81 S [Assembly 



Tlie village of Keeseville is a creation of the iron interest. 

 That pursuit has imparted to it the great prosperitj^, and in this 

 section of the State, the unprecedented progress which has ipiark- 

 ed its career. Keeseville is situated upon both banks of the Au 

 Sable river, and occupies an important position in the heart of 

 the iron manufacturing district. Its site scarce thirty years ago, 

 on one side of the stream, was a cheerless and desolate swamp, 

 and on the other occupied by abrupt and barren blufi^ of sand. 

 More, perhaps, than any village in the State, its distinctive and pe- 

 culiar character is manufacturing. In addition to the vrorks, to 

 which reference has been made, a highly valuable foundery and 

 machine works of Goulding, Green k Conro, are of the first im- 

 portance among the manufacturing establishments in the county. 

 The admirable fabrics of these worlishops are widely diffused, and 

 in high repute.^' Two flouring mills, which annually consume 

 about 60,000 bushels of wheat, chiefly the product of the west ; 

 an extensive planing mill, a woolen factory, plaster mill, tannery, 

 carriage and wagon and cabinet works, are among the industrial 

 pursuits of this community. 



The recent prostration of the iron interest, which menaced 

 extinction to that great staple of this district, bore upon Keese- 

 ville with intense and appalling severity. The favorable change, 

 which has occurred in all the departments of that business, has 

 restored the former activity and vigor of this village, and re-ani- 

 mated its manufacturing pursuits. 



A first class works, comprising forges, rolling mills, and nail 

 factories™ owned by Messrs. Gould, Ross & Low, are situated at 

 the Boquet falls. The products of these works are very great, 

 although I have not been able to procure any statement of the 

 amount. Another of a similar character, of which James S. 



• Altliougli these works stand on the Clinton shore of the Au Sable, they are so mingled in 

 ownership, labor and material, with Essex county, as to be essentially connected with this 

 industrial history. "They have executed within the last four years large special orders from 

 Canada, California, Missouri, via New Orleans and Lake Superior. It is a most gratifying 

 fact " that improved fixtures, such as are in common use here, have been ordered from ' hio, 

 Kew Jersey and Pennsylvania. Thus showing, that we, in this section, are far in advance of 

 any other part of the United States in improvements and conveniences in the manufacture of 

 wrought iron." (Letter to author from Henry Grreen, Esq.) They employ a large number 

 of operatives and artizans, and consume annually about 750 tons pig iron, chiefly for machinery. 



