Troy

a city of New York. It is situated on the east bank of the Hudson River at the head of tide-water navigation. The Erie canal connects the Hudson at this point with Buffalo, and the Champlain canal gives water communication with Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence. Steamers from New York City, canal boats from the shores of Lake Erie, and canal boats from Canadian waters meet here and are the sight of the city. These commercial facilities are supplemented by railroads and local trolley lines. The business portion of the city occupies a narrow plain, extending north and south along the river, with bluffs in the rear. The city is well built; the post-office, court house, city hall, public library, the union station, the savings bank building, music hall, the Rensselaer Hotel, and other public and semi-public buildings testify to public spirit and wealth. There are electric lights, excellent waterworks and fifty miles of paved streets. A complete public school system, Willard Seminary, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute afford educational advantages.

Troy is noted for manufactures. It is the greatest collar and cuff center in the world. Troy stores are noted. Henry Burden developed his machine-made horseshoe here. Guns for coast defense are made at Watervliet on the opposite shore of the Hudson. Troy lays claim to an early industry that gave rise to the expression "Uncle Sam." The current account runs that "Uncle Sam" Willson furnished the American army with beef during the war of 1812. It was packed in white oak barrels and was spoken of by the soldiers as "Uncle Sam's" pork. From this start all supplies furnished by the United States became known as "Uncle Sam's."

Troy occupies ground in the center of a region rendered historic during Burgoyne's campaign. There are a number of note-worthy monuments. The more recent are in Oakwood cemetery, including shafts to General Wool of the Mexican War and General Thomas, the Rock of Chickamauga. A soldiers' and sailors' monument adorns one of the city squares. The city has been formed by the union of various farms and villages. Bridges, one of them the oldest covered bridge in the United States, connect Troy with Watervliet, Cohoes, Waterford, and Green Island. The census of 1900 gave Troy a population of 75,057. If subsequent increase of territory, natural growth, and suburbs be included, the industrial center has a population of not far from 150,000.