USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > Haldeman's picture of Louisville, directory and business advertiser, for 1844-1845 > Part 9
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Shepherd's establishment is on Main.
Hall's
do.
Third.
Robinson's do.
is on the corner of 3rd and Jefferson.
GLUE FACTORY, On Main, between 13th and 14th streets.
Elias Hilpp carries on the manufacture of glue, at this place, to a considerable extent. Having been but a short time in business, an av- erage yearly amount was not furnished.
GLUE FACTORY.
Jacob Conrad's establishment, on Beargrass, above Watson's Tan- nery, is the most extensive, and the article produced, meets with ready sale.
MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND.
Mattresses, Cushions, Brushes, and a variety of fancy articles, manu- factured by the pupils, and for sale at the store of the Institution, on Fourth street, between Green and Walnut.
N. B. Pianos tuned by the pupils at low rates,
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THE OAKLAND RACE COURSE.
This beautiful and popular Course is reached, by going out Sixth or Seventh street. It is but little over a mile from the southern boundary of the city, and forms a pleasant drive to those who desire to breathe the pure atmosphere of the country during the sultry months of summer. This enclosure embraces 573 acres.
It is pronounced equal to any track on the continent, and since it has been in charge of the present proprietor, Col. Joseph Metcalfe, has re- vived a taste for the sports of the turf.
The area of the Course, is finely shaded by native oaks, so trimmed as not to obstruct the view. The Pavilion is very spacious, and is fitted up in good style. The Oakland House, kept by Col. Metcalfe, is a large and well arranged establishment, for the accommodation of visi- ters ; and, especially, has attention been paid to having erected suitable buildings for the many stables of horses and their grooms, periodically brought on to contend for the liberal purses which the proprietor takes a pleasure in bestowing upon those who may win them. His stables will accommodate 120 horses.
Officers of the Louisville Jockey Club :
Robert J. Ward, President ; F. A. Kaye, Col. Ormsby, Capt. Preston, Capt. Churchill, Judge Joyes, and W. H. Walker, Vice Presidents ; W. N. Haldeman, Secretary ; Jos. Metcalfe, Proprietor,
CORN ISLAND.
This small island, at the Falls, is rendered interesting only from the fact of its having served as a dernier resort for the early settlers, when too hotly pursued by the Indians.
At the present day, it is the general resort of old and young, who are fond of angling. The first rudiments of the very intricate science of worming a hook, or pulling up at a nibble, are here learned.
The Island is covered with trees, and surrounded by quarries of lime- stone, which are not now used.
The city became the purchaser of far more convenient and abundant quarries on the Cave Hill Farm. These quarries lie on the border of Beargrass Creek, from two to three miles above its mouth ; and, should the plan of raising this Creek, by a lock, be adopted, building, flagging, curbing and paving stone, might be brought to the city, at very little expense.
The Cave Hill Farm House is at present used as a small pox hos- pital. It is in contemplation, to erect suitable buildings on this farm, for a City Asylum for the Indigent, who require support at the public expense ; and, also, a City Workhouse. An active and intelligent member of the present City Council, has brought the subject before that body; and, probably, before this book is in the hands of the pub- lic, an ordinance for that object will have been enacted.
K 1
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PRINTING OFFICES AND THE PRESS.
There are ten printing Offices in the city, some of which are very extensively employed.
The public, or newspaper press of Louisville, is generally very ably conducted.
There is probably no more sure indication, or better evidence of a well-ordered, enlightened and intelligent community, than is to be found in the measure of support it gives to a judicious, fearless and spirited public press.
The over-zealous partisan warfare, which sometimes agitates a com- munity, where opposing presses, high in the confidence of their respec- tive parties, lead and mislead, ad libitum, the public mind, are excep- tions to the general rule, and may be compared to floating-lights, which are more or less affected by the ebb and flow of the tide, and which must be sailed around with some grains of allowance. The other class, and by far the most numerous, may not inaptly, be compared to the high towering beacon which gives out no uncertain light, and around which the surge and the storm and udes may lash and rage, and indulge their fury in vain-still it stands to warn and guide all who put their trust in it.
PRENTICE & WEISSINGER, North-West corner of Main and 5th, are the proprietors and publishers of the Louisville Daily, Semi-Week- ly and Weekly Journal, Dollar Farmer, and Western Journal of Med- icine and Surgery.
MORTON & GRISWOLD, South side Main, between 4th and 5th, Book Publishers, Job Printers, Book-Binders, Book Sellers and Station- ers. This is an extensive establishment, and gives employment to a large number of hands,
Rev. W. C. Buck, Wall street, publisher of the Baptist Banner. Mr. B, has, connected with his establishment, a power press, propelled by steam. There is also, connected with this establishment, a Book- Bindery, under the direction of A. W. Elder.
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W. N. HALDEMAN, West side of 4th, between Main and Market ; proprietor of the Literary Depot, an establishment at which may be found all the choice literature of the day. Mr. H. is also proprietor and publisher of the Louisville Daily and Weekly Courier, and Halde- man's Picture of Louisville, Directory and Business Advertiser.
The Job Printing Office of Mr. Haldeman, is well furnished with splendid fonts of showy type for Steam Boat and other bills, in plain and fancy letters and colors, not equalled by any other house in the City
B. J. WEBB, Third, between Main and Market ; Job Printer and Publisher of the Catholic Advocate.
P. M. KENT, North side Main, between 5th and 6th, publisher of the Louisville Democrat.
HULL & BROTHER, 3rd, between Market and Jefferson ; printers of the True Catholic, and the Free Mason.
N. WHITE, Market, between 3d and 4th ; Book and Job Office. -
BOOK-SELLERS AND STATIONERS.
J. Maxwell, Jr., North side Main, between 3rd and 4th, has an ex- tensive and varied stock of Books and Stationary.
Morton & Griswold, South side Main, between 4th and 5th ; pub- lishers, Book-Sellers, Book-Binders and Stationers.
F. W. Prescott & Co., South side Main, between 4th and 5th, Book-Sellers, Stationers and Book-Binders.
B. J. Webb & Brother, Catholic Book-Store, East side of Pearl, between Main and Market. They also keep an assortment of School and Miscellaneous Books, paper, &c.
W. N. Haldeman, Literary Depot, 4th street, between Main and Market, Book-Seller, Stationer, and Agent for the sale of the Maga- zines, Newspapers, Periodicals and New Publications of the day.
LITHOGRAPHIC PRESS.
W. C. Peters, East side 3rd, between Main and Market, proprietor of the Apollo Rooms, Music publisher and Musical Instrument dealer. This establishment is abundantly supplied with the most superior mu- sical instruments of all kinds. The Lithographic Press is conducted by experienced and accomplished artists.
112
THE SADDLERY BUSINESS.
There are seventeen houses engaged in this business ; several of them, very extensively. They manufacture saddles for ladies and gentlemen, bridles, coach and gig harness, wagon and cart geer, of all kinds, for home sales, and in sufficient amount to supply the heavy orders of the merchants of the interior, and of the adjoining Southern and Western States.
These seventeen houses employ, on an average, 10 hands each ; and have invested in capital, stock and manufactured goods, not less than $200,000.
As an evidence of the ability of our Western Manufacturers to com. pete with those of other places, we will state a fact. It is this : that the manufacturers in this branch of business, have supplied large orders for some articles which have been shipped to New York and Philadelphia, have obtained their prices, and that it is within their own knowledge, that these very self-same goods, unchanged in any respect, have been sold to Western merchants and others, as goods manufactured in those Eastern cities, and brought directly back to the point where they were manufactured !
No better compliment could be paid, both as to the skill and taste of our manufacturers.
WHOLESALE GROCERY BUSINESS.
It would be difficult without taking an actual census, and at the same time, possessing the power to compel men " true answers to make,", to the interrogatories put to them, to ascertain with any degree of preci- sion, the amount of groceries annually sold in this market. There is given in another part of this work, an estimate of the amount of some of the leading articles sold in the year 1843. For example : " 15,000 hhds. of sugar, and 40,000 bags of coffee, with other groceries in pro- proportion ; " and that the importation of foreign and domestic goods, amounted to $10,000,000.
If the estimate of the amount of sugar and coffee, be a fair one, and we suppose these articles to have cost $1,300,000, (allowing the coffee to have cost $10 per sack, and the sugar $60 per hhd.,) the fair pro- portion of groceries in the aggregate of $10,000,000, as the amount of the entire importation, would be not less than $3,300,000, or 33 per cent, of the whole importation.
There are 41 wholesale grocery and commission houses.
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WHISKEY.
There are no Distilleries in Louisville. That which is consumed, or rectified for other markets, is brought from distilleries located on the river above-and portions of it from Indiana and Ohio.
It is estimated that not more than 15,000 barrels are sold, at an aver- age of 20 cents per gallon.
RECTIFYING ESTABLISHMENTS.
There are several of these, connected with, principally, or belong- ing to groceries. We have not been able to ascertain the amount rec- tified. It may reach to very near one half the amount sold. If we take into consideration the fact, that a large amount of rectified whiskey enters into the manufacture of brandy and gin, this assumption will not be deemed extravagant.
For a given period of time, at the Custom House in Philadelphia, in 1843, the importation of brandy had decreased in the ratio of 98 to 11; for an equal period of the preceding year, the consumption being about the same at the different periods.
STONE CUTTING.
Edgar Needham, corner of 10th and Main, carries on this business very extensively. He furnishes all kinds of stone work for building, and likewise makes all kinds of grave stones and monuments.
John Salve, Jefferson street, between 3rd and 4th, executes in stone and marble, all descriptions of stone and marble masonry. Monu- ments, grave stones, cills for doors and windows, mantles, &c.
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CITY MARKETS AND MARKET HOUSES.
There are four well constructed and convenient Market Houses, all located on what is called Market Street. The first is between Floyd and Preston; the second is between Third and Fourth ; the third is be- tween Fifth and Sixth ; the Fourth is between Tenth and Eleventh streets.
These Market Houses are attended in the following order : the east- ern and western markets, on Tuesdays and Fridays; the two centre markets are attended on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Satur. days.
The supplies are as abundant and various as in any other city in the Union, with equal population, and generally 50 per cent. cheaper than the markets of the Eastern cities.
The beeves slaughtered for the markets, average 500 lbs. nett. per head. The beef is fine flavored, tender and juicy, and well lined with suet and fat.
The lamb and mutton are remarkably delicate and well flavored, and superior to that of almost any other section of the Union.
Veal is not so good. Whether it arises from inattention on the part of those having charge of the calves whilst with the cow, by depriving them of a proper quantity of milk, without feeding with corn meal, du- ring the time they are allowed to run with the cow, is not known. Certain it is, that the veal generally sold in our market, is tough, thin, not fat, and artificially puffed up. The small pork exposed in the mar- ket is very fine.
Estimated quantity of meat slaughtered for the market :
Of beeves, for daily consumption, 40 head.
Calves, Swine,
60 to 65
20 to 25 $1 50 to $2 50.
Turkies command from 50 to 87 cents, weighing from 10 to 15 lbs.
Geese, 66 75 to $1 50 per doz.
Ducks, 50 to 68 cents each.
Eggs, 66 4 to 5 cents per doz.
Butter, prime table, 10 to 12} cents per lb.
Beef, choice pieces, 6} cents per lb.
surloin, 5
rump, 3
Pork, 5
66
Veal, hind quarter, 50 to 75 cents.
" fore 37 to 50. «
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The vegetable and fruit market is served in the greatest profusion, and of the best quality.
Asparagus, celery, salsafie, pie-plant, (rhubarb,) lettuce, cucumber, radish, melon, peach, apple, and, indeed, every thing answering to the name of vegetable, (for culinary use,) is here found, at very reasonable prices. The watermelon patches are extensive, and yield abundant crops. Cantelopes are not as fine as those raised in Jersey and Dela- ware.
Peaches are raised in great perfection.
The common and sweet potatoes are of a very good quality, and abundant. They sell, for the common, 25 to 40 cents per bushel. The sweet, from 62 to 75 cents.
DRUGS AND MEDICINES.
In this line, a very heavy business is transacted. As in the hard- ware business, so also in the Drug business, the most extensive houses do not confine themselves strictly to a wholesale business-except, only, that several of the number put down as wholesale and retail, do not put up physicians' prescriptions.
The amount of sales in the aggregate, we have not been able to ascertain. The capital employed in the business has been variously estimated at from $500,000 to $600,000. This estimate is made to embrace both grades, or, wholesale and retail.
BAGGING AND BALE ROPE, CORDAGE AND TWINE.
This large branch of the business of Louisville is noticed fully at page 84. The sales of Bagging and Rope are estimated at 250,000 pieces and coils, besides a great quantity of cordage, sash cord, twine, tarred hemp rope, Manilla cordage and rope.
Chickens, 66
Sheep and lambs, 70 to 75 head, daily, average 75 cents to $1 50.
$3 00
31 to 50 cents per pair.
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THE DRY GOODS BUSINESS.
The transactions in the various articles embraced under the general head of Dry Goods, are very large.
There are three houses in the dry goods, auction and commission business, whose aggregate sales amount to $900,000 per annum. These sales are made mostly for cash ; and during the spring and fall seasons. bring hither a large number of country merchants, from the south, south. west and western States, and the Territory of Iowa and the upper Mis- souri, and interior towns of this State, who, from experience, have found this market better and cheaper than any other point on this side of the mountains.
Independent of these extensive auction houses, there are 19 wholesale dealers in dry goods, whose average sales are estimated to exceed $125,. 000, each, annually. There are over 100 houses engaged in the whole. sale and retail dry goods business ; several of which, sell more than houses exclusively in the wholesale business. With this statement, verified by the judgment of those who have opportunities for forming a correct decision, it must be apparent, that the Louisville market holds out superior inducements to distant merchants, to lay in their supplies here.
THE HARDWARE BUSINESS.
The nature of this business is such, as to make it almost indispensable, that those engaged in it, should retail as well as wholesale their goods; and this is almost the universal practice in the East, as well as in the West.
In this city, there are 21 houses in the hardware business. It is diffi- cult to form an accurate estimate of the gross amount of sales in this line.
BOOT, SHOE AND HAT BUSINESS.
In the sale of boots and shoes, by wholesale, several houses are ex- tensively engaged. Amount of sales not estimated. The Hat Busi- ness is more extensively carried on here, than in any city west of the Alleghenies. It is estimated, that from 250 to 300,000 dollars worth of this article, is annually sold; a very considerable portion of which, is of Western manufacture.
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READY MADE CLOTHING.
A large capital is employed in this branch of business. Some estab-
lishments employing from 50 to 60 hands constantly. Others import from the Eastern cities, large stocks of goods of this description.
METCALFE'S BREWERY,
On the south side of Market, between Sixth and Seventh.
The front, composing the coolers, mash-room and tun-room, is 77 feet front, by 30 feet deep. The story above this, is occupied as a mill- room ; the next story, as the hop-room. The malt house, running back, is 140 feet long, 32 feet wide, and 3 stories high. The kiln is made of pierced sheet iron, 40 feet long, and 20 feet wide. A steam engine, of 6 horse power, is used for pumping water and grinding. From 14 to 18 hands are employed 9 months in the year, and the Brewery is capa- ble of making from 35 to 40 bbls. of beer, or ale, daily-if the con- sumption would justify. 10 to 12 thousand bushels of barley, and 5 to 6 thousand lbs. of hops, are annually consumed by this establishment.
GENERAL EXPORTS OF LOUISVILLE.
The export trade of this town, has been estimated, in the absence of data wherewith to form a more accurate conclusion, at $30,000,000, and consists of tobacco, from 7,000,to 8,000 hhds .; from two to three hundred thousand pieces and coils of bagging and bale rope, hemp, pork, bacon, flour, whiskey, flaxseed, feathers, beeswax, ginseng, tallow, hides, lard, lard oil, twine, spun yarn, horses, cattle, and various agri- cultural products for the Southern market. Also, hollow ware, stoves, grates, Hats, saw mills, cotton gins, plough irons, carriages, wagons, carts, ploughs, saddles, harness, &c., in endless variety and large quantities.
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HOTELS AND BOARDING HOUSES.
+ All who have visited the principal Hotels of the City, or who have enjoyed the more quiet entertainment to be found in our many excellent Boarding Houses, will bear willing testimony to their excellence in all those appliances which are so desirable to the traveller and sojourner.
The GALT HOUSE and the LOUISVILLE HOTEL, are probably without rivals, in the gentlemanly spirit of accommodation of their respective managers.
THE GALT HOUSE,
In exterior appearance, presents no great claim to elegance. It is built of brick without the least pretension to architectural distinction. Its interior arrangements are good, and no house in the Union is con- ducted better, or gives to a numerous custom more entire satisfaction.
It is situated on the corner of 2nd and Main, and is kept by Mr. Isaac Everett.
THE LOUISVILLE HOTEL,
On Main, between 6th and 7th, has just passed into the hands of Mr. Bishop, long and favorably known at the South, as an accom- plished host. This hotel is a very handsome structure, and its front, on Main street, is adorned with a balcony, which is entered from the parlors and reading-room. The whole interior economy of this noble hotel is good ; and it may not be overstepping the bounds of truth, 'to say that the Louisville Hotel ranks with the first class, as a house, and that its present proprietor, knows precisely how to hold his rank with a numerous circle of friends and patrons.
There are several other very commodious and well kept Hotels and Taverns.
The WESTERN HOTEL, on Main, between 7th and 8th, enjoys a good share of transient custom, and accommodates many private board- ers.
The EAGLE HOTEL, (Walker's) on 4th, between Main and Market, is very celebrated for its table d'hote. The host of the Eagle, enjoys an extensive popularity.
The PEARL SRRET HOUSE, (Redding's) on Pearl, or 3rd street, be- tween Main and Market, is an excellent house of entertainment, and has many private boarders.
WASHINGTON HALL, (J. A. Rogers) on 5th street, between Main and Market, over which is a spacious Hall, for dancing assemblies, ex- hibitions, &c., but is not in the sense of the term, as here used, a hotel.
There are many other very good and respectable houses of entertain- ment, which it is not practicable to enumerate in this work, separate and apart from the alphabetical order in which they will all appear.
THE PRIVATE BOARDING HOUSES,
Are numerous, and several of them possess room for the accommo- dation of many families and single persons, as regular boarders and lodgers-and whose tables will accommodate from 75 to 150 persons at a sitting. Amongst these may be mentioned-
The Exchange Hotel, (Bibb's,) at the South-East corner of 6th and Main.
The Franklin House, (Price's,) at the South-West corner of 6th and Main.
Noble's House, on South side of Main, between 4th and 5th.
Ormsby House, (Parker's) South side of Main, between 4th and 5th. Taylor House, (Taylor's) North side of Main, between 2nd and 3rd. Bowles House, (Thompson's) South side of Market, between 2nd and 3rd.
Henry House, (Mrs. Henry's) South-East corner of 4th and Jeffer- son
Croghan House, (Mrs. Stith's) Jefferson street, opposite the Court House and City Hall.
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CUSTOM HOUSE.
-
It was a primary object with the compiler to ascertain, from official sources, the amount of exports and imports, and in furtherance of these views, he sought for information at the Custom House.
Without intending to cast the slightest censure on the head of the Custom House, for any omission of duty, it must be stated that not the first entry of import, (except of foreign goods, paying duties) or of ex- ports, were found in this office. The Surveyor does not interpret his duties to extend to the keeping a record of these small matters, and therefore all our estimates are based upon general opinion.
The head of the Treasury department, a few years since, called on the proper officers of the Customs for returns of exports. This Custom House, as a port of entry, established by law, was without data from which to make a report, in compliance with the requisition of the De- partment at Washington. To comply in some sort, however, the Sur- veyor of the Port set about collecting his facts from the merchants, and in this manner, made up his returns.
The Revenue Laws are not at hand, to enable us to ascertain the ex- tent of the duties of the head of a Custom House, at a port of entry on these Western waters. It is presumable that they do not make it ob- ligatory for keeping a register of imports and exports at these points. Yet, the information would be valuable, if kept, and it is most desirable that in future such should be the case.
It were no great increase of the duty of the clerk of every steam boat, landing or receiving goods at this port, to hand over to the Custom House officer, a manifest of such articles, if it were exacted of him- and few would evade a compliance with so reasonable and proper a request.
It is to be hoped that this duty will be considered as belonging prop- erly to the office of Surveyor, and if the emoluments of the office are insufficent to ensure the services of a competent person to discharge them, that they will be made so by law.
There are, doubtless, fifty ports of entry on the atlantic coast, and the numerous estuaries of that coast, through which not a tithe of for- eign or domestic merchandise passes, whose officers are far more liberal- ly compensated,' with less of duty to perform, than is bestowed upon these important posts in the West.
This ought not so to be ; and it should be a part of the duty of the Western Representative, in the Congress of the United States, to correct the evil.
MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.
TOBACCO MANUFACTORIES.
Until within three years, a large amount of tobacco was manufac- tured in this city, for home consumption and export. The planters, and store keepers in the country who were in the practice of trading with the planters, for loose lots of the article, undertook the manufacture of it. This country manufactured tobacco was brought into market, and being inferior to the city article, and cheaper, induced the manu- facturers here to make an article so as to be afforded at a less price than the country manufacture.
Taking this hint, the country manufacturer reduced the quality, and again was enabled to undersell the city manufacturer. One more at- tempt was made to drive the country article from the market, and this effectually blocked the game-the article was so inferior that nobody would buy it; and, consequently, nearly all who had been engaged in the business abandoned it, or nearly so. Those houses which had made from 800 to 1200 boxes a year, fell off to 50 or 100 boxes at most.
There is, at present, an evident disposition, with some of the old hou- ses, to resume the manufacturing business. The article is not now, however, extensively manufactured; few houses put up more than 100 boxes each.
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