158 



terprise which enhances the value of land and makes practically use- 

 ful something that was before of no real benefit. He is conferring a 

 vast good on the community, and AVC wish him continued prosperity. 



Others of the party visited the hat factories of Messrs. Bowen & 

 Emerson, Tenney & Co., and Chas. Ingalls & Son. We were indebted 

 to Mr. Emerson, of the first named firm, for an escort through their 

 extensive manufactory, and were much interested in the successive 

 processes through which the material passes, from the wool to the 

 finished hat. First the wool is scoured or washed ; it then goes to 

 the carding machines, whence it is delivered on cones, each cone con- 

 taining the germ of two hats ; the next process hardens them ; the 

 next is technically called planking or felting, but we should call it 

 shrinking, and here theybegin to assume the appearance of wearable 

 hats, while before this process an outsider would have no suspicion 

 of the use intended for them ; they are then blocked, colored, blocked 

 again, dried, stiffened, finished and trimmed, ready for boxing and 

 sending to market. Different sets of operatives are engaged in the 

 different processes, and about ten days are generally required to com- 

 plete a " batch." As all parts of the work are going on at a time, 

 each day developes about one hundred dozen of the finished hats. 

 Methuen and its mother town of Haverhill both have a good name for 

 their manufactures in this department. 



Many of the visitors went into the elevated tower of the Congrega- 

 tional Church, and the pastor pointed out the many objects comprised 

 in the extensive prospect from that position. 



The Falls attracted others, but the severe drought of the season 

 had robbed this "lion" of his flowing inane, and they were disap- 

 pointed ; a member of the local committee of reception assured them, 

 however, that if they would call next spring, they could stand here 

 and think of Niagara* 



Other features of the i^vn were also visited and enjoyed, and the 

 time was well employed in various interesting rambles and researches. 

 At 1.30 P.M. all met at the Town Hall for the collation, and the excur- 

 sionists were happy to find that many of the townspeople had brought 

 their provision baskets to unite in a common, social lunch, They 

 had also provided an abundance of hot coffee and tea, fruit, &c., and 

 the collation proved one of the most agreeable features of the day. 



At 3 o'clock, Henry Wheatland, the President of the Institute, 

 called the meeting to order, and Mr. F. W. Putnam was requested to 

 act as Secretary, in the absence of that officer. 



The records of the preceding meeting were read. 



The Secretary announced the following correspondence : 



Abbot, T. C., Lansing, Mich., Aug. 20; Allen, B. R., Marblehead, Sept. 12; An- 

 drews, W. V., New York, Aug. 10; Banvard, Joseph, Boston, Aug. 31; Buflalo His- 



