HOLYOKE, lird'yok. A city in Ilampden County, \lass.. S miles north of Springfield ; on the Connecticut River. and on the Boston and and the New York, New Haven and Dartford railroads (Map: Massachusetts, 11 3). It was originally a part of West Springfield, and was incorporated as the Third Parish in 1786, though it was commonly called Ireland Parish, from the fact that several Irish families were the first settlers. In 1550 Holyoke was set off from West Springfield and incorporated as a separate town; and in 1873 it was chartered as a city. Its importance as a manufacturing centre dates from 1847, when the Hadley Falls Com pany began to develop the great natural water power. The river here falls 60 feet and is crossed by a dam 1000 teat long, affording the most valuable power in New England. For many years it was noted for its paper-mills. but it now has also extensive manufactures of cot tons. woolens, thread. silk, alpaca. bicycles. auto mobiles. belting, bricks. screws, wires, machinery, envelopes, and school supplies. It is an impor tam centre for hydraulic engineering, for testing water-wheels, etc. There are it public library, a college of music, city hospital, and House of Providence Hospital. The Holyoke Scientific So ciety has dune valuable work in American fir ch.rology, and has tine collections of Indian an tiquities. In the vicinity are many points of
interest, notably Mount Tom (1215 feet), ascended by an electric railway from Holyoke, and Mount Holyoke (955 feet 1. Holyoke is go•• cruel tinder a revised charter of 1896, by a Mayor, elected annually. and a city council. two-thirds of whose members are eleeted, at large for two years, the remainder by wards for one year. The sub ordinate offices are tilled as follows : appointed by the Mayor—board of public works, lire coin.
hoard of health, city marshal and assistants, city solicitor, and inspector of milk; appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the council—sealer of weights and measures and in spectors of animals and provisions; elected by, the council—water commissioners. city physieian, poor overseers, city auditor, and city messengers; by the people—all others. The annual income and expenditures of the city amount to about 81,780,00u and 81.745.000 respectively, the main items of expense being $50,000 for the police le including amounts for police courts. jails, etc.: .11on for the fire department, and $175.000 bin schools. The city owns and operates its water-works, and has voted to acquire the gas and electric-light plants. Population, in 1890, 35,637; in 1900. 45,712. See 3IuuNr 11 oLvoio: COLLEGE.