Text books are now furnished by the city, which feature was introduced as an experiment, and its effects are admirable in our city, thus removing one of the excuses which was often formerly advanced by the poor, viz: that they were not able to provide books, &c., as a reason for the non-attendance of their children at school. The expense is now removed from them and placed on the broad shoulders of the body politic. Total number of truants in 1878 was 195. They were cases of actual truancy, some of whom became "habitual truants," and as such were punished in accordance with law, &c. Seven during that year were sent to the truant school at the alms-house, and two were sent to the reform school for graver offences by order of the court.

The school accommodations in the city are fairly ample, excepting for the High school, and in a section of territory adjacent to the Linen Mills.

There has been, from time to time, a gradual gain, notwithstanding the disturbances, in consequence of strikes and other abnormal causes, in the number of pupils, in per centage of attendance, and in attainments, consequent upon attention to studies, and obedience to school rules, &c.

The following named persons now-Dec. 24th, 1879-constitute our school committee, viz: Mrs. Harriet T. Healy, Louisa G. Aldrich; Messrs. John J. Archer, Wm. G. Bennett, Wm. H. Bric, Geo. W. Bronson, A. M. Jackson, Thomas L. Ramsbottom, Leontine Lincoln. Mr. A. M. Jackson is chairman of the board and Wm. Connell, Jr., secretary. Mr. William Connell, Jr., is superintendent of schools.

The total valuation affixed for school houses and lots of land, school furniture in school houses and the High school library, in city auditor's report for 1878, was $765,225.

CHAPTER VIII.

POPULATION OF TOWN AND CITY OF FALL RIVER.

The population at intervals from 1810 to 1879, has been as follows, viz:

7,234

. POPULATION OF EACH WARD AND LEGAL VOTERS THEREIN IN 1879.

Ward 1, Inhabitants,

The Second Senatorial District of Bristol County comprises the following municipalities, viz:

The City of Fall River, the Towns of Berkley, Dighton, Rehoboth, Somerset and Swanzey.

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS.

Wards One, Two, Three and Four, of the city of Fall River, compose the Eighth Representative District.

Wards Five and Six, of the city of Fall River, with the town of Somerset, form the Ninth Representative District.

* In 1862, about 3,600 were added by change of Rhode Island boundary.

CHAPTER IX.

SOCIAL STATISTICS, etc.

In 1803 Town of Fall River voted to raise by taxation $500 to defray its expenses

for one year.

The town voted for state officers, April 4th, 1803, and cast for senators in General Court, 83 votes, which would indicate a population at that time of from 600 to 750, the exact number we have no means of ascertaining.

In 1810, with a population of 1,296, the town voted to raise for expenses, schools and county tax, $850.

"1813, first cotton mill commenced running; another in 1814.

"1821, Iron Works Co. formed Incorporated in 1825.

"1824, first Print Works established. Incorporated in 1848.

66 1825, Bank, (Fall River) established.

66

1825, first woolen mill, (satinet factory,) was started.

"1826, first newspaper (Weekly Monitor) printed.

"1827, first steamer (Hancock ) made regular trips between Fall River and Providence.

1835, first incorporated library (Athenæum) opened.

1838, first thread mill (Oliver Chace's) built

1840, Population, 6,738; number of ratable polls, 1,603; total valuation, $2,989,215; voted to raise $13,500 for support of schools, highways and incidental

expenses.

June, 1845, Fall River railroad opened to Myrick's.

1852, American Linen Co. incorporated.

1854, Population, 12,700; number of ratable polls, 3,117; total valuation, $8,939,215. Amount raised by taxation $56,523.70; rate, $5.80 per $1,000; city charter adopted by people, April 22.

1863, Nov 19, first passenger train to Stone Bridge on Fall River & Newport R. R.

1865, May 22, first passenger train on Fall River and Warren Railroad.

1869, Dec. 25, fire alarm telegraph established.

1873, Aug 1, free mail delivery -8 carriers- commenced.

1874, Jan. 8, water from Nor. Watuppa pond, introduced into city for domestic use.

1875, Dec. 16, first passenger train on Fall River railroad to New Bedford.

1875, Population of Fall River, 45,340, of whom 21,686 were males, and 23,654 were females; excess of latter, over former 1,968. The whole valuation was $51,960,479. Amount raised by taxation $768,464.57; rate, 14.50 per $1,000. The number of ratable polls was 11,571 ; number of legal voters, 7,024, of whom 3,624 were native born, and 3,400 were naturalized citizens. The number of families was 8,997. Number of dwellings occupied, 4,192 ; number of dwellings unoccupied, 418.

CONJUGAL CONDITION.

There were of married males residents of the city, 8,302; females, 8,342. Single males, 12,956; single females, 13,605. Women who had been married, 10,040. Mothers, native born, 2,284; foreign born, 5,312-7,596. Widowers, 407; widows, 1,666. Divorced males, 15; divorced females, 32. Inhabitants native born, 21,530; foreign born, 23,810. There were of those foreign born,—from England, males, 4,385 ; females 4,320. Ireland, males, 3.998; females, 5,049. Canada, males, 2,312; females, 2,712 Scotland, males, 320; females, 384. From France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Wales and other countries, males, 209; females, 121.

There were in Fall River, residents-of blind males 22; females, 12. Deaf males, 27; females, 31. Dumb males, 2; females, I. Both deaf and dumb, males, 6; females, 6. Of idiotic males, 6; females, 4. Insane males, 5; females, 6. Pauper males, 44 ; females, 35. Of ten years of age and older, of illiterates, 5,556; males, 2,046; females, 3,510. Who could not read, 31 ; of whom were native born, 6; foreign nativity. 25. Who could not write, 1,453; of whom were native born, 156; foreign born, 1,297. Who could neither read nor write, 4,072; of whom were native born, 230; foreign born, 3,842.

INDUSTRIAL.

In 1875 there were resident in Fall River, in all employs, of workers, 40,452. Whole amount of labor products in 1875 $24,881,231. Some of the larger industries may be signalized as follows, viz:

There were of children at work under 10 years old, males, 31; females, 19. From 10 to 15 years, males, 801; females, 622. Under 15, total, males, 832; females, 641. At work and at school under 10, males, 13; females, 10; from 10 to 15, males, 384; females, 253. Under 15, total, males, 397; females, 263.

In 1879, May 1st, the population was 47,879; number of rateable polls, 11,678; total valuation for 1879, $37,000,790; amount raised by taxation, $689,370.23; rate, $18 per $1,000.

NOTE. We are indebted for facts connected with this chapter to the "Census of Mass., 1875,' also to B. Earl & Son's published record of local events, &c.

CHAPTER X.

WATER WORKS.

The city having long felt the need of, and suffered for the introduction of pure water for the use of its inhabitants generally, Mayor Samuel M. Brown, in his inaugural address, Jan. 3d., 1870, called the attention of the city council to the importance of supplying this great want; and Jan. 7th, the joint special committee