USA > New York > Lewis County > A history of Lewis County, in the state of New York, from the beginning of its settlement to the present time > Part 30
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1 Other estimates placed this amount less. A special report by acting com- missioner Enos, dated Feb. 23, 1843 (Senate Doc., 49), estimated the cost of completion, with stone locks, at $639,000.01, and with composite locks, at $436,740.96.
2 The vote in Feb. 1854, on amending the state constitution in relation to the canals, was in this county, cast in favor of the change in every town ex- cept Montague, West Turin, Turin, Osceola, Lewis, Leyden, and Pinckney, amounting to 1572 for and 907 against the measure.
H*
266
Black River Canal.
came up May 10, 1850, and water was let in down to Port Leyden, Oct. 27, 1850, and it was brought into use in the spring of 1851.1 The part north of Port Leyden was put under contract in 1850, to be done July 1, 1854, and one mile brought into use in 1852. A dam four feet high was built in 1854 just above the High falls at a cost of $5,000, affording two and a half miles of navigation on Black and Moose rivers. The canal passes 45 chains in the river above this dam.
The canal was finally brought into the river Nov. 13, 1855, by the completion of 2.7 miles of canal comprising 13 locks north of Port Leyden. The canal is 35.62 miles in length. The feeder is 10.29 miles, and the slack water above the dam 2 miles further. A feeder at Delta 1.38 miles, and the river below the falls 42.5 miles making in all about 95 miles of navigation, including 5 miles on Beaver river which en- ters 10 miles above the falls and is navigable for boats of three feet draft. The canal rises 693 feet by 70 locks, from the Erie canal at Rome to the summit at Boonville. It de- scends northward, 387 feet, by 39 locks to the river below the High falls a distance of 10.3 miles.
The canal has 6 aqueducts, 12 waste-weirs, 18 culverts, 36 road bridges, 40 farm bridges, 3 tow bridges and 2 dams. Its net cost of construction and working, up to Sept. 30, 1857, was $4,050,406.70. It had not then paid its expenses for repairs in any one year.2
The experience of 1849 (a very dry season) demonstrated the necessity of reservoirs on the head waters of Black river to supply the Rome level on the Erie canal. Of these three, known as the Woodhull, North Branch and South Branch reservoirs, having together an area of 2,177 acres, and a capacity of 1,822,002,480 cubic feet have been built. The lakes on Moose river, appear capable of improvement as reservoirs, to an extent sufficient to meet all probable de- mands for river navigation or hydraulic power below.
The improvement of the river channel has been made a subject of vacillating project, and barren expenditure, which reflects little credit upon the state authorities charged with this duty, and although large sums have been applied to this object, we have comparatively little benefit to show beyond the dam at Carthage,3 three substantial bridges, and
1 The estimated cost of completion in 1851 was $397,761.96 including the river improvement. In 1853 the estimated cost of finishing was $155,400, or according to the plan of 1851 $248,784.
2 Senate Doc. 129, 1858. The deficiency alluded to, is not limited to this canal, and might be said with reference to others.
3 The dam at Carthage was built in 1854, at a cost of $7,500. One of the bridges above alluded to is at that village.
267
Black River Improvement.
a few landing places partly built at town or individual cost. In the summer of 1849 two boats were built for clearing the river, one at the Falls and the other at Illingworth's in New Bremen. In 1851 a plan was adopted for constructing jetty dams and piers, for confining the current and thus deepen- ing the channel. The estimated cost of this work, including the dam at Carthage, two bridges and the reservoirs was $153,200. On the 18th of October, 1853, after large expen- ditures, this plan was abandoned, and that of two dams with locks was substituted, under the advice of John C. Mather,
then canal commissioner.1 This scheme was superseded in 1854, by the canal commissioners, on the ground of fraudu- lent contracts,2 and that of 1851 readopted Dec. 19 of that year, at an estimated cost of $161,000 for completion. Other heavy expenditures were incurred, when on the 3d of Sept., 1857, this plan was again abandoned, and the engineer was directed to furnish plans for a dam and lock just above the mouth of Otter creek. There had then been spent on the piers, $88,320. The dam and lock are now under contract, and unless the plan be again changed, and the half finished work abandoned, they will perhaps be in use in one or two years. The estimated cost of the work at contract prices is $27,309.20, of which $10,840.10 were spent in 1859. The chamber of the lock is 160 by 34 feet, and the lift 4 feet.
It will be noticed that the idea of improvement of the river has been a subject of progressive growth. In 1828 Cruger estimated its cost at $4,168. In 1830 Hutchinson found it would be $12,000. In 1834 Jervis estimated it at $20,840. Its ultimate cost is to be revealed by time and our canal engineers.
The Black river was declared a public highway by act of March 16, 1821, from the High falls to Carthage, and on the 24th of June, 1853, from the falls up to the Moose river tract. The latter act applied $5000 to the improvement of the channel for floating logs, required booms and dams to be constructed with reference to passing timbers, and attached penalties for obstructing the channel. The commissioners for applying this sum were Alfred N. Hough, Gardner Hinkley, and Anson Blake, jr.
The steamer Cornelia3 was built in 1832 at Carthage, by Paul Boynton, now of Canton, for a company in which V.
1 A dam near Lowville was to cost $29,700, and one at Otter creek $35,000, two bridges $6,000, dredging $6,000, and reservoirs $39,600.
2 For details see Assem. Doc. No. 8, 1855.
3 Named from Madame Cornelia Juhel a relative of the Le Rays. Among other names proposed was Dido, by some one who is presumed to have read the Enead of Virgil.
268
Steamboats on Black River.
Le Ray was president and principal owner, at a cost of about $6,000. Its dimensions were, length of keel 90 feet, across the guards 22 feet, and when light it drew 22 inches of water. She measured 70 tons, and was furnished with two upright high pressure engines of ten horse power each, when first built, but before starting one of these was taken out, reduc- ing the draft to 17 inches. The machinery was built by N. Starbuck of Troy. Her cabin was aft, the floor a little be- low the deck, and the forward part was covered by an awning. Her first trip was made Sept. 22, 1832, having on board a large number of citizens, and everything went on pleasantly until opposite Lowville where she ran on a sand bar, and although the hands jumped into the water and tried to lift her off it was of no avail.
This was but a prelude to numerous like casualties which marked her short and unprofitable career, which ended with 1833. A thrilling incident attended her first visit to the High falls. The man at the tiller, wishing to show the party on board and the spectators on shore the qualities of the boat in rapid water, steered up so near the falls that as she turned the spray from the torrent covered the deck, and the boat itself came as near as possible being drawn under. Fortunately there was a heavy pressure of steam up, and the next moment the craft was out of harm's way, with only a thorough drenching.1 This boat was dismantled, and a few years after was privately cut loose from the dock at Carthage in a freshet, and went to pieces in the rapids. Her engine was put on a boat upon Black lake, and her boiler, many years after, was used in pumping water at one of the iron mines near Somerville, St. Lawrence co.
In the spring of 1853, G. H. Gould fitted up a scow with a small portable engine connected with a stern wheel by a band. This craft named the Enterprise made a few trips. The little steam tug William P. Lawrence, of Lansingburgh, was brought into the river in Sept. 1856, and on the 11th made the first steamboat visit to Beaver falls. She soon after burst her boiler near Independence creek and was com- pletely demolished. The captain was badly injured in the face, a boy was thrown through the window into the river, and the engineer into the hold. The fireman was thrown into the river somewhat scalded, and the boiler itself blown ashore, the steam chest going far beyond over the tops of the trees. The accident was attributed to fast- ening down of the safety valve.
1 Related by Mr. Boynton, builder and engineer at the time.
269
Rail Road Projects.
In Jan. 1848, notice of an application for the formation of a steamboat company with $50,000 was published but failed. The Black River steamboat company was formed at Lowville, April 24, 1856, and in the summer following, the the steamer L. R. Lyon was built at Lyons falls ; it was launched June 26, 1856,1 and got in operation that year, at a cost of $8000. When light this boat draws 15 inches of water ; she is built with a stern wheel, after the model of the Ohio river boats, with open sides and elevated cabin. She is chiefly employed in towing canal boats. The little steamer J. W. Norcross, built at Phoenix, Oswego county, came in from the canal in the spring of 1858, and was em- ployed one season as a packet, making a trip from Carthage to the falls and back daily. She has since run on the Erie canal:
RAIL ROAD PROJECT .- The Black River company, incorpo- rated in 1832, was empowered to construct a route by canal or rail road from the Erie canal at Rome or Herkimer to Og- densburgh, but accomplished nothing beyond a partial sur- vey.2 In December, 1852, the plan of a rail road through the Black River valley was discussed, and a call for a meeting signed by thirty-four citizens, and published in the North- ern Journal in January 1853, led to a favorable response, and the appointment of a committee consisting of five per- sons in each county interested, for collecting statistics. A meeting was appointed at Theresa on the 20th, and another at Boonville on the 26th of the same month. On the 27th articles of association were drawn up forming the Black River rail road company, with $1,200,000 capital, for building a rail road from Herkimer on Mohawk village, to Clayton on the St. Lawrence. Of the proposed directors Ela Merriam, Seth Miller, Moses M. Smith, Wm. L. Easton and John Bene- dict, resided in Lewis county.
This movement excited immediately an active rivalry be- tween Utica and Rome, and on the 29th of Jan. 1853, the Black River and Utica rail road company was formed, and the articles filed two days after in the secretary's office. The capital was $1,000,000 (increased one half Sept. 26, 1853), and the directors were T. S. Faxton, Spencer Kellogg, John Butterfield, Martin Hart, Alfred Churchill, Jas. V. P. Gardiner, Benj. F. Ray, James S. Lynch, Wm. H. Ferry, Hugh Crocker, Harvey Barnard, Jonathan R. Warner, and John D. Leland, all of Utica excepting Leland, who resided
1 By the fall of a platform on this occasion, about a hundred persons were precipitated several feet to the ground, and one, Mrs. Edwin Woolworth, died a few days after, from the nervous shock thus occasioned.
2 For details see Hist. of Jefferson Co., p. 338.
270
Rival Rail Road Projects.
1
in Deerfield. They proposed to build a road by way of Boonville and Carthage to Clayton. Daniel C. Jenne was at once employed to begin surveys in the midst of winter, and energetic efforts were made to secure subscriptions to the stock.
The citizens of Rome lost no time in raising means for a preliminary survey, under Octave Blanc, and on the 8th of March at a meeting held at Lowville, the claims of the three rival routes south of Boonville were presented and urged, and a committee of three to each town on the line from Boonville to the St. Lawrence, was appointed to examine the subject and to decide as to which of the three routes had the strongest claims to patronage. This committee was unable to agree and appointed a sub-committee of eight, to visit the several places proposed for junction with the N. Y. Central rail road, and report at an adjourned meeting at Carthage on the 22d inst. The Lowville meeting continued two days, and an intense activity was shown by the rival parties in securing a favorable decision. At the Carthage meeting a rule was adopted, that two-thirds majority should decide upon the southern terminus. After two days' discus- sion it was found impossible to obtain the requisite vote and the committee was discharged. The Ogdensburgh, Clay- ton and Rome rail road company was formed Feb. 19, 1853, with $2,000,000 capital. Its directors were Henry A. Fos- ter, John Stryker, Edward Huntington and Alex. Mudge of Rome, Elijah B. Allen and Henry Van Rennselaer of Og- densburgh, Augustus Chapman of Morristown, Wm. L. Easton of Lowville, Seth Miller of West Turin, A. H. Barnes of Martinsburgh, Sidney Sylvester of Denmark, Samuel J. Davis of Wilma, and Jason Clark of Plessis.1 The Herki- mer location having been abandoned, the Utica and Rome rail road projects were pressed with enthusiasm by their re- spective friends. Acts were procured allowing the corpo- rations of Utica, Rome and Ogdensburgh to subscribe to the stock. Subscriptions were urged, surveys completed, and right of way purchased or solicited as a donation.
Work was begun on the B. R. and U. rail road at Utica, with commemorative ceremonies, August 27, and at Low- ville, Oct. 27, 1853. Speeches were made, in which many pleasant things were said of Lewis county, and cheerful hopes expressed that the road thus begun would before many months be finished. The road was put under con- tract Aug. 10, with Farewell Case, Lund and Co., who in
1 Extended details of the origin of these companies will be found in the History of Jefferson Co., p. 339
271
Rail Roads. The Necessity of One.
Oct. 1853, sub-let a part extending from the north end of Lowville village to south of Martin's creek in Martinsburgh, to Solomon Phelps, Chester Ray and Albert Buel.
Large quantities of ties were got out, the masonry of bridges was built in a substantial manner, the road was extensively graded, and costly excavations in rock and earth were begun, and in some places completed. The road was opened to Boonville, Dec. 15, 1855, and has since been in regular operation to that place, changing entirely the busi- ness connection between Lewis county and Rome, and divert- ing nearly all the travel and business of the Black River valley from Denmark southward to Utica. A large amount of work has been done on this route north of Boonville, chiefly in grading and the masonry of bridges.
Work was begun on the O., C. & R. R. R. at Rome, Nov. 10, and at Carthage, Nov. 23, 1853. Sections 6, 7 and 9 were awarded Nov. 7, 1853, to Clapp and Allen of Lewis co., and Archibald McVickar & Co. of N. J. Sections 10, 11, and 12 in Lewis, to Bebee Williams & Co. of Onondaga. Much of the right of way was secured and fenced, a large amount of grading was done, but no part of the road was ever completed, and five years after the date of organiza- tion the project was hopelessly and completely abandoned. A considerable amount of the land granted for the use of the road has been reconveyed, and the shareholders, exas- perated by repeated calls for installments to pay large sala- ries of officers and unavailing expenses, are it is believed mostly free from this reckless adventure. The proposition for two rail roads, side by side, and seldom a mile apart, running through the whole length of the county, both lead- ing to the same markets and supplying the same wants, was sufficiently absurd. There can not be room for the slightest doubt, but that the present business of the county would render the construction of one rail road through it a safe and prudent investment, while the now dormant resources which it must awaken, would ensure it permanent and re- munerative support. The wealth of its forests, the extent of its water power, and the still half developed capacity of its soil, are subjects of too much importance to lie long neglected. It is understood that the Black River and Utica R. R. will change owners during the present year, and that it will pass into the hands of the bond holders. If the citi- zens of Lewis co. prove true to their own interests, they will unite in a strong effort to extend this road through at least to Lowville, and there can be little doubt, but that
272
S. H. & Sar. R. R. Agriculture.
this would at least double the present business upon the por- tion already constructed.
The Sackcets Harbor and Saratoga rail road co. was incor- porated by an act of April 10, 1848, which granted 250,000 acres of the state lands, upon conditions which have since been so far complied with that the lands have been con- veyed to the company. The preliminary arrangements were completed and the company duly organized Jan. 10, 1852. On the 8th of April 1852, the ceremony of breaking ground near Dayanville was performed with parade of martial mu- sic and oratorical display, but work was not actively com- menced until 1854. During the summer of that year, a large amount of grading was done on the southern portion, and in places in this county, but in the fall of 1854, work was suspended and has not been resumed. The intention of the company was to first construct a plank road, to facilitate the travel which the rail road would require until opened, and large quantities of road plank were sold for less than their worth in standing timber upon the suspension of work. The report at the close of 1858, states that the capital stock is $6,000,000 ; amount subscribed $5,461,100 ; paid in $2,- 714,150 ; expenditures $3,675,858.67; length 182 miles. The legislature by act of April 6, 1857, changed the name of the company to the Lake Ontario and Hudson River rail road company.
CHAPTER VII.
NOTICES OF SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.
AGRICULTURE, &c .- From 1808 to 1814, premiums for do- mestic cloths were awarded by the state, to the extent of $15,210, mostly by the judges of the county courts, and specimens of each are still preserved in the Albany Institute. The following awards were made to citizens of Lewis county :
1809, Lewis Graves, $80.
1810, Peleg Card, $80.
1811, Peleg Card, $40; Chester Wood, $35; Nathan Munger, $30.
1814, Moses Waters, $40 ; Ethan Card, $35; Lewis Card, $30.
Under an act of 1819, creating a board of agriculture,
273
Lewis County Agricultural Society.
Lewis county was entitled to $100 annually for two years, if a like amount should be raised by subscription. A socie- ty was formed under this act in 1820, held four annual fairs, and distributed premiums in money and plate upon farms, tillage, animals and domestic manufactures. The secretary was Charles Dayan, and the president for one year at least, was the Rev. Isaac Clinton. The first fair was held Oct. 23, 1821, at which the address was delivered by Judge Stow, and premiums to the amount of over $300 were awarded. Members were furnished with a badge formed of ears of wheat, worn like a cockade upon the hat. The festival ended with a ball at Welle's tavern, where nearly a hundred couple attended. The last fair was held in 1824.
The Lewis county association for improving the breed of horses, was formed in 1831, and held one or two annual fairs. It may be here noticed, that this county early ac- quired distinction for its superior breed of horses.
On the 5th of May, 1841, a law gave $53 annually to Lewis co., in aid of a county agricultural society, which has since been continued annually. A meeting called by. the county clerk, June 21, 1841, was addressed by Charles E. Clarke, and a constitution adopted, which remained un- changed until Dec. 27, 1859, when the present constitution was adopted, under the law of 1855. Under the former, a president, six vice-presidents, an executive committee of five, a corresponding and recording secretary, and a trea- surer were elected every year. Members paid $1 annually, and none other could receive premiums.
The first officers elected were, Clement Whitaker, pre- sident ; Johnson Talcott, Carlos Hart, Charles D. Morse, Harrison Blodget, Elias Gallup, Alburn Foster, vice-presidents; Jared Stiles, Enoch Thompson, Timothy Mills, Levi Hart, Oliver Bush, executive committee ; Stephen Leonard, correspond- ing secretary ; Charles Dayan, recording secretary ; and Harvey Stephens, treasurer. The officers of the society have been as follows :
Presidents .- 1841-2, Clement Whitaker ; 1843-4, Ela Mer- riam ; 1845, Lyman R. Lyon; 1846-8, Norman Gowdy ; 1849-50, Hiram Mills ; 1851, S. D. Mason ; 1852, Ashley Davenport ; 1853, Seth Miller ; 1855, Sanford Coe; 1856, Lewis Stephens ; 1857-8, Edmund Baldwin ; 1859, Moses M. Smith.
Corresponding Secretaries .- 1841-2, Stephen Leonard ; 1844, Charles L. Martin ; 1845, Francis Seger ; 1846, V. R. Martin ; 1847, Wm. King ; 1848-9, Cornelius H. Wood ; 1850-4, Har-
I*
274
Lewis County Agricultural Society.
rison Barnes ; 1855, Chas. D. Adams; 1856, Leonard C. Davenport ; 1857, Cornelius E. Stephens ; 1858, H. D. Nolton; 1859, Jehiel R. Wetmore.
Recording Secretaries .-- 1841, Charles Dayan ; 1843, Charles L. Martin ; 1844, C. Dayan ; 1845, S. D. Hungerford ; 1846- 8, John Benedict ; 1849, F. W. Northrup ; 1850-1, S. P. Mills ; 1852-3, N. Duane Baker ; 1855-6, Charles G. Riggs ; 1857-8, Mortimer Smith ; 1859, Charles M. Goff.
Treasurers .- 1841, Harvey Stephens ; 1848-9, Ela N. Mer- riam, 1850-8, Moses M. Smith ; 1859, Alfred H. Lee.
Fairs, have been held at Denmark in 1852; Lowville in 1843, 6, 8, 1856, 9, at West Martinsburgh in 1844; at Martinsburgh in 1842, 5, 1850, 4 ; at Turin in 1847, 9, 1851, 5, 7, 8 ; and at Constableville in 1853. From 1852 to 1859, inclusive, $1,640 and 270 volumes of books were given as premiums. With two exceptions the receipts have steadily increased, and in 1859, were much greater than ever before. In 1856, the fairs were located alternately at Turin and Lowville for six years ; and in 1857, an association at the former place purchased about eleven acres of ground, a little west of the village, the most of which has been en- closed and fitted up for fairs.1 In 1859, a lot was purchased in Lowville by Norman Gowdy and enclosed at the expense of the society for a like use. The latter has a course about half a mile in length. The society was reorganized Dec. 27, 1859, under chapter 425 of the laws of 1855, and its officers now consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and six directors. The officers are, James S. Jackson, president; Wm. W. Smith, vice-president; F. B. Morse, secretary; and Alfred H. Lee, treasurer ; Norman Gowdy, Charles H. Curtis, Azro H. Buck, Ela Merriam, Sanford Coe and C. G. Riggs are directors.
In this connection we may notice the total results of agriculture in Lewis county, as reported by the state and national census for the year preceding the dates of these official inquiries. They may vary from the truth, but are the nearest and most reliable data existing with regard to our productive resources.
1 The owners of the Turin fair ground, are Albert Foster, Jefferson M. Wilcox, Edwin Woolworth, Charles G. Riggs, Alfred H. Lee, and Edmund Baldwin.
275
Agricultural Statistics.
Agricultural Statistics.
1840.
1845.
1850.
1855.
Barley, bushels,
20,271
23,119
23,813
37,513
Beans, bushels, ..
678
1,030
Buckwheat, bushels,
8,498
25,803
10,117
10,443
Corn, bushels,
48,984
53,180
83,027
92,398
Flax, pounds,
45,281
31,905
65,782
Hay, tons,
43,284
67,280
51,802
Hops, pounds,
5,460
11,322
8,870
Oats, bushels, .
144,880
202,515
295,445
Peas, bushels, .
21,925
12,978
Potatoes, bushels,
634,316
498,849
287,715
243,841
Rye, bushels,
2,473
9,278
11,383
Sugar, pounds,
257,476
236,918
Turnips, bushels,
22,340
5,830
Wax and Honey, pounds, .
148
17,968
12,743
Wheat, bushels, .
85,191
87,406
73,584
63,785
Wool, pounds,.
68,173
89,229
44,137
27,047
1821.
1825.
1835.
1840.
1845.
1850.
1855.
Cattle,
10,417
13,780
25,063
31,130
32,790
32,308
29,748
Horses,
1,887
3,066
4,684
3,931
4,570
4,309
5,106
Sheep,
18,267
34,467
40,234
36,665
40,657
15,368
10,086
Swine,.
...
11,739
16,197
18,076
15,813
9,091
8,353
Value of dairy products, 1840, .
$137,177
In 1855, there were reported 2,423 working oxen and 19,151 cows. The amount of butter produced, was 1,575,- 515 pounds, and of cheese, 1,896,741 pounds. The amount of cloths of domestic manufacture formerly large had de- creased to 15,802 yards.
Of the grains now cultivated, the surplus from the county is now small, and much less wheat is raised than consumed. In most sections, the production of butter and cheese has been found the most profitable and certain, and the true in- terest of the farmer will generally be found to cultivate grains only so far as by the proper rotation of crops to keep his land in the best condition possible for the growth of grass. Of the less common products of agriculture, seve- ral require historical notice.
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