478 



-MASSACHUSETTS. 



prove a source of much revenue to the Com- 

 monwealth. For an account of the comple- 

 tion of the Hoosac Tunnel, tee HOOSAO TUNNEL. 

 Botton. One of the most important events in 

 the history of Boston during the year was the 

 election held October 7th, which determined 

 the annexation to Boston of Charlestown, 

 Brighton, and West Roxbury, to take effect 

 January 1, 1874. This seems to be only a step 

 in the commendable policy adopted by Boston 

 some years since of extending her municipal 

 jurisdiction over the suburban cities and 



towns, thus greatly enlarging her nrea ami in- 

 creasing her wealth and population. The 

 original limits of Boston embraced but 690 

 acres; 1,700 acres were acquired by the addi- 

 tion of South and East Boston, and by lilliii^ 

 the surrounding flats; 2,100 by the annexation 

 of Roxbury; 4,800 by the annexation of Dor- 

 chester; and 880 by filling flats in other plarc-; 

 making the entire area of the city previous to 

 the annexation of 1873, 10,170 acres. In I860, 

 the population of Boston was 177,840 ; in 1 >Tn. 

 250,526, the city ranking seventh in the United 



States. Roxbury was annexed in 1867, and 

 now constitutes the thirteenth, fourteenth, and 

 fifteenth wards, containing, according to the 

 census of 1870, 34,772 inhabitants. Dorches- 

 tar was annexed in 1809, and now forms the 

 sixteenth ward, with (in 1870) 12,259. By the 

 annexation of 1873, the population of Boston 

 has been increased to 292,489, according to 

 the census returns of 1870, and there is little 

 donhtbut that its present population is consid- 

 erably greater; the area is increased to up- 

 ward of 19,000 acres and the valuation to 

 $765,470,651. The particulars of this increased 

 area are given in the following statement : 



Bom on... 



Brighton. 

 WoitRoxbury.."." 



ToM 



tjau 

 m 



19.1001 



r | Ml n 



HO,SM 



4,57 



MM 



29S.4W 



\,i Htm, 



1813. 



liK^n,im 



::I.'!-.M-.M 

 14.MH.M1 

 22.14.0l)(l 



Elections were held on the same day, Octo- 

 ber 7th, in each of the cities and towns inter- 

 ested. In Boston the vote was light, but 



* Valuation Oharloitown, I8TS. 



largely in favor of annexation. Of the other 

 places voting, only Brookline refused iimic.xa- 

 tion. The vote of Boston was: For Charles- 

 town, 5,960 yes, 1,868 no; Brookline, 6,205 

 yes, 1,516 no; West Roxbury, 6,110 yes, 1,633 

 no; Brighton, 5,629 yes, 2,133 no. The rote 

 of Brighton was 1,622 yes, 1'2:> no; West Rox- 

 bury, 720 yes, 613 no; Charlestown, 2,240 yes, 

 1,947 no; Brookline, 299 yes, 70(1 no. 



Tlio city is connected with Boston by the 

 Charles River Bridge, 1,503 feet long, and the 

 'Warren Bridge, 1,890 feet Ion:.'. Tin- annexa- 

 tion of Charlestown brings Bunker Hill within 

 the limits of Boston. L'ivcs tooea to a supply 

 of water which will be sntlicient for the next 

 eight or ten years, and brings the Navy-Yard 

 and both sides of the Charles River, and all 

 Boston* Harbor, within city jurisdiction. The 

 f rein lit. stations of tho I'.oston .V- Lowell, 

 Maine, Fitrhburji and Ka^tcrn Railroads, are 

 also brought within the limits of t lie city prop- 

 er, and many difficulties incident to the cou- 

 nt,' of vessels to the Clmrlostown side of 

 tho river are avoided. By [raining control of 

 Brighton, the city gets authority over its cattle- 

 markets, and obtains one of the finest places 

 for suburban residences in Massachusetts. Tho 



