Between 1848 and 1858, more than 170 vessels are built in East Boston.

Ninety-nine exceed 1,000 tons and 9 above 2,000 tons. M.F. Sweetser later writes, ” “What with the great wharves of the Cunard and other lines, the elevators, ship-yards, and marginal railways; and the Grand Junction Wharves, East Boston is the most important part of the Puritan city, in a commercial point of view.”