MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 91 



New Hampshire, and the business began to assume some degree of conse- 

 quence. In the year 1831, the first " patent tubs" -were manufactured in 

 Fitzwilliam, N. H. At this time there were not more than $20,000 worth 

 of wooden ware annually manufactured in all New England ; but soon 

 after extensive manufactories were established in \Vmchendon, Gardner, 

 and Hingham in this State, and in various parts of New Hampshire, &c. 

 In 1845, the manufacture of strictly wooden ware in Massachusetts was 

 estimated at nearly half a million, and probably exceeded that amount ; at 

 the present time, the manufacture extends more or less to every State in 

 New England, and amounts to three or four millions of dollars annually, 

 most of which finds its way to this market. 



A large amount of the wooden ware manufacture of Ma ine and New 

 Hampshire is carried on on Boston account, but there is also a considera- 

 ble portion of the articles manufactured in Worcester County which finds 

 its chief market in Rhode Island. The bulk of the articles manufactured, 

 in proportion to their value, operates as a hinderance to their seeking distant 

 markets ; yet the amount of this description of goods annually shipped to 

 distant ports is quite large, and is rapidly increasing. 



The following statement, furnished us by a friend who is' thoroughly 

 conversant with this important branch of trade, will give an idea of the 

 rapidity with which the business has hitherto increased, and furnish some 

 data for estimating its future growth : 



Number of Dealers in Boston in 1831, - - - - - 



Capital invested, ---. $10,000 



Probable amount of business, ------ 40,000 



Number of Dealers in Boston in 1844. - 10 



Capital invested, 250,000 



Probable amount of business, 1,500,000 



The manufacture of corn brooms constitutes a part of this business, 

 which is by no means to be overlooked, amounting, annually, to about a 

 million of dollars, and half the trade concentrating in Boston. We have 

 heard the opinion expressed, that the number of brooms used in any com- 

 munity furnishes the surest criterion from which to judge of its moral 

 advancement; and considering the important part which this insignificant 

 little instrument sustains in regard to domestic comfort and neatness, the 

 opinion may be correct. According to this standard, the American nation 

 must be in the most exalted stages of moral development and progress ; but 

 in communities where feminine difficulties are customarily settled by test- 

 ing the strength of broomsticks, we imagine the rule will hardly hold good. 



As is the case in all other branches of manufacture, the wooden ware of 

 New England excels in cheapness and excellence. In some of the South- 

 ern and Western States, attempts have been made to introduce the manu- 

 facture by machinery ; but, hitherto, the Eastern manufacturers have been 

 able to compete successfully with them in. their own markets, both in 

 regard to the cheapness and excellence of workmanship of their wares. 

 Boston Atlas. 



