UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 53 



to the census of 1850, it contains a population of 

 fifteen thousand eight hundred. It is a place of 

 considerable trade and manufactures. 



At Charlestown, a large business is done in the ice 

 trade, which first commenced at this place in 1803. 

 Cargoes of this export are sent to the Southern 

 States, the West Indies, South America, and to 

 England and the East Indies. In 1850, the exports 

 amounted to 55,000 tons ; the value of the ice 

 exported from the United States in 1849 was $95,- 

 000. About 15,000 tons of ice are annually used 

 in Boston and its vicinity. This ice is brought to 

 Charlestown by railroad, from ponds at Cambridge, 

 Watertown, and Lexington, towns in the vicinity of 

 Boston. At Watertown, large brick buildings are 

 erected near the pond for storing the ice. The ice is 

 cut and taken from the pond by machinery ; three 

 hundred horses, and a greater number of men, are 

 employed about it. A great quantity of ice is also 

 exported from Salem, where it is brought from 

 Wenham, a town which formerly formed part of 

 Salem. The following is a short account of the man- 

 ner of cutting and preserving the ice at this place for 

 exportation : — 



" The ice-house is built of wood, with double walls 

 6* 



