from
History of the State of Rhode Island with Illustrations
Albert J. Wright, Printer
No. 79 Mille Street, corner of Federal, Boston.
Hong, Wade & Co., Philadelphia
1878.
pp. 253 - 259... (part 3)
"Providence originally comprised the whole county settled in 1636. In
1832, it was incorporated as a city. Portions of the town of Cranston were
re-annexed in June, 1868, and March, 1873. Portions of North Providence
were re-annexed in June, 1767, March, 1873, and May, 1874, and now form the
tenth ward of the city. It is the metropolis of the State, and the second
commercial port in New England. It is situated in the southeastern section
of the county of Providence, and is bounded as follows: on the north by
North Providence and Pawtucket; on the east by the Seekonk River; on the
south by Cranston; and on the west by Johnston. It is distant about thirty
miles northwest from Newport, the second city in the State, and the finest
watering-place in the world; forty-two miles southwest from Boston, the
commercial centre of New England; and about seventy miles east of Hartford,
Conn.; and at the head of navigation on the Narragansett Bay and Providence
River. Thus situated, the city of Providence possesses peculiar advantages
for the development of vast commercial enterprises; and it only needs a
well-directed energy, and a practicable outlay in the improvement of the
harbor, and other means of water communication, to materially increase the
new development of new commercial facilities, thus adding not only to the
business interests of the city, but ensuring a rapid increase in
population, and thus securing a permanent growth.
In the early history of the city, its navigation and commercial interests
were quite important. Many of its most prominent merchants were engaged in
shipping, and carried on an extensive maritime trade with the Indies, and
many other parts of the world. Much of its present prosperity and wealth
had their foundation in the successful development of this branch of
commercial industry. Perhaps no place in the country is more noted for the
intelligence, enterprise, industry, and perseverance of its early business
men, than the city of Providence; and the energy and activity displayed
to-day, in the multifarious avocations of its people, are none the less
worthy of commendation, and stamp them indeed as worthy descendants of so
illustrious an ancestry.
The shipping and maritime enterprises that were once so extensively carried
on from this port, as indeed throughout the State, have been materially
lessened by the introduction of other branches of industry. Still her
sails are employed in quite an extensive coast traffic, and her wharves,
for the greater portion of the year, are lined with fine steamers, that ply
her river and beautiful bay, or run their regular trips to New York and
other important points, laden with human freight and cargoes of commercial
products. The numerous lines of railroad that centre here facilitate
communication with all parts of manufacturing New England, and the growing
agricultural West, and render the city of Providence one of the most
important business centres in the country. The commercial interests of
Providence are, to a certain extent, different from those of any other
place in the country; connected with, and largely supported by, the vast
manufacturing interests within its own limits, as well as its immediate
vicinity, requiring the employment of vast capital in the successful
operation of these immense enterprises, it exhibits a degree of commercial
prosperity and possesses an aggregate of wealth unsurpassed by any place of
its size in the Union."
continued in part 4.