to the Pacific slope, reaching Oregon without breaking bulk.  Their goods are sold in England, Sweden, Turkey, Cape Colony, Australia, China, and the islands of the Pacific, although the home demand almost forbids their seeking a foreign market.  The popularity of their work may be known from the fact that one hundred and fifty thousand stoves of one pattern have been sold.  The iron entering into the manufacture of stoves must be of a peculiar fineness of texture.  The best of ore of three or four qualities is mixed, frequently tested, and constantly watched during the manufacturing process.

[Illustration:  OLD UNITARIAN CHURCH.]

The beauty of their stove castings has led to a new industry,—­the fine-art castings,—­in which the most marvelous results are produced.  Professional artists and art critics are constantly employed in the establishment, and many thousand dollars are judiciously expended yearly, for the purpose of forming and perfecting new designs to meet the popular demand.

[Illustration:  NAVAL HOSPITAL.  Erected in 1836.  Wing added in 1865.]

Another celebrated industry of Chelsea is the manufacture of the Low tiles, for household decoration.  John G. Low, son of the pioneer merchant, is the artist who has created this class of goods, and he has succeeded in producing a tile of special artistic value.  His work surpasses anything of the kind made in the world, and finds a market wherever works of art and beauty are appreciated.

There are several establishments in the city, for the manufacture of rubber goods of every variety, and many hundred operatives find employment therein.

The famous “Globe Works” are soon to be occupied by the extensive establishment of the Forbes Lithograph Company.

The Keramic Art Works of J. Robertson and Sons are noted throughout the land for the beauty of their products.

The pioneer manufacturers of the city are the firm of Bisbee, Endicott, and Company, who established a machine-shop in 1836, and a foundry in 1846, and are still in business.

Aside from these, Chelsea manufactures anchors, pilot-bread, mattresses, bluing, boxes, bricks, britannia ware, brooms, cardigan jackets, carriages, chairs, cigars, confectionery, enameled cloth, fire-brick, furniture, hose, lamp-black, lumber, oils, wall-paper, planes, pottery, roofing, salt, soap, spices, type, tinware, varnish, vaccine matter, vessels, yeast, and window-shades,—­giving employment to a very large number of skilled artisans.

There are two well-managed banks in the city, two ably-conducted newspapers, one large and several small hotels, and an Academy of Music, which is one of the finest provincial theatres in New England, boasting of a fine auditorium and a well-appointed stage.

The Naval Hospital, which generally accommodates about a dozen patients, occupies eighty acres of the most desirable part of the city, the hill upon which it is built overlooking Mystic River.