Connecticut is one of the smallest of the states, its area being only 4,674 sq.m., lying between 41° and 42° n., and :'bout 71° 50' to near 73° w.; with Massachusetts on the n., Rhode Island on the e. ew fork on the w., and Long Island sound on the south. In shape it is nearly a parallelogram of about 90 by 50 miles. The whole state lies on the s. slope of the New England hill region, and is hilly, though with no very high stun mits. The highest elevations are in the n.w. portion of the state. The largest river is the Connecticut, with a varying width, but usually not far from a quarter of a mile, and navigable to Hartford, 50 m. from the sound, into which it empties. Its course presents a series of beautiful views. The chief affluent of the Connecticut in the state is the Tunxis. In the e. part of the state is the Thames, formed by the Shetucket, the Yautic, and the Quinnebaug; it is navigable to Norwich. In the w. are the Housatonic and the Naugatuck, its affluent; the Housatonic being 'navigable to Derby, where the Naugatuck comes in. Smaller streams furnish abundant water-power. There are no large lakes. The Blue Hills of Southington, a part of the Holyoke range from Massachusetts, and the Housatonic Hills, are the prominent elevations.
Connecticut is not conspicuous for mineral wealth. Gold is unknown, and silver is found only in minute quantities in other ores. Copper mines wore once of some con sequence, but are unimportant since the working of the rich deposits at lake Superior. Iron is abundant, and has been worked for more than a century. Lead with slight traces of silver has been tried, but its working is not profitable. Marble and limestone are abundant and of excellent quality, and there are vast deposits of freestone, which is sent in immense quantities for building to New York and other cities. There are also flagging? and tiling slates, clay of all kinds, granite, gneiss, and sulphate of barytes in great abundance. Some mineral springs are known, but none have become especially famous. Timber was formerly plentiful in Connecticut, and there are yet left oak, hickory, tulip, chestnut, ash, maple, birch, beech, and some other useful trees. Pine and hemlock are nearly gone. Wild grapes and berries are plentiful. The wild deni• zens of the forest, such as bears, panthers, and wolves,,long ago disappeared. A few foxeS remain; rabbits arel in abundance, also squirrels, Woodchucks, muskrats, moles, and the Norway and water rats. Now and then an eagle is seen; hawks, crows, ravens, and owls are found, with gulls along the shore; song birds are numerous; game birds, grouse and woodcock are increasing under the protection of law; snipe and wild ducks and geese are abundant. Of fish, Connecticut has immense quantities, among the most valuable being shad, black, blue, rock, bass, pickerel, perch, sheepshead, weakfish, and catfish. Attention has been given recently to the cultivation of salmon. Mollusks and shellfish are very abundant, and great quantities are sent to the markets of large cities. Venomous snakes are scarce. The climate of Connecticut is severe, like that of all New England. Spring opens rapidly in April, cold weather conies about mid-Novem ber, and the winters are usually severe, snow being generally several inches deep, except near the coast, for many weeks at a time. The summers are correspondingly warm;
the brief autumn is very pleasant, though often foggy. Swamps and marshes do not abound, and miasmatic diseases are almost unknown.
The state excels in variety and extent of manufactures. Agriculture is a large interest, however, and good crops are raised in the numerous valleys, while the uplands furnish excellent pasturage and cheap fuel. The principal fruits are apples, pears, grapes, and berries; and the chief crops are hay, oats, rye, corn, tobacco, and potatoes. The tobacco is of a superior kind, the leaves being excellent for " wrappers" of cigars. Dairy products are also among farming resources. The farms are usually small, averaging in 1870 about 60 acres of improved land each. For many years the sous of native farmers have sought homes in the west, audit considerable portion of the laud in Connecticut is now in possession of emigrants from foreign countries. In point of value, woolens stand first among the manufactured goods; then cotton, hardware, Iron-work, machinery, paper, india-rubber, wheeled vehicles, sewing-machines, hats, caps, silks, fire-arms. and cutlery. Though the smallest of the states except Delaware and Rhode Island, Connecticut stands eighth in the value of manufactured products. Clocks from Connecticut of all sizes and prices are scattered all over the world. In 1870, the value of clocks made in the United States was returned at $2,509,643, of which $2,245,043 was from this state.
Connecticut has four ports of entry on the sound—Stonington, New London, New Haven, and Fairfield; and on the river, Middletown. Foreign commerce is small, and these ports are not important.
There were issued in Connecticut Jan. 1, 1879, 116 newspapers and periodicals-14 daily, 4 semi-weekly, 86 weekly, 3 biweekly, 1 semi-monthly, 6 monthly, 1 bimonthly, and 1 quarterly. The school age is 4 to 16 years, and the number between these ages in 1878 was 138,407, of whom 119,828 were enrolled in schools; average attendance, 77,218; school days, 178; teachers, 2,711; fund, $2,791,993; income from all sources, $1,509,159; expenses, $1,506,177. There is a normal school at New Britain with '18 male and 122 female students, and two training schools in New Haven with 1000 pupils. Yale college, non-sectarian, though historically affiliated with the Congregationalists, stands at the head of the higher institutions, with 97 professors and 1026 students. Trinity college at Hartford (Prot. Ep.) had at last report 15 instructors and 110 students; and Wesleyan university (Meth. Ep.) at Middletown had 17 professors and 163 pupils. The Yale divinity school (Cong.) had 11 professors and 107 students; the Berkeley divinity school at Middletown (Prot. Ep.), 7 teachers and 27 students; and the theo logical institute of Connecticut at Hartford (Cong.), 9 instructors and 38 students. The Sheffield scientific school (Yale college) had 26 instructors and 196 pupils; the medical department of Yale, 11 teachers and 60 students; and the Yale law school, 10 teachers and 59 pupils. The latest addition to Yale is the professorship of Chinese language and literature. Both sexes are admitted to the Wesleyan university.