, gave the number of persons in New-Hampshire, engaged in pro- fessional and personal services, trade and transportation, of ten y mis of age and over, at 27,042, or over 812 per cent. of its popula-
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