157 



important item in the material prosperity of the town. The addition 

 when completed will give employment to some hundreds more opera- 

 tives than the present number. Other productive industries are also 

 well sustained, and the stranger, on his first visit, will be favorably 

 impressed' with the general busy aspect prevailing throughout the 

 town, whether in passing the extensive and well cultivated farms on 

 the outskirts, or the workshops and stores in the business centre. 

 The people are intelligent, active and enterprising. Hence the visit 

 on Thursday was highly enjoyed by the Institute party. 



On the arrival of the company at the Town Hall, a cordial welcome 

 was extended by Messrs. Joseph How, William M. Rogers, Charles 

 Ingalls, and other citizens, who were active in promoting the objects 

 of the meeting, and in extending other courtesies. 



Little parties were made up to visit the- various points of special 

 interest. Many ascended Current's Hill to obtain an extensive view 

 of the Merrimack Valley. From this elevated spot the prospect is 

 grandly majestic ; we see the distant mountain ranges stretching far 

 off until the eye loses its power to trace even the shadowy outlines, 

 and nearer, the many villages nestling in the valleys, between the 

 heights covered with giant trees ; and almost at our feet the beautiful 

 Merrimack rolls along, and we look up on the right and see a ravine 

 view with its arched bridge, unsurpassed in beauty ; on the left the 

 busy city of Lawrence, with its extensive manufacturing establish- 

 ments, its numerous churches and other public buildings, all lending 

 a peculiar charm to the whole scene. The Lawrence and Manchester 

 Railroad track runs directly through this hill, and at the time it was 

 constructed, the several strata of which the hill is composed were 

 plainly traceable. 



A few of the visitors, through the kind attention of Charles Ingalls, 

 Esq., were taken to Tower Hill, and visited the farm of Mr. Levi 

 Emery, with its observatory, from which a stitl more extended view 

 may be enjoyed. Mr. Emery is actively interested in the Essex Agri- 

 cultural Society, and the members of that society will -not be sur- 

 prised to see it stated that from a few acres of land which were 

 almost valueless ten years ago, Mr. Emery now raises squashes inferior 

 to none, grapes of finest flavor and beauty, strawberries in great quan- 

 tities, cabbages of excellent size and quality, lettuce whose fame has 

 attracted 'the first-class hotel proprietors of New York, and indeed 

 almost every variety of vegetable, of superior quality; all on this 

 lately barren hill, nearly three hundred feet above the level of the 

 Merrimack River. Mr. Emery has seventeen hundred grape-vines 

 now loaded with ripe fruit, and two thousand more vines not yet come 

 to bearing. He has introduced a system by which he can furnish let- 

 tuce in February as fine and nice as at any other season of the year. 

 His farm is well worth a visit from all interested in that spirit of en- 



