created a great demand for this article, and its reliable quality has secured for Messrs. Allen and Thurber a ready market for all that they are able to turn out. Every pistol is tested before it is sold. For beauty and strength we believe that these pistols stand unrivalled in the market.

The progress of Worcester in population and wealth since 1840 has been remarkable. Few cities in the New England States, if we except Lowell, Lawrence, &c., which have been built up by incorporated capital invested in extensive manufactures, show a greater increase in population or in wealth. We here subjoin a table exhibiting the population in different years from 1763 to 1849. The census in each year from 1790 to 1840 is the official, as shown by the census of the United States, and that for 1845, by the State. The census of 1847 was taken by Worcester, preparatory to applying for a city charter. For 1849, we have given an estimate, based on the official census of 1845 and 1847. The progress in wealth, or in the increased valuation of property, is equally remarkable, especially during the last nine or ten years, as will be seen by the subjoined table :

Years.

POPULATION AND VALUATION OF PROPERTY FROM 1763 To 1849.

Population. Val. of prop. Years.

Population. Val. of prop.

1763

1,478

1840..

7,497

$4,288,950

We cannot, perhaps, give a better idea of the distribution of wealth in an inland city, in one of the most wealthy States in the Union, than by publishing a list of the persons who paid a tax in 1849 upon $20,000 and upwards. The property of the wealthiest man in the city, it will be seen, is valued at $511,000. The valuation is probably below the market value.

The following schedule embraces the name of ninety-one individuals and firms in the city of Worcester, the valuation of whose property amounts each to $20,000 and upwards, with the amount of tax assessed upon each, at the rate of $6 75 per $1,000 :—

As we have given the "upper twenty thousand," we may as well subjoin the "upper ten thousand," who pay a tax upon $10,000 and upwards, but below $20,000. Should either of the classes of "uppers" discover any injustice in the valuation of their property, that it is either over or under estimated, we will cheerfully set the matter to right in a future number of our journal; remarking, at the same time, that the errors, if any, have been committed by the assessors, and not by the editor of the Merchants' Magazine. The worthy citizens of Worcester who are not enrolled in either of the lists must console themselves with the reflection that they have a smaller tax to pay, and that they constitute an overwhelming majority of its popu

lation.

BANKING INSTITUTIONS. There are five incorporated banks in Worcester, (besides an institution for savings,) with an aggregate capital of $650,000. The Central, the Quinsigamond, and the Mechanics', have each a capital of $100,000, the Worcester Bank has a capital of $200,000, and the Citizen's a capital of $150,000.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS, located in the city of Worcester, was incorporated in 1828, and commenced business the same year. It pays interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum. The dividends are made in January and July, and, if not called for under three months, are added to the principal and placed on interest. After appropriating the amount of the semi-annual dividends, the surplus income is divided every fifth year, and placed in the same manner to the accounts which have existed for one or more years, in equitable proportion. For the following state

ment of the deposits and payments for twenty-one years, (including the div idends in the receipts,) we are indebted to the politeness of Samuel Jennison, Esq., the trustworthy Treasurer of the institution:

The following table shows the state of the Worcester County Institution for Savings on the 11th of April, 1849, as per the Treasurer's official report:

The Treasurer charges himself for amount due to 6,514 depositors,

RAILROADS. Worcester is the center of an extensive railroad system, a circumstance that has contributed, in no small degree, to the recent rapid growth in population and wealth. The railroads of five distinct corporations center or terminate at Worcester, namely, the Boston and Worcester, the Western, which connects with the former, and extends from Worcester to the west line of the Massachusetts, in the town of West Stockbridge, where, by means of the Albany and West Stockbridge Road, it forms a continuous line to Albany and Buffalo; the Norwich and Worcester, connecting with the Boston and Worcester, and forming a direct railroad and steamboat line between Boston and New York, by the steamers from Allyn's Point, six miles below Norwich; the Providence and Worcester, between the two cities, and connecting at Worcester with the several roads centering there, and at Providence with the Stonington Road; and finally the Worcester and Nashua, extending from the former to the last named place. The Worcester and Nashua, the Norwich and Worcester, and the Providence and Worcester Roads pass through a great number of thriving manufacturing villages.

That our readers may have a clear idea of the connection of Worcester, by means of these roads, with the different places on their several routes, we subjoin a tabular statement of each road as follows:

PLACES, DISTANCES, AND FARES ON THE PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD, FROM

PLACES, DISTANCES, AND FARES ON THE NORWICH AND WORCESTER ROAD, FROM WORCESTER.

PLACES, DISTANCES, AND FARES ON THE WORCESTER and Nashua raiLROAD.§

59

1 50

Allyn's Point...

66

1 75

*The Pittsfield and North Adams Road connects at this place, extending from Pittsfield to North Adams, a distance of 20 miles.

The Housatonic connects at State Line.

The Hudson and Berkshire Road connects at Chatham four Corners.

This road connects, at the Groton Junction, with up and down trains of the Fitchburg, Stony Brook and Peterboro, and Shirly Railroads; and, at Worcester, with the Norwich and Worcester, Providence and Worcester, and Western.