250 



Several costly and elegant churches are in process of erection, which 

 will afford needed accommodations to the citizens, and add much to the 

 beauty of the town. 



During the past year several miles of the streets have been paved 

 with stone in the best manner, and main sewers constnicted through 

 those portions most in need of such improvements. 



The gas works have also been enlarged and extended, to keep pace 

 with the wants of the people. 



At the last session of the Legislature, a Board of Water Commission- 

 ers was incorporated, who now have chai'ge of this entire matter. They 

 have, during the year, laid about seven miles and a half of Iron pipes, 

 and win proceed forthwith to the erection of a new reservoir on the el- 

 evated ground back of the city, equal to the present and prospective ne- 

 cessity. 



But, dropping this general course of remark, we will speak of some 

 prmcipal branches of business earned on among us, and their results, 

 for the year past. And fii-st we name the manufacture of Iron as most 

 important to our city, and destined to be, we believe, the greatest. We 

 have a summary of the principal establishment", which gives 



Of steam boilers 610 tons. 



Casting-s 3,900 " 



Steam engines 97 



for which was principally used 600 tons wrought iron, 200 tons of 

 which was Lake Superior iron. This we find is considered far prefera- 

 ble to any other for its greater tenacity. In these M'orks were used, al- 

 so, of 



Ohio coal 4,000 tons. 



Lehigh coal 1,200 " 



Charcoal, about 70,000 bushels. 



and other materials needed for the business in proportion, employing sev- 

 eral hundred men, and doing an aggi-egate business of over a half mil- 

 lion of dollars. That establishments employing so much labor, and dis- 

 tributing so much money, must contribute greatly to the prosperity of a 

 city, needs no demonstration. The extensive mining and lumber regions 

 of the north do, and will continue to require, all the engines, and othei- 

 machinery for their purposes, that can be supplied from this point ; 

 while our increasing lake marine offers to our engineers a field for com- 



