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 47
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392
HILLSBOROUGHI.
Coos Counties,) the value of its crops is equal to that of those in any county of the State. (See tables.)
Manufactories. Nearly one third of all the manufacturing in the State, is done in this county. The number yards cotton goods, of all kinds, annually manufactured, is 112,025,000, valued at $ 16,800, 000 ; woolen goods 1,952,000 yards, valued at $ 1,098,000; 144,000 dozen pairs woolen hose, valued at $ 440,000; 2,040 tons paper, of all varieties, $ 1,054,000; 154,500 pairs of men's and women's boots and shoes, $ 258,000; 35,148,000 feet of lumber, $ 619,000; 746,000 bushels flour and meal ground, $ 819,000; leather tanned, $ 432,000. The iron foundry and machine-shop business, such as manufacturing locomotives, and all classes of machine work, is : twice as much as that of all the rest of the counties in the State, being over $ 5,000,000 annually. The total capital invested in manufactories is $ 15,990,000; number of manufacturing estab- lishments, 588; males employed, 8,270, females, 7,460 ; annual amount paid for labor, $ 6,323,000 ; value of manufactured goods, $ 31,464,000.
Valuation and Taxes. The total assessed value of the county is $ 37,115,441 ;- true value, $ 55,673,016. The total State, county, town and school tax assessed in 1872, was $ 588,065.05, or about 16 mills on the dollar-the true per cent., 10} mills.
Churches. There are 90 churches, and 72 church edifices, capa- ble of seating 36,736 persons, or 57 per cent. of the population of the county. Value of church property, $ 819,500.
Schools. There are 374 schools, of which 93 are graded. Num- ber boys attending school, 6,624, girls, 6,405; average attendance for the year, 8,992 or 67 per cent .; average length of schools, for the year, 25 weeks ; value of school houses and lots, $ 481,680 ; an- nual amount appropriated for school purposes, $ 121,961.94; aver- age amount to each scholar, $ 10.14.
Railroads. There are over one hundred and twelve miles of rail- way. track in the county. The Concord railroad extends from Hook- sett line to Nashua; Manchester and Lawrence, runs from Manches- ter to Londonderry ; Concord and Portsmouth, from Manchester to Auburn ; Manchester and North Weare, from Manchester to Weare ; Wilton, from Nashua to East Wilton; thence by the Peterbor- ough, through Lyndeborough, and Greenfield, to Peterborough ; Nashua and Lowell, to State line; Worcester and Nashua, to State line ; Nashua and Acton, to State line; Peterborough and
393
CHESHIRE.
Shirley, from State line to Greenville; Monadnock, from Jaffrey, to Peterborough ; Contoocook Valley, from Henniker line to Hills- borough Bridge.
Miscellaneous. Population of the county, 64,238-males, 30,021, females, 34,217 ; foreign, 11,472 ; colored, 124; criminals convict- ed-natives, 124, foreign, 201; paupers-natives, 171, foreign, 95; pauper expenses for the year, $ 47,735. Whole number of deaths for the year, 918-males, 458, females, 460; number died over eighty years, 82, or 10 per cent .; number died with lung disease, 262, or over 28 per cent.
CHESHIRE.
This is becoming one of the most enterprising counties in the State in its variety of manufactories. The surface in many parts of the county is uneven, but much of the soil is productive, yield- ing fine crops, especially in those towns bordering on the Connecti- cut river.
Rivers. The Connecticut washes its western border, the Ashue- lot flows through the county in a south-westerly direction, and to- gether with its tributaries, furnishes the larger portion of the water power in the county. Cold River passes through its north-west corner, and branches of the Contoocook water three or four towns on its eastern border, affording some fine water power. The im- proved horse water power of the county is 6,310.
Mountains. Monadnock Mountain, in the eastern part of the county, is the highest elevation in the middle and southern sec- tion of the State. West River Mountain in the south-west part, is quite an elevation.
Boundaries. It contains twenty-three towns, of which eight were incorporated in the reign of George II., ten, in the reign of George III., and five under the government of New-Hampshire. Bounded north by Sullivan County, east by Hillsborough County, south by Massachusetts, and west by Vermont. Its greatest length is thirty-one miles, greatest breadth, twenty-six miles. It was incor- porated March 19, 1771, and was named after a county in England. Keene is the Shire town.
Agriculture. Some of the best farming towns in the State are in this county. Much attention is given to the raising of tobacco, on the Connecticut and the lower part of the Ashuelot rivers. Near- ly two hundred thousand pounds are annually produced. The
394
CHESIIIRE.
number acres of improved land is 260,517 ; annual value of agri- cultural productions, $1,887,856. (See tables.)
Manufactories. This county is noted for its variety of goods manufactured. Woolen goods, consisting of beaver cloths, tricots, diagonals, flannels, horse blankets &c., are annually produced to the value of $ 2,369,000, exceeding that of any county in the State ; cotton goods, $ 250,500; 24,028,000 feet lumber, $ 441,000 ; leath- er tanned, $ 1,297,000 ; flour and meal ground, $ 251,000; boots and shoes, $ 190,000 ; besides their are chairs, tubs, pails, toys of all kinds, paper, machine work, granite dressing &c., &c. The number of manufactories of every description, is 371; capital in- vested, $ 3,325,000; males employed, 3,241, females, 702; annual amount paid for labor, $ 1,737,000; value of productions, $ 7,911.000.
Valuation and Taxes. The assessed valuation of the county, in 1872, was $ 14,956,599; true valuation, $ 22,434,898. The State county, town and school tax, was $ 239,367.48, or 16 mills on the dollar-true per cent. 10 mills.
Churches. Number churches, and church edifices, 62, capable of seating 25,083 persons, or 92 per cent. of the population of the coun- ty. Value of church property, $ 425,680, far exceeding that of any county in the State, in proportion to wealth and population.
Schools. There are 259 schools, of which 49 are graded; num- ber of scholars; boys, 3,236 ; girls, 2,964; average attendance, through the year, 4,711, or 76 per cent ; average length of schools, for the year, 19 weeks; value of school houses and lots, $ 161,120; annual amonnt appropriated for school purposes, $ 43,823, or $ 7. 05 to each scholar in the county.
Railroads. There are twelve towns in the county, in which a railroad passes through some part of it. The Cheshire Railroad, from Bellows Falls in Vermont to Massachusetts line, 424 miles ; the Ashuelot, from Keene to Vermont line, 234 miles ; Monadnock, from Massachusetts line to Peterborough line, about 11 miles.
Miscellaneous. Population in 1870, 27,265-males,13,653; females, 13,612 ; foreign, 1,802, colored, 15 ; in 1870, 22 persons convicted of crime-natives, 7, foreign, 15; paupers-natives, 24; annual ex- penses, $ 6,700. Whole number of deaths for the year, 338-males, 172, females, 166; number died over eighty years of age, 52, or 14 per cent .; number died with disease of the lungs, 81, or 24 per cent.
395
SULLIVAN.
SULLIVAN.
One of the Connecticut River counties ; the surface is broken by mountains, hills and river valleys, making the scenery, in many portions, very fine and interesting. It is an excellent county for grazing, and nearly 40,000 sheep roam over its hills, and on its mountain sides. Croydon and Green mountains, in the northern and western section of the county, are the highest elevations.
Lake and Rivers. Sunapee Lake lies principally in this county, on its extreme eastern border, and is the largest body of water. Su- gar River has its source in' Sunapee Lake, and, together with its branches, waters over three fourths of the county. Little Sugar flows from east to west through its southern limits, and joins the Connecticut in Charlestown. Branches of Cold and Ashuelot riv- ers have their rise in the southern section of the county. All of these streams furnish good water privileges, about half of which are improved. Improved horse water power, in the county, 3,737.
Boundaries. North by Grafton County, east by Merrimack and Hillsborough Counties, south by Cheshire County, and west by Vermont. Area of improved land, 220,517 acres. It contains fifteen towns, one of which was incorporated in the reign of George II., nine in the reign of George III., and five under the State gov- ernment. Incorporated July 5, 1827, named in honor of Hon. John Sullivan, one of the presidents under the new constitution. Shire town, Newport.
Agriculture. Along the streams, particularly the Connecticut, the soil is very fertile, and the uplands are generally productive. The county has been noted, for many years, for the large quantity and excellent quality of butter and cheese it produces, amounting to about 600,000 lbs. butter and 100,000 lbs. cheese. The annual value of agricultural productions is $ 1,559,177. (See tables.)
Manufactories. There are only four towns in the county which have manufactories to any extent, or an annual value of produc- tions amounting to over $100,000. The most important manufac- tures are paper, $ 400,000 ; woolen, $ 611,000; cotton, $ 464,000 ; leather, $ 217,000 ; lumber, $ 164,000 ; boots and shoes, $ 422,000 ; men's and women's hose, $ 35,000. The total value of manufactur- ed goods, annually produced, is $ 2,663,000. (See tables.)
Valuation and Taxes. The assessed valuation, in 1872, was $ 8, 929,030-true valuation, $ 13,393,546. The State, county, town
396
GRAFTON.
and school tax, was $ 105,144.95, or 13 mills on the dollar-true per cent. about 8 mills.
Churches. There are 54 church edifices, capable of seating 15, 425 persons, or 85 per cent. of its population ; value of church prop- erty, $ 180,700.
Schools. There are 172 schools, of which 16 are graded ; num- ber of scholars-boys, 2,080; girls, 1,725; average attendance, through the year, 2,589, or 67 per cent .; average length of schools, for the year, 20 weeks ; value of school houses and lots, $ 82,025; amount of money annually appropriated for school purposes, $ 29, 525.52, or $ 7.52 to each scholar in the county.
Railroads. Railroads pass through only five towns in the coun- ty. The Sugar River Railroad passes through Sunapee and New- port, to Claremont where it forms a junction, with the Sullivan County Railroad, which extends from Windsor Vermont through Cornish, Claremont and Charlestown to Bellows Falls. The length of railroads in the county is about 46 miles.
Miscellaneous. Population of the county, in 1870, 18,058-males, 8,830, females, 9,228 ; foreign, 1,015, colored, 43 ; persons con- victed of crime-natives, 10, foreign, 6, number of paupers, na- tives, 180; foreign, 12; annual expense, $ 13,402.38. Whole number of deaths for the year-males, 112, females 138; num- ber died over eighty years of age, 25, or 10 per cent; number died with disease of the lungs, 77, or 30 per cent.
GRAFTON.
This is one of the largest and most important counties in the State, in point of territory, population, and agricultural productions. The surface, in the eastern portion, is broken by hills and lofty mountains, and affords some of the grandest scenery in America. Its western portion borders on the Connecticut, extending for a distance of nine towns, on that river. The soil, on the rivers, is of the best quality, and, together with the hilly portion, produces abundant crops of grass, grain, and all the fruits common to the climate.
Mountains. In the northern sections, are mountains belonging to the White Mountain range, Franconia Mountains and Carrri- gan Mountain; a little to the south-west is Moosehillock, in Benton, while at the east and south-east is a part of the Whiteface, in Wa- terville, and the Campton Mountains, in Campton, and vicinity.
397
GRAFTON.
Rivers and Lakes. In the western section, it is watered by the Connecticut and its tributaries, the largest of which are Lower and Wild Ammonoosuc rivers, in the northern part, Mascomy in the southern section. The Pemigewasset and its branches water the central portions of the county. Part of Squam Lake, in the south-eastern section, Newfound Lake in the southern section, and Mascomy Lake in the south-western section of the county, are the principal bodies of water. The streams furnish abundant water power, while the lakes prove excellent reservoirs for a constant supply of water through droughts. The improved horse water power of the county is 11,640.
Boundaries. North by Coos County, east by Coos, Carroll, and Belknap counties, south by Merrimack and Sullivan counties, and west by Vermont. There are thirty-eight towns, of which twenty-three were incorporated under the reign of George III., and fifteen under the State government. Incorporated March 19, 1771, and received its name in honor of Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton. Shire towns, Plymouth and Haverhill.
Agriculture. Grafton is the agricultural county of the State. It contains 442,738 acres of improved land, and 230,300 acres of wood land. Its farms are valued at over $ 12,100,000 ; farming implements, $ 646,000. It has 12,748 cows, 6,685 working oxen, 14,562 other cattle, 7,135 horses, and 86,681 sheep. It annually produces 57,800 bushels wheat, 198,165 bushels corn, 433,000 bush- els oats and barley, 1,078,000 bushels potatoes, 140,000 tons hay ; 446,000 lbs. wool, 1,100,000 lbs. butter, 190,000 lbs. cheese, 650, 000 lbs. maple sugar ; value of orchard productions, $115,000; val- ue of slaughtered animals, $ 600,000, and total value of all agri- cultural productions annually raised, $ 4,034,900. Some of the finest farming country in the United States, is to be found in the Connecticut valley, in this county.
Manufactories. Its manufactures are varied and important, but not as extensive as in some of the southern counties in the State. There are annually produced, furniture, doors, sash, blinds and oth, er wood work to the value of $ 1,000,000 ; woolen goods, $ 694, 000 ; paper, $330,000 ; men's and women's hose, $ 213,000 ; lumber, $ 948,800 ; flour and meal, $ 583,000; leather, $ 319,000; starch, $ 150,000; buck and leather gloves and mittens, $ 140,000; be- sides, machine shop work, and other manufactures too numerous to mention. There are 658 manufactories, of all kinds, representing
398
cooS.
a capital of $ 2,771,000, employing 2,635 males and 417 females, with an annual pay roll of $ 1,232,000, and producing goods to the value of $ 5,775,900.
Railroads. There are twenty towns in the county through some portion of which a railroad passes. , There are also five towns on the Connecticut River, which are well accommodated with railroad facilities by the Passumpsic Railroad, passing along on the opposite side of the river, in Vermont. Length of railroads, about 128 miles.
Churches. There are 72 churches, and 77 church edifices ; num- ber of sittings, 24,631, or 63 per cent. of the whole population of the county ; value of church property, $ 248,700.
Schools. Number of schools in the county, 415, of which 33 are graded; number of scholars-boys, 4,977, girls, 4,391; average attendance, for the year, 5,786, or 66 per cent; average length of schools, for the year, 18 weeks; value of school houses and lots, $ 189,925; amount of money annually appropriated for school purposes, $ 51,684.22, or $ 5.52 to each scholar.
Valuation and Taxes. The valuation, as assessed in 1872, was $ 15,037,880-true valuation, $ 22,556,820. The State, county town, and school tax, was $ 288,238.62, or 19 mills on the dollar- true per cent. 124 mills.
Miscellaneous. Population, in 1870, 39,103-males, 19,816, fe- males, 19,287 ; foreign, 2,256 ; colored, 41; paupers-natives, 319, foreign, 17; expenses, $ 30,208 ; persons convicted of crime-na- tives, 11, foreign, 3. Whole number of deaths, through the year -- males, 237, females, 244; number died over eighty years of age, 60, or about 122 per cent ; number died with lung disease, 153, or 32 per cent.
COOS.
This county lies in the extreme northern part of New-Hampshire, and is the largest county in the State, extending north and south 76 miles, and averaging, east and west, 20 miles, and having an area of nearly 1,000,000 acres. Much of its territory is broken by lofty mountains, and unfit for cultivation. In the southern part lies the larger portion of the White Mountain range, covering an area of nearly 200 square miles, or 128,000 acres; on the west side are the Stratford Peaks, while near the centre of the county is the cel- ebrated Dixville Notch. There are many other mountains, which,
399
cooS.
if located in the southern portion of the State, would be called grand and lofty, but the towering peak of Mount Washington eclipses their magnitude in this locality.
Mountainous regions, in any country, are generally considered no more than a barren waste, but these are an exception to the general rule in this country. For nearly three months, through the sum- mer, nearly every mountain pass is teeming with human life. Here among these mountains have been reared some of the largest hotels in the country, which, in elegance of finish and magnitude, would vie with any city on the globe. Here are represented all the style and fashion of society, from the belles of New-York and Boston, to the tidy waiter girls of Coos, who pass them their savory dishes ; from the millionaire and man of fashion to the simple fisherman, with his basket on his shoulders, and rod in hand, or the bold mountaineer with his braded staff and hook ready to scale the steeps and brave the dangers of the lofty mountain sides. The num- ber of people who visit these mountains and vicinity, through the season, is estimated at not less than 20,000, making a constant population, including help, of 8,000 from two to three months. The amount derived from this source alone is not less than $ 1, 000,000, and these mountains are of more value to the county, than are the rich meadow lands on the Connecticut.
Most of the ungranted lands are within the limits of the county, viz. Dartmouth College, Gilmanton and Atkinson Academies ; Wentworth's Location, Crawford's Grant; also Carlisle No. 1, Webster No. 2, and Hubbard's No. 3.
Rivers and Lakes. The Androscoggin and its tributaries water its north-eastern portion ; the Connecticut and its branches, the most important of which are Hall's, Indian, Mohawk, Upper Am- monoosuc, Israel's and John's rivers, water the western portion, while branches of the Saco and Lower Ammonoosuc water the southern part. A large portion of Umbagog Lake lies in the east- ern section, and the chain of Connecticut Lakes lies in the north- ern section of the county, and they are the most important bodies of water. Much of the water power remains unimproved. The improved horse water power is 4,449.
Boundaries. North-west and north by Canada, east by Maine, south by Carroll and Grafton counties, and west by Vermont. It contains 26 towns, five of which were incorporated in the reign of George III., and the remainder by the State government. Incor-
400
cooS.
porated December 24, 1803, under the name of Coos, which is the Indian name of the Connecticut, and signifies crooked. The Shire towns are Colebrook, in the northern judicial district, and Lan- caster, in the southern.
Agriculture. It is a little too far north for the raising of much fruit, but it is the best county in the State for grass and grain, and much attention is given to the growing of live stock. Some of the finest farm lands in the State, can be found in Whitefield, and in the river towns, on the Connecticut. The total value of farm produc- tions, is $ 1,395,063 annually ; improved land, 120,000 acres, or $ 11.62 to each acre. In Illinois it is $ 10.87 to the acre.
Manufactories. The manufacturing of lumber is the most exten- sive business, being more than half of the manufactured products in the county. 2,634,000 clapboards, 21,176,000 shingles and laths, and 86,650,000 feet of boards and dimension timber are annually sawed, and valued at $ 1,427,800. There is flour and meal, $ 169- 000, leather, $ 101,000, paper, $ 40,000, woolens, $ 12,000, starch, $ 143,000, besides, carriages, machine shop and foundry work, and mechanical work, annually produced, the total amounting to over $ 2,582,000. (See tables.)
Valuation and Taxation. Assessed valuation, in 1872, $ 4,946,910 -true value, $ 7,420,365. The State, county, town and school tax was $ 98,272.95, or 194 mills on the dollar-true per cent. 13} mills.
Churches. There are 24 churches, and 23 church edifices ; num- ber of seatings, 5,050, or 35 per cent. of its population-value of church property, $ 49,500.
Schools. There are 148 schools, 11 of which are graded ; number of scholars-boys, 1,954, girls, 1,749 ; average attendance at schools through the year, 2,151, or 60 per cent .; average length of schools for the year, 16 weeks, value of school houses and lots, $ 48,125 ; annual amount of money appropriated for school purposes, $ 17, 779, or $ 4.78 to each scholar in the county.
Railroads. The White Mountains Railroad extends from Beth- lehem to Northumberland, and forms a junction with the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad which extends from Maine line to Ver- mont line. These lines of roads will convey persons direct to al- most any section of the country ; number miles of railroads in the county 75. (See tables.)
Miscellaneous. Population in 1870, 14,932-males, 7,955, fe-
401
GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE STATE.
males, 6.977; foreign, 1,015; colored, 10; persons convicted of crime-natives, 2; paupers-natives, 80; foreign, 60 ; expense of support, $ 14,560. Number of deaths for the year,-83 males, and 79 females ; number died over 80 years of age, 7, or over 4 per cent .; number died with disease of the lungs, 52, or over 32 per cent. of all the deaths.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE STATE.
New-Hampshire is bounded north by Canada East, east by Maine, south-east by the Atlantic Ocean and Massachusetts, south by Massachusetts, and west and north-west by Vermont and Canada East. It is situated between 42° 40' and 45° 16' north latitude, and 70° 35' and 72° 27' longitude west from Greenwich, or 5° 30' and 6° 15' longitude east from Washington. Its extreme length running north and south is 168 miles. Greatest width, measuring from the easternmost point in the town of Rye due west to the Connecticut River, is 90 miles. North of latitude 43º it gradual- ly decreases in width, and at its northern extremity is only 19 miles wide. The area is 9,280 square miles, or 5,939,200 acres, of which about 100,000 are covered with water.
The State is divided into ten counties and 236 towns and cities, besides several grants in Carroll, Grafton and Coos counties. Of the towns three were incorporated in the reign of Charles I., one during the reign of Charles II., two under William III., two un- der Queene Anne, fifteen under George I., thirty-seven under George II., 86 under George III., and 90 under State government.
The surface is diversified with mountains, hills, valleys and plains, dotted with silver lakes and lined with sparkling streams. The soil is varied, some being of the best quality, and some more sterile and requirnig more cultivation, but the advantages of a home market largely make up for some of its hard and rough soil, and there are but few States in the Union, which produce larger crops to the acre than New-Hampshire. Its mountain streams furnish some of the best water power in the world, which has built up manufacturing cities and large villages in every section of the
402
GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE STATE.
State. Around these villages are fine farms and thrifty farmers, who always find a ready market for all their surplus productions, at advanced rates. Their sons and daughters, who do not prefer agriculture, can find other employments near their own homes, either in teaching, mercantile or mechanical work of every variety to suit the diverse genius of all classes. It is a noted fact that the more diversified is any country with mountains, hills, valleys, plains, lakes and rivers, the more diversified are the people who live there in their occupations of life. Nature never designed that the gifts or ingenuity of all men should be alike, any more than it designed that they should look alike, and if they are placed in a position where there is no chance to receive the rudiments to de- velop their natural genius, it must always remain latent, and they or the world will never receive any benefit from the gifts which na- ture has bestowed upon them. The employments of the people of New-Hampshire are as varied as the surface of the country in which they live. While New-Hampshire manufactures 148 differ- ent kinds of goods, Georgia, with three times the population, pro- duces only 65; Illinois, with eight times the number of inhabi- tants, produces 210, and Massachusetts 325. If a person's genius is not adapted to the profession which he pursues through life, one half of his time is thrown away. Two men are brought up on farms in Illinois-one is a natural farmer, while the other is a natural machinist, but he does not know it, and in those broad prairies there is no chance to find it out, so he leads an indolent life all his days, and is called lazy by his neighbors, while the other man is prosperous and happy. If this natural machinist had lived in New England, he would have found out his calling and followed it. The greater the variety of labor in any country, the more rapid the accumulation of wealth and the more general the diffusion of it among the people. If Illinois, in proportion to its population, had as many men and women employed as New-Hampshire, it would set 26,360 males and 76,690 females at work who are now lying idle, and are consumers instead of producers, and if paid the same wages as others receive who work in that State, they would earn enough in five years to build and equip all the rail- roads now running through Illinois. This is enough to show that hills and mountains in any country are no curse to the inhabitants, but rather a blessing and far preferable to continuous broad plains, if they are fertile and productive.
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