CONNECTICUT 



1546 



CONNECTICUT 



Mineral Resources. Although Connecticut 

 has deposits of various minerals, only a few 

 are extensive enough to warrant working, and 

 the value of its mineral products is less than 

 14,000,000 a year. Brown sandstone for build- 

 ing purposes, quarried near Middletown, and 

 marble, flagstone, feldspar and stone suitable 

 for the manufacture of lime and cement are 

 the principal products; Connecticut is the 

 third state in the Union in the production of 

 feldspar. Though of little importance now, 

 iron mines have been worked since 1732, once 

 furnishing material for cannons and ammuni- 

 tion during the Revolutionary War. The iron 

 for the anchor of the famous frigate Constitu- 

 tion, popularly known as "Old Ironsides," was 

 from Connecticut. 



Inventors and Their Inventions. From the 

 busy, intelligent early settlers of Connecticut 

 sprang many inventive geniuses. Eli Terry, of 

 mantel-clock fame, and others improved the 

 art of clockmaking; Wheeler and Wilson gave 

 the world improved sewing machines; Charles 

 Goodyear developed his process of rubber vul- 

 canizing; Samuel Colt invented the revolver. 



Industries. With the aid of plentiful capital, 

 furnished largely by insurance companies, and 

 with abundant water power, the energetic peo- 

 ple of Connecticut have built up industries 

 whose products yield over $500,000,000 yearly. 

 They make three-fourths of the country's 

 clocks, over two-thirds of the plated ware and 

 nearly one-half of the brass, bronze and hard- 

 ware. These industries and the manufacture 

 of rubber goods, textiles, machinery, etc., em- 

 ploy one-fifth of the total population. The 

 most important manufacturing city in the state 

 is Bridgeport, followed closely by New Haven, 

 Waterbury and Hartford. 



One of the largest thread-jnanufacturing 

 companies in New England is in Willimantic, 

 and at South Manchester is one of the largest 

 silk mills in the country. 



Products of the Soil. The best agricultural 

 lands in the state are sandy, loamy or clay soil, 

 and these are chiefly in the Connecticut River 

 basin and smaller valleys of the highlands. 

 From colonial times the number of farms has 

 rapidly decreased, as agriculture has given way 

 to other industries. Forage crops are of most 

 importance, averaging over 450,000 tons yearly, 

 valued at from $8,000,000 to $10,000,000. The 

 tobacco crop ranks next, the mild-flavored 

 "domestic" leaf of high quality providing the 

 famous "Connecticut wrappers" of cigars. 

 About 3Q,000,000 pounds of tobacco are pro- 



duced each year, valued at about $5,000,000. 

 Vegetable-growing is especially important in 

 places near the New York market, where many 

 market gardens are found, this industry, ex- 

 clusive of potatoes, bringing about $2,000,000 a 

 year. The apple, peach and pear crops are 

 valued at one or two million dollars a year. 



Dairy products are also important. A yearly 

 yield of about 50,000,000 gallons of milk is 

 estimated, and butter made is valued at over 

 $1,000,000. In fisheries, Connecticut ranks third 

 among the New England states, oysters being 

 the most valuable. 



Transportation and Commerce. The excel- 

 lent facilities for transportation have also aided 

 the development of all industries. Over 2,700 

 miles of railroad afford dirct connection with 

 every part of the country, the largest railroad 

 being the historic New York, New Haven & 

 Hartford. There are als'o about a thousand 

 miles of electric street railway and hundreds of 

 miles of the finest highways. 



Bridgeport, New Haven, New London and 

 several other seaports are conveniently located 

 and have harbors which are ample for all 

 necessary shipping. Hartford, the capital, is at 

 the head of navigation of that important ave- 

 nue of transportation and commerce, the Con- 

 necticut River. In recent years improvements 

 in the river below that city have been made 

 by the United States government. 



The People. To be near their work, it is 

 necessary for about ninety per cent of the 

 population to live in the cities, over one-third 

 of the entire population being concentrated in 

 the cities of New Haven, Bridgeport, Hart- 

 ford and Waterbury. Most of the farmers, 

 business men and factory heads are of native 

 parentage and constitute over thirty-five per 

 cent of the inhabitants. An almost equal num- 

 ber of the people are native-born of foreign 

 parentage, and most of the others are foreign- 

 born. There are only about 15,000 negroes. 

 The majority of skilled workers are English, 

 German or Swedish, but Ireland, Scotland, 

 Italy, Russia, Canada, France, Austria, Hun- 

 gary and Denmark have contributed to the 

 population. 



Education. Provisions for education at pub- 

 lic expense have been zealously advanced since 

 the earliest colonial days, so there is a low per- 

 centage of uneducated people (see ILLITERACY). 

 All children between the ages of seven and six- 

 teen must attend school, unless excused because 

 they must work after they are fourteen. Be- 

 sides about 1,400 elementary schools there are 



