8 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



mack River Bridge," T\hich "u^as Lnilt entirely of "wood, at 

 Pawtucket Falls, and was the first brido-e built over Merri- 

 mack River. 



In 1792 the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal were in- 

 corporated, which ran from that part of Chelmsford (now 

 Lowell) called Middlesex Village to Boston. It was com- 

 pleted in 1804 and cost $700,000. 



This was the first canal in the United States that was 

 opened for transportation of passengers and merchandise, 

 and was considered at that time a stupendous work. (The 

 great Erie Canal was not opened till 1825.) The first steam- 

 boat from Boston through this canal reached Concord, N. H., 

 in 1819. 



This canal was in operation until 1853 ; but after the Bos- 

 ton & Lowell Railroad began, Avhich was opened in 1835, 

 it began to decline, but during its existence vast quantities 

 of wood and lumber were transported from the upper Merri- 

 mack and the lakes to Boston, and before railroad travel be- 

 gan it was considered quite an improvement over stage loco- 

 motion for passengers. A small packet boat was propelled 

 by horse-power called the " Governor Sullivan." 



In 1801 Moses Hale put in operation a carding mill on 

 River Meadow Brook (afterwards called Hale's Brook) , the 

 first of the kind in this county. In 1804 the wooden bridge 

 that had been erected at Pawtucket Falls in 1792, was re- 

 moved and a more substantial one erected upon stone piers 

 and al)utments at an expense of $14,000. It was made free 

 of toll in 1861 and remained in use until 1871, when it was 

 rej)laced by the present structure, built of iron, costing about 

 $40,000. All these enterprises are mentioned because they 

 were important in forming the nucleus for the establishment 

 of our present city. 



The great water power at Pawtucket Falls remained un- 

 improved until 1821, when it attracted the attention of capi- 

 talists for manufacturing purposes. The first company (the 

 Merrimack) was incorporated in 1822 and their first cotton 

 goods were produced in 1823. They started with a capital 

 of $600,000; but it has been four times increased, and is 

 now $2,500,000. 



In 1826 a little village had grown up, which numbered 



