USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > Haldeman's picture of Louisville, directory and business advertiser, for 1844-1845 > Part 5
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for their intrinsic value, if, perchance, they may be found to possess any thing of value or novelty.
A single glance at the state of things as at present existing, must, we think, satisfy every one, that the trade and general business of the city, has greatly increased since the year 1840.
The census of the United States for that year, assigns to Louisville, one commercial, and eleven commission houses, in foreign trade, with a capital of $191,800; 270 retail stores, with a capital of $2,128.400 ; three lumber yards, with a capital of 52,000; two flouring mills; two tanneries; two breweries; one glass-cutting works; one pottery; two ropewalks ; seven printing offices; two binderies; five daily, seven weekly, and three semi-weekly newspapers, and one periodical : total capital employed in manufactures, $713,675. One college, 80 stu- ednts ; ten academies, 269 students; fourteen schools, 388 scholars.
In 1844, the case may be stated thus-remarking, by the way, that the phraseology, one commercial and eleven commission houses in foreign trade, is somewhat indefinite, as to the kind of business carried on by these twelve houses. From the official records of the city, we ascertain, that the total number of licenses issued for the current year, to persons engaged in the wholesale and retail dry goods, commission, drug, and hardware business, to be 277
and to those engaged in the grocery, commission, fruit and pro- 318
duce business,
Making in all, 595
This exhibits an increase in the number, since 1840, of 325 com- mercial and trading houses ; and allowing for no increase in the capital of the 281 houses of 1840, and admitting that the 325 houses, since established, possess an equal capital-and it is but fair to do so, for they exceed in number those of 1840, 43 houses-we have, at this time, 595 commercial, commission and trading houses, with a capital of $4,640,- 400, employed in the trade of Louisville.
We are aware that this conclusion is conjectural. Except by an actual census, we know of no other method by which to get the true data. We have drawn the conclusion, for the simple purpose of illus- trating our position, that the trade of Louisville has greatly increused, and is increasing. It is estimated, that in 1843, there was imported 15,000 hogsheads of sugar and 40,000 bags of coffee, besides an equal proportion of other groceries, and that in that year, the import and ex- port trade amounted to more than $40,000,000. All admit that the aggregate of 1844, will exceed that of any previous year. Again, for two lumber yards in 1840, we have ten the present year. The capital of the two yards, is put down at $52,000. We leave it to be inferred what the capital of the present lumber merchants is, by stating the fact that they estimate the annual amount received now, to exceed 11,000,- 000 feet of pine lumber, and from 6 to 7,000,000 feet of poplar-at an average cost of $9 per thousand.
The Louisville market is as well, if not better, stocked, with all kinds of foreign and domestic goods, such as are demanded by the West and South-Western merchants, who resort hither for their sup-
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plies, than any other city west of the Allegheny mountains. Her direct importation of many leading articles, gives her a decided superiority over those in other western towns, who purchase from the importer to sell again.
This advantage is fully appreciated by the merchants of the interior of this State, of Indiana, Illinois, and the western Territories, who periodically make their purchases in this market.
The importers, and the auction and commission houses, employing large capital, are able to afford facilities, when required, so as always to keep up heavy stocks, and to dispose of them on as favorable terms as the best Eastern houses. At the hazard of being tedious, and at the same time, of being liable to the charge of repetition, we must fortify the ground assumed by a recurrence to facts, and give a condensed sum- mary of the existing state of things.
It will appear, then, that we have more than five hundred houses en. gaged in the wholesale and retail of the various foreign and domestic fabrics, which enter into, and constitute the business of merchants and traders. These are employed in the selling of dry goods, groceries, glass, Queen's and hard ware, drugs and medicine, of foreign manufac. ture; and cotton and woollen fabrics, bagging, rope, twine, hemp, cot- ton, tobacco, flaxseed, beeswax, ginseng, bacon, lard, oil, and the general products of the planter and farmer.
To these, we may add, the large amount of steamboat and mill ma- chinery, and castings of every kind, of the founderies : coaches, carriages, carts, wagons, cabinet ware, agricultural implements, hollow ware, of iron, brass and copper, saddlery, the products of the oil mills, tanneries, &c., &c., and some idea may be formed of the nature and extent of the business and manufacturing operations of the city. It is hardly sufficient for our purpose, to leave the matter here, without an enume- ration somewhat in detail, and, more particularly, as to the various existing manufacturing establishments.
A few years ago, and manufactories were scarcely known to exist amongst us. Many are now permanently established, and in success- ful operation. There is now scarcely an article in domestic use, that is not manufactured in our midst. Our coach and carriage makers, cabinet ware and chair makers, will compare favorably with the best in the Union.
There are twelve large foundries for the construction of steam boat and mill machinery, and brass founding. One large rolling and slit- ting mill; two extensive steam bagging factories, capable of producing from one and a half to two million yards annually; six cordage and rope factories, some of which make 900,000 pounds of bale rope an- nually, and several smaller rope walks which make large quantities of sash-cord, bale-rope and twine; one cotton factory ; one woolen facto- ry for jeans and linseys ; four flouring mills, producing from 350 to 400 barrels daily ; four lard-oil factories; one white lead factory ; a burr mill stone factory; several extensive potteries; six extensive tobac- co stemmeries, employing a large capital, where the leaf is stripped from the stem and re-packed for the English market; several tobacco manufactories; two glass cutting establishments; a large oil cloth fac-
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tory ; two establishments for the manufacture of surgical instruments ; two lithographic presses ; one paper mill ; a star-candle manufactory ; four pork houses, which slaughter and pack from 60,000 to 70,000 hogs, annually ; a fifth house, for the same object, is being built the present season ; several houses extensively engaged in the book trade ; three piano forte manufactories; three breweries ; boot and shoe manu- factories, and houses extensively engaged in the sale of these articles, of Eastern manufacture ; the hat manufacturing business is extensive, from 75 to 100 hands being constantly employed, and some of the es- tablishments turn out 12,000 hats per annum.
There are eight brick- yards, which will burn this season, 15,000,000 bricks, to meet the de- mand ; one ivory-black factory ; six tanneries ; two tallow rendering houses, which render from eight hundred thousand to one million pounds annually ; eight soap and candle factories ; three planing machines ; extensive gas works; two establishments for the manufacture of scale- beams and platform scales ; two glue factories; three ship yards, at which some of the best constructed and fastest running boats on the riv- er have been built. Steam boat building at this point on the Ohio is pursued with great activity. In this remark, we include those of the three cities of Louisville, Jeffersonville and New Albany, all justly cel- ebrated for the faithfulness, strength, style and durability of the work they turn out. To these prime qualities may be added that of speed. The hulls constructed at the two last named places, are, in almost ev- ery instance, brought here to receive their engines and other equipments. Twenty-eight steam boats, many of them of the largest class, were built at this place in 1843; and up to the period of making up this estimate, (September,) twenty boats have been constructed, and several more are on the stocks, in progress to completion.
The public buildings are, a City Hall and Court House, now in the course of construction, on a magnificent scale ; a City and County Jail, on the most approved model. A full description of these noble structures will be found in another place. A Marine Hospital, erected in 1820, by a grant of $40,000 from the State, on a lot containing more than seven acres, presented by Thomas Prather and Cuthbert Bullitt. A Medical Institute, which is not greatly exceeded in the number of its students by the universities of Philadelphia and New York. A new and splendid Asylum for the Blind; twenty-six churches, viz :- 4 Bap- tist, 1 Christian, (or Campbellite Baptist,) 6 methodist, one of which is a Dutch Methodist, 1 Seamen's Bethel, 4 Presbyterian, one of which is New School, 2 Episcopal, 1 Friends, 1 Unitarian, 1 Universalist, an- other is in the course of erection ; 2 Roman Catholic, one of which is Dutch; 3 Churches for colored people, two Methodist and one Baptist; 1 Free Church, 1 Jewish Synagogue, 5 Banking Houses, 4 Market Houses, 1 City Work House, 1 Hospital, 2 Orphan Asylums, 1 Mag- dalen Asylum, under the care of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; 4 large City School houses, 18 primary schools, 6 of which are Gram- mar Schools, 3 for males and 3 for females, 1 College not connected with the General School System, in which boys may be fitted for any occu. pation or profession.
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There are several private schools of high standing, which will be noticed in the appropriate place.
Various plans have been suggested for better avoiding the Falls, by ascending and descending boats, It is already apparent that the present canal has been constructed on a scale far two limited for the great amount of business already transacted on these mighty waters. Many boats have already been constructed too large, every way, to be passed easily through it and the Locks. As the population and trade increase, as increase it inevitably must, throughout these vast and fertile regions; and the wants of the Western country, keeping pace with this increase in population, it is manifest that further improvements at the Falls will made,
CHAPTER IV.
It is not now an open question in regard to the policy or impolicy of making the navigation of the great Western rivers more safe, by the re- moval of accidental and natural obstructions at the expense of the Na- tional Government. The work has been commenced, and it must be continued, if there remains in the bosoms of her representatives, in the Congress of the United States, one spark of patriotism, or a proper devo- tion to the best interests of the entire population of the Great Valley of the Mississippi.
It is not involved in the question of Internal Improvement, any more than is the question, whether the General Government possesses the power to construct a light house at the Balize, or at Sandy Hook .- These western rivers are the great thoroughfares of an immense commer- cial capital ; our boats are floating palaces, fitted up and furnished at a cost, in numerous instances, greater than the best sea-going vessels of the Atlantic ports. Not only are they freighted with valuable cargoes of foreign and domestic merchandize, but carriers of passengers, to an amount that would surprise any one not accustomed to the spectacle, as those who are constant observers of the fact, and therefore cease to wonder.
Shall all this commerce and all these lives be subjected to imminent peril, for the the lack of the small annual appropriation necessary to avert the evil? The answer may be anticipated sooner than it can be written-No!
The people of the West, through their Representatives can and should obtain from the National Government, all needful aid. Their
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united voice is sufficiently potent now, to be heard and to be heeded.
Where then shall this improvement, on a right and suitable scale, be begun ? We answer, first of all, at the FALLS OF THE OHIO .- Why, it may be asked, do we select this point ? Let the querist turn to the 30th page of this book and examine well the article in figures on that page. It will there appear, that in the short space of thirteen years, the commerce on the Ohio has been subjected to the payment of the enormous tax of one million two hundred and seventeen thousand six hundred and twenty-five dollars.
It will be admitted by all, that the course which the trade is now be- ginning to assume, must eventually diminish the profits of the Canal Company:
Already, a vast number of boats, of the highest class, make it a sine qua non with shippers, that the freight shall be delivered at Port- land, and they, either will not, or cannot, from their size, pass through the locks. Few boats for the Mississippi trade are now constructed small enough to pass, and the tendency is to increase the length, as by this, in the cross-currents and eddies of the Mississippi, the long boats make the quickest trips. It is reasonable, therefore, to infer, that as this class of boats shall increase, fewer persons will ship their goods, and fewer persons will take passage on that class of boats which may be passed through the canal. Again : when regular lines of passenger and freight boats shall have been established, (and such a plan is in contemplation,) between Louisville, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, a vast amount of freight will be brought down, for transshipment, on large boats, below the Falls.
The projected Rail Road, for the construction of which a charter was renewed during the last session of Legislature, between this and Portland, having its Eastern terminus as far up as Sixth Street, will be competent to the transportation of all the freight intended for the South- ern and Western cities, to the boats at Shippingport and Portland, at a cost far below the expense of passing through the Canal.
It is then submitted, whether it would not be the wiser course for the Government of the United States, instead of holding out the idea that a new Canal on the Indiana shore shall be constructed, to give attention to removing obstructions from the channel of the river, rather than seek. ing to find one in that quarter. The estimates for enlarging the present Canal to a proper size, exceed those for a new cut through the banks on the opposite shore.
It would, undoubtedly, be of more advantage to the trade, and the towns immediately above and below the Falls, to let the canal remain as it is; and if the Government of the United States shall, in its wis- dom, deem it expedient to extend a helping hand to the enterprise of our own citizens, in constructing the projected railroad from this place to Portland, let it appropriate for this object, the interest accruing on its 2-5ths of the stock of the Canal Company ; and it will but make amends in a small degree, for the blow given to its prosperity by the establishment of the canal ; which, but for its aid, would, in all like- lihood, have never been constructed.
The Canal Company, it is understood, have proposed a surrender
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of the work to the Government, on certain conditions. The Govern- ment has not yet acted on the proposition, and, consequently, all specu- lation as to what it may or may not do, would be of no value .
Could the computation be made, it is not doubted that the actual loss to the citizens of Louisville, since the canal was completed and up to the present time, in the depreciation of property, the loss in com. missions, the throwing out of employ hundreds of drays, draymen and their teams, and a still greater number of hackney coaches, and their drivers and teams; besides great numbers of laboring men and their families-the city of Louisville would have been infinitely the gainer, had she mortgaged her whole taxable property for a sum sufficiently large to have purchased the parchment upon which the charter of this Company was enrolled, and sunk it five fathoms deep in the bed of her noble river.
The question naturally arises-who is benefitted by it ? It is most manifest that the people of Louisville are not. Are the proprietors of boats owned above the Falls benefitted ? Let those who have sunk fortunes in holding steamboat property for the last ten years, respond. They will tell you, that if their boats make five trips in a season, (down and up,) they have disbursed $2,000 for Canal tolls. The same argu- - ment will apply with equal truth and force, to boats owned below the Falls.
Now what was the state of the case before this great improvement was effected ? Boats of a moderate size, were the carriers from all ports above, down to the Falls. They made good freights, and their owners were satisfied with a reasonable compensation. Their cargoes were discharged at this port into lighters, and sent over the Falls to Shippingport; or hauled down by drays, and put on the larger class of boats that ascended the river to the foot of the Falls. These, again, made good freights, and their owners also received a just remuneration, The receiving and forwarding agents, at this port, charged the shipper and owner of these cargoes thus continually passing and re-passing, a moderate commission, which enabled them to pay the rent of their ware- houses, and thereby, two more classes, viz., the landlord and merchant, were satisfied. The other classes of citizens engaged in the trans-ship- ment of these cargoes, received " every man his penny ;" and all were thus amply compensated, and reasonably prosperous. The produce sent to the lower markets was certainly liable, and, doubtless, did pay heavier charges; this, however, was eventually paid by the consumer. So, also, were those descriptions of goods brought to this market from ports below, subjected to a fractional per centum in charges for trans- portation from Shippingport to Louisville. This, in like manner, being paid by the consumer, the profits of the merchant were consequently no less ; and the general business, not only of this city, but those other classes spoken of, likewise, benefitted under the former state of things.
We do not wish to be understood as being unfriendly to internal im- provements ; for friendship to them has been a cardinal point in our poli- tical creed, since the first beginning of that noble system which has given so many hundred miles of roads and canals to the country. The objection lies against that cupidity on the part of private capitalists,
who, seizing upon some great public thoroughfare, essay to improve it, at the sacrifice of private interests, and impose on the community a heavy tax, injurious to trade, and the successful prosecution of commer- cial pursuits. The Louisville and Portland Canal, as constructed and maintained, is precisely one of those improvements for private interest, at the expense of public good, which is obnoxious to the best interests of this whole community. The plan of damming the Ohio river at the Falls, could only find advocates, one would suppose, in the realms of Laputa, or the more recently discovered territory of Luna. Slack water navigation, it is argued, may thereby be had, as far up as the mouth of the Kentucky river. Indeed ! And suppose we were to raise the dam across the river at the Falls, a foot, or more, higher, why then, of course, we should have a slack water navigation a few miles above the mouth of the Kentucky river !
Again, it has been laboriously argued, (to judge from the vast array of figures set down,) that at some future day, (and long may it be future,) a dam and tunnel will be constructed across the Falls. For all such bold projectors, we earnestly pray that asylums may be assigned, before the small job of damming the Ohio at the Falls, is put up to the highest bidder.
CHAPTER V.
Aside from all projects of damming or tunnelling at the Falls, Lou- isville may become an extensive manufacturing town, from the fact that her water-power facilities are unequalled. Her servile domestic insti- tutions doubtless operate as a check on the rapid increase of manufac. turing establishments, requiring greater skill and dexterity in the man- agement of intricate and nicely constructed machinery, than can be expected from those whose condition in life is unchangeably fixed, and where few inducements are held up as the incentive to perseverance, and the acquisition of knowledge in the mechanic arts.
The natural advantages so apparent here, cannot long remain unim- proved. From the very nature of things, this vast motive power must be brought into use ; and it were no idle speculation to say, that the present generation will not have passed away, ere its full and great re- sources shall have been made subject to the general good, by putting in motion the machinery of a hundred workshops and manufacturing establishments. Already has an impetus been given to the business of manufacturing, and new branches are constantly starting up. Where
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motive power is needed, the consumption of fuel, and the wear and tear of machinery, will impel those who would pursue the business successfully, to seek a less expensive element than fire.
What is it that enables the New England manufacturers to compete successfully with those of any country, but her water power and economy.
Twenty-five years have only elapsed, since one of her enterprising sons sought out a spot where he might obtain water power. Within the depths of a forest, he met with the object of his search. That spot is the present site of the city of Lowell, where $15,000,000 are in. vested in manufacturing establishments-giving employment to 5000 operatives, and sustaining a population greater than the city of Louis- ville.
Here, on the route of this noble river, and within the sound of our ears, are the Falls of the Ohio, known and observed for half a century, and the click of the artisan's hammer has not yet echoed on their banks, or beneath the roof of the first manufactory running, by water power !
Abounding in all the necessaries of life-producing the raw mate. rial, with a demand of increasing and almost unlimited extent-facili- ties of transportation unsurpassed-it is matter of great wonder, that this point has been so long overlooked'.
Some of our large foundries and bagging factories, consume from 25, to 30,000 bushels of coal annually. Here, then, is one item of expense, of $2,000, that would not be incurred in the use of water power.
It is related of one of the most extensive cloth manufacturers in New England, that to the inquiry, "How do you succeed in the business ?" he thus replied-" My business for the five first years, was unproductive ; my expenses absorbed all my gains. We did not cur- tail our disbursements, but we wasted less of our raw material ; and we save of that which was regarded as of little or no value, sufficient to meet the ordinary expenses of our establishment."
Herein consists the true secret of all profit-giving establishments. The old and trite adage, " a penny saved, &c.," practised on to the letter; and when our extensive manufacturers of bagging and bale rope, and all who require motive power; shall have cut off the expense of steam power, amounting to $25,000 per annum, their labors will be more profitably rewarded, and the wealth and' prosperity of the city greatly enhanced-a smaller amount sent abroad for the purchase of coal, and a greater sum distributed amongst those employed.
Thousands of artisans from the old world, annually seek our shores for employment. Daily do we hear of new manufacturing establish- ments rising into existence, if not in our own city, in those near us- they are all readily filled with accomplished workmen. The vast im- portations into this great western market, of the domestics of the eastern workshops, would be greatly diminished, if employment were given to our own artisans. This cannot be done, until capitalists shall be found to erect the machinery necessary for their fabrication ; and no place offers greater facilities, or more consummate advantages, than the Falls of the Ohio.
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KENTUCKY INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND,
X On Broadway, between First and Second streets.
Board of Visiters :
William F. Bullock, William Richardson, Samuel Casseday, John I. Jacob, Theodore S. Bell, George W. Brush, and Charles J. Clarke.
Officers of the Institution :
Bryce M. Patten, Director, Mrs. S. P. Spooner, Matron.
Otis Patten, Teacher,
This Institution was established by the General Assembly of Ken- tucky, in the year 1542. A spacious and beautiful edifice for its ac- commodation, has recently been commenced, which, when completed, will offer to all the blind youth of Kentucky, a home, and the means of moral and intellectual improvement. The present number of pupils is twenty-nine males, and eleven females. The course of instruction embraces the elementary and higher English branches, ancient and modern languages, and vocal and instrumental music. The pupils are also instructed in various kinds of handicraft, by which they will all be able to gain an honorable support, after leaving the Institution. Mattrasses, cushions, and brushes, of their manufacture, are, at all times, for sale, at the store of the Institution. The price of board and tuition for paying pupils, is $100 per annum. The indigent children. of this State, are educated at the expense of the Institution. Applicants for admission, must be over six, and under twenty-three years of age. They are required to present certificates of incurable blindness, of free- dom from disease, and of unexceptionable moral character. The an- nual term of study commences on the first Monday in September, and closes about the middle of July.
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