Connecticut

kon-net I-kut, a New England state. It lies on Long Island Sound, between New York and Rhode Island. With the exception of two jogs in favor of Massachusetts, the northern boundary is formed by the line of 42 deg. 30' north latitude. The general outline of the state is an oblong, 88 miles in length, and of irregular width. Area, 4,845 square miles. Capital, Hartford. Eight counties. Population in 1900, 908,420. Two railroads with 4,072 miles of track. The name of the state is that of its principal river. It is a Pequot word, meaning the long river. Nicknames are "The Wooden Nutmeg State," "The Land of Steady Habits," "The Constitutional State."

The first account of the country was published by Hudson and Adrian Block, Dutch navigators. Plymouth Colony established a trading post on the Connecticut in 1633. A permanent settlement was effected in 1636 at Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor, by a colony from Massachusetts Bay. Trouble ensued with the Pequot Indians, but, as the natives were armed at best with bows and arrows, midnight massacres and scalping were soon brought to an end. In May, 1637, Captain Mason and a band of ninety men armed with guns surprised the natives in their stockade at Groton, set fire to their wooden stronghold, burned them out like rates, and killed seven hundred men, women, and children who endeavored to escape. The pious chroniclers of the period report a cessation of hostilities.

In 1637 the settlers, finding themselves beyond the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, adopted a constitution, said to be the first ever prepared for their own use by a self-governing people. Deriving all its authority from the people, it contained many democratic features, such as annual elections, and vote by ballot; but, upon the whole, it was made up by selecting the more liberal of the practices actually in use at the time in the Massachusetts Colony. In 1662 a charter was granted the colony by Charles II. Much against its will New Haven Colony on the sound was included. This charter was suspended for a short time during the administration of Andros. Otherwise it served as the fundamental law of Connecticut until 1818. The oft quoted Blue Laws of Connecticut are now admitted to have been in part a mere literary forgery.

Connecticut has a record for patriotism. A full quota of men and money was supplied during the intercolonial wars. At the outbreak of the Revolution Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut was the only colonial governor in full accord with the American patriots,--the only one who was not asked or forced to resign. He sent forward men and provisions in a most energetic manner, and stood on such intimate terms of confidence with Washington that the expression, "Brother Jonathan," is said to have arisen from Washington's having referred to him, then governor, in that familiar, trustful way. About the only reason for regret in this connection is the circumstance that Benedict Arnold was a native of this state, a fact that resulted in the disgraceful raids of Tryon and of Arnold himself, when seaboard towns were burned and the rules of civilized warfare disregarded. Although the War of 1812 ruined a prosperous trade with the West Indies, local opinion was by no means unitedly in favor of the Hartford Convention of 1814-15. During the Civil War, Connecticut furnished 54,882 volunteers, far more than her share.

From the first, the state has been noted for frugality, industry, and thrift. Agriculturally, the state may be divided into four regions. A sandy shore along the sound; the valley of the Connecticut; the uplands east of that river; and the region west of the valley. The valleys of the Connecticut and the Housatonic are noted for the production of a cigar tobacco. Small fruits, orchard fruits, and vegetables are raised for city markets. Dairying is an important industry.

An unprofitable copper mine, opened at Granby in 1705, was the beginning of the manufacture of brass, in which the valleys of the Housatonic and Naugatuck now lead the world. The Yankee peddler, with his tin and wooden ware, is a product of the state, dating from 1770. It is but fair to say he peddled far better wares than are now on the market. The cannon, balls, chains, wagon tires, and camp kettles of the Revolution were made here from native ore found at Salisbury. Paper, American clocks, watches, sewing machines, vulcanized rubber, and electro-plating owe their early reputation to Connecticut. In proportion to population, more patents have been issued to the inhabitants of Connecticut than to the inventors of any other state.

Manufacturing has become the leading industry. Ships, cotton goods, locks, cutlery, timepieces, thread, sewing machines, bicycles, carriages, hats, and brass and copper wire, are leading articles of manufacture, amounting in all to nearly $400,000,000 a year.

In return for relinquishment of territory in Wyoming Valley, Connecticut received a grant of 3,500,000 acres of public land in northeastern Ohio, including the present site of Cleveland. This tract was known as the Western Reserve. About half a million acres was given to those who suffered from the British during the Revolution; the remainder was sold to settlers for the benefit of the Connecticut school fund. It now yields an income of about one hundred thousand dollars, devoted to the maintenance of common schools, high schools, an agricultural college, and three normal schools. Higher education is provided for by endowed institutions, chief among which are Yale University at New Haven, Wesleyan at Middletown, and Trinity at Hartford. Despite the influx of illiterate people to work in the factories, the percentage of those who cannot read and write is less than four per cent, a record excelled only by that of Massachusetts.

STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources:

See Hartford; New Haven; Yale; Charter Oak; Copper; Brass; Colt; Howe; Sewing Machine, etc.