opened to the public, July 4, 1835. The cars and locomotive would be a
curiosity to-day. The former, resembling Concord coaches, were divided
by a partition into two compartments, each entered by two doors,
on the sides. The interiors of the compartments were upholstered with
drab-colored cashmere, and each accommodated eight passengers. The
conductor and engineer had each a silver whistle. After the former
had ascertained the destination of each passenger and collected the
necessary fare, he would close the car doors, climb to his place in a
cab at the top of the coach, and whistle to the engineer as a signal for
starting. The engineer, who was protected by no cab, would respond with
his whistle, when the train would dash out of the station. The brakes
were such as are used on a coach, and it was a scientific matter, when
the engineer gave his warning-whistle to break up a train on arriving at
a station. The rails were secured to granite ties, by means of cast-iron
plates, and the road was very, _very_ solid. Frost soon rendered it
necessary to introduce wooden ties, and nothing has yet been discovered
which can be used as a substitute for them.

[Illustration: JOHN NESMITH.
Born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, August 3, 1793.]

The Lowell Railroad was not the first opened in the United States, but
it was the first passenger road in successful operation in New England.

In 1831, the Railroad Bank was established.

In 1832, the Suffolk and Tremont Mills were established.

In 1833, the town felt the need of a police court, and one was
established. Joseph Locke was the first justice. During the same year