the work has already been done in the most substantial masonry and the whole plan will be consummat- ed within a few years. The whole expense is estimated at about $100,000.
There are four bridges in the city over the Merrimack, and three over the Contoocook river. All of these are large and expen- sive bridges. The Federal Bridge, which leads to East Concord, is of wrought iron, and was erected in the spring of 1873, at an expense, including stone work, of over $20,000.
Schools. There are fifty schools in the city, of which thirty-two are graded. But few towns or cities have made more rapid pro- gress in public schools, for the past twenty years, than Concord. In 1854, the total amount of mon- ey appropriated for school pur- poses was $5,536, being $2.40| to each scholar. In 1872, the amount expended was $24,047.45, averaging $9.21 to each scholar. The high school is under the in- struction of J. D. Bartley, as prin- cipal. In this department, such branches of study are taught, that, at the expiration of four years, a scholar is prepared to enter any college. The grades of schools in the city precinct, are primary, in- termediate, first and second gram- mar, and high school. The aver- age length of schools for the year is thirty-one weeks; in the city precinct, forty weeks. There are five large, brick school-houses in the city precinct, from four to six commodious school rooms each, and built at an expense of from $15, 000 to $60,000 each; besides there are several smaller houses in dif- ferent sections of the city. At
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East Concord there is a fine brick house, with two departments. There are also good school-houses, and graded schools at West Con- cord and Fisherville. Nearly all of these large brick houses have been built within the past twenty years, at an expense, including grounds, of not less than $150,000.
One of the most important lite- rary institutions in the country is located about two miles west of the State House, called St. Paul’s School. It is under Epis- copal control, and its students represent all parts of the Union. The buildings are very fine, exten- sive and expensive, and the grounds around them are beauti- fully laid out. (See literary Insti- tutions.)
Clmrch Edifices. Concord, for the past nineteen years, has suffered severely in its houses of public worship being destroyed by fire. The first house destroyed was the Unitarian, November 2d, 1854; then followed the South Congrega- tional, June 8, 1859; Congrega- tional at West Concord, September 21,1869; Old North Congregational Church, November 18, 1870, and the North Congregational, June 29, 1873. The Unitarian, South and West Concord, have been re- placed by more substantial and expensive edifices, and the North will be rebuilt in the season of 1874. Where the old North stood, there is now, 1873, being built a large brick school house.
The following are the churches, and pastors of various denomina- tions. North Congregational, Rev.
F. D. Ayers: South Congregation- al, Rev. S. L. Blake; IstCalvinistic Baptist, Rev. D. W. Faunce; Free- will Baptist, Rev. Silas Curtis; |