Salem, Massachusetts, USA
1854 - Salem

Salem, a city, port of entry, and one of the capitals of Essex county, Massachusetts, is situated chiefly on a tongue of land formed by two inlets of the sea, called North and South rivers, 14 miles N. by E. from Boston. Lat. 42° 31' 18" N., Lon. 70° 53' 63" W. It extends nearly 2 miles in length, and three- quarters of a mile in breadth, occupying the peninsula from shore to shore. The streets are generally irregular. Chestnut street is considered the handsomest. It is finely shaded with elms, and on either side are rows of elegant mansions. In the eastern section of the city is a beautiful public ground, containing 8 1/ 2 acres. Salem is for the most part well built, largely of wood, but partly also of brick and stone. The principal public buildings are the city hall, erected in 1837; the court house, a new and handsome edifice; Marine Hall, Mechanic Hull, and the churches, of which there are 19 or 20. Salem is distinguished for the number and standing of its scientific and literary institutions ; among which may be mentioned the East India Marine Society, formed in 1799 by those who, acting either as captains or supercargoes, had made one or more voyages around the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn. The museum comprises a highly interesting and valuable cabinet of natural and artificial curiosities, collected from all parts of the world. The Essex Institute, organized in 18-18, by the union of the Essex Historical and Essex County Natural History societies, has a library of about 8000 volumes, and a good cabinet of natural history. The Salem Athenaeum, formed in 1810, by tho union of the Social and Philosophical libraries, contains 12,600 volumes. The Essex Agricultural Society, organized in 1818, has a library of agricultural works deposited in the city hall. By the census of 1850, there were in Salem 10 public libraries, with an aggregate of 23,300 volumes ; 27 private libraries, of over 1000 volumes each, with an aggregate of 55,650 volumes; public school libraries, 3995 volumes, and Sabbath- school libraries, 3700 volumes, making a total of 86,645 volumes. The benevolent institutions are a hospital and an almshouse. Salem has excellent public schools. In 1852 there were in the city 1 Latin and 2 high schools; 7 grammar, and 17 intermediate and primary schools, attended by 3058 pupils. The total amount of money expended for school purposes during the year 1851-2 was $32,741. Six newspapers are published in the city.

Salem has a convenient harbor, affording good anchorage and extensive railroad communication with tho interior. In commercial importance it has always held a high rank among the cities of New England. In 1818 it had 63 vessels, with an aggregate burthen of 14,272 tons, engaged in the East India trade. This branch of industry has of late years considerably declined - many of the cargoes formerly received here being discharged at the ports of Boston and New York. December, 1862, there were owned in Salem 22 ships, with an aggregate burthen of 15,196 tons; 40 barques, 11,235 tons ; 83 brigs, 5416 tons; 4 whalers, and several other vessels, besides 17,500 tons employed in the coast trade and the fisheries - making a total of 60,455 tons. The foreign arrivals for the year ending June 30th, 1852, were 448, (tons, 40,721,) of which 367 (tons, 20,040) were by foreign vessels. The clearances for foreign ports were 437, (tons, 40,084,) of which 26,200 were in foreign bottoms.

Manufacturing is carried on to a consider able extent. The Naumeag Steam Cotton Company, incorporated in 1839, have a building 405 feet by 65, and 4 stories high, and run 32,768 spindles. The Salem Laboratory Company manufacture sulphuric acid and other chemicals to the amount of about $100,000 annually. Another establishment yearly turns out 1,500,000 pounds of cleaned copal. Besides the above, there are manufactories of machinery, black and white lead, sperm oil, candles, cordage, twine, &c. Tho annual receipts for tanning and currying is about $050,000, and for boots and shoes up wards of $200,000. Salem has 7 banks with an aggregate capital of $1,760,000, a savings institution, and 6 or 7 insurance companies. An aqueduct supplies the city with excellent spring-water. Two bridges, one for ordinary travel, 1481 feet in length, and the other for the passage of railroad cars, span the North river and communicate with Beverly.

Next to Plymouth, Salem is the oldest town in New England, having been first settled in 1626. In 1629, eleven ships arrived from England, bringing out 1500 persons, by whom settlements were commenced at Charles- town, Boston, and other places : 200 of these settlers died the first winter. During this year, (1629,) the first complete church organization ever effected in North America was founded at Salem, with the Rev. Francis Higginson as its pastor. About the year 1692 prevailed the famous "witchcraft" delusion, through which 19 persons in this and the neighboring towns were condemned and executed. The house in which the accused had their trials is still standing, and the place of their execution, a beautiful eminence over looking the city, is now known as "Gallows Hill." Salem was distinguished for its patriotic zeal during the Revolutionary war. It is said that 60 armed vessels, manned by 4000 men, were fitted out from this port as privateers. Incorporated as a town in 1630, and as a city in 1836. The Indian name was Naumeug. Population in 1840, 15,082 ; in 1850, 20,263, and in 1853, about 22,600.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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