A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants, Part 28

Author: Eastman, Francis Smith, 1803-1846 or 7
Publication date: 1832
Publisher: New York, A. K. White
Number of Pages: 930


USA > New York > A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants > Part 28


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35



355


CITIES AND VILLAGES.


amounted to 1458, and has since that period been greatly augmented. Its future prospects cannot at this time be safely anticipated. Its local advantages must, however, render it a place of no small importance. The canal here descends from the Mountain Ridge to the Genesee Level, by five double com- bined locks, each of 12 feet descent. These locks are among the niost interesting works on the canal.


Lansingburgh, situated in the south-west part of the town- ship of that name, on the east bank of the Hudson, and three miles above Troy, is a handsome and flourishing village. It is regularly laid out into squares, by spacious and convenient streets. It contains about 300 houses, a Bank, five Churches, and two buildings occupied by an Academy. It is a place of considerable business, and has 1650 inhabitants.


Canandaigua is situated on a gentle acclivity at the north end of the lake, and near the centre of the township of that name. It is the capital of Ontario county, and one of the most interesting of the western villages. The principal ave- nue, rising from the lake and extending along the ridge of the hill, is spacious, and contains many elegant buildings. Near the centre of the village is an open area of liberal extent, commanding a beautiful view of the adjacent scenery, and finely ornamented with public buildings. Among the public edifices are a Court House, Jail, three Churches, State Arsenal, and an Academy. In the beauty of its position, and the style of its buildings, it is not probably surpassed by any village of equal extent in the Union It is located in the midst of a fer- tile tract of country, and is a place of much business. It contains about 2000 inhabitants, and is now in a flourishing condition.


Auburn, situated on the outlet of the 'Owasco lake, and near the eastern boundary of the township of Aurelius, is a pleasant village, and the capital of Cayuga county. It con- tains about 150 houses, many of which are elegant, with the county buildings, and other public edifices. Of these the most important is the State Prison. This was erected in 1817 at an expense of $300,000; and is probably the best con- structed building of the kind in the United States. Auburn is a place of some business, and contains 1800 inhabitants.


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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.


Geneva is a beautiful and flourishing village, situated at the north end and near the outlet of Seneca lake. It occupies a pleasant elevation, commanding an extensive view of the lake and surrounding country. It contains above 300 houses, . shops and stores, with several handsome Churches, a College, and an Academy. It is a place of much business and enter- prise, and has about 1800 inhabitants.


Sackett's Harbor is situated on the south-west side of Black River bay, eight miles from lake Ontario, and is a place of considerable business. It was founded in 1801, and, during the late war, was an important military and naval position. It has a fine harbor, and commands an extensive trade upon the lake. It contains about 2000 inhabitants, and is now in a prosperous condition.


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Poughkeepsie, situated in the town of that name, on the east bank of the Hudson, and 74 miles above New York, is a vil- lage of considerable importance, and the capital of Dutchess . county. The inequality of the surface along the river's bank .gives the place a singular and romantic appearance. The village contains the County Buildings, a Bank, an Academy, five Churches, and about 600 houses, stores and shops. It is a place of some business, and contains about 2700 inhabitants.


SEC. IV. Agriculture. Agricultural pursuits constitute the employment of an important and highly respectable portion of the community. A large part of the state presents a productive soil ; and the manner of cultivation, which has already attained to a high degree of perfection, is rapidly improving. In 1819, the subject re- ceived the attention of the legislature ; and an act was passed, making provision for the forming of county societies, for the promotion of agri- culture and household manufactures, and the establishment of a Board of Agriculture, to con- sist of the presidents or delegates of the county


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357


AGRICULTURE.


societies. . Ten thousand dollars per annum, for four years, was appropriated to the use of these societies, and one thousand to the Board of Agriculture.


Under this act a large number of societies were formed. The board was organized, and published its first volume of " Memoirs" in 1821. The success that attended these efforts induced the legislature to extend the act to an additional term of four years. The societies annually ex- pend, in premiums, double the amount appropri- ated from the treasury. Annual Fairs are held in each of the counties, for the exhibition and sale of products, and for competition in the manual operations of agriculture. The publica- tions of the board, comprising essays on husban- dry, and the results of experiments in various parts of the state, are highly respectable, and tend rapidly to accelerate the march of im- provement.


About three fourths of the entire population of the state are engaged in agricultural pursuits. Six million acres of land, less than one fourth part of the area of the state, are at present under improvement. Wheat is the most important product, and is exported in large quantities. Indian corn, rye, and barley, are extensively cultivated. The number of cattle, according to the state census of 1821, was 1,219,000; horses, 263,000 ; sheep, 2,153,000 .* As connected with agriculture, may also be mentioned the fabrics of household manufacture. The quantity of cloth of various kinds manufactured in fami- lies, in 1821, amounted to above 10,000,000 yards.


* The round numbers are here given. For the exact numbers, seo Spafford's Gazetteer, published in.le24.


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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.


SEC. V. Manufactures. Notwithstanding the competition of foreign manufactures, those of New York may be said to be in a flourishing condition. Iron and salt are among the most important articles ; and the latter constitutes a · valuable source of revenue to the state. In ad- dition to the cloths made in families, extensive cotton and woollen manufactories furnish an immense quantity of these fabrics. The man- ufacture of flour is carried on to a great extent in most parts of the state, and, in value, prob- ably exceeds that of any other article. .


Among the articles of manufacture may like- wise be enumerated malt, and distilled liquors, leather, cordage, refined sugar, glass, paper, hats, and oil. In the newly settled parts of the state, large quantities of pot and pearl ashes are annually made. The manufacture of por- celain has been recently commenced in the city of New York.


Owing to the imperfect returns, no very accurate statements can be made of the extent of manufacturing establishments, or the amount of articles manufactured. According to the re- turns of 1823, the capital engaged in manufactures was about 88,000,000, which must be far below the real amount. There were, in 1823, above 10,000 hydraulic machines employed on the' streams which flow through the various sections of the state. Of these, 2140 were flouring mills; 184 cotton and woollen factories; 4321 saw mills ; 139 oil mills; 993 fulling mills; and 1235 carding machines. There were 184 iron works, 1060 distilleries, and 1227 asheries.


SEC. VI. Commerce. New York has a widely extended commerce, which has of late · been greatly augmented by the communications with


359


CANALS.


the northern and western lakes. Its exports are more than those of any other state ; and its im- ports from foreign countries constitute above one fifth of the entire imports of the United States. The amount of shipping employed, including that on the river and lakes, and exclu- sive of small craft on the canals, is estimated at 300,000 tons.


The most important articles exported are, wheat, pot and pearl ashes, Indian corn, rye, beef, pork and lumber. A con- siderable portion of these exports are derived from the western parts of New England, and the eastern part of New Jersey. Since the completion of the western canal, the commerce of a large part of Ohio, Upper Canada, and the country bordering on the great lakes, has been conducted through New York. Large quantities of iron and salt are annually exported for the consumption of the neighboring states. During the year 1827, 30,000 barrels of salt were shipped to the westward, from Buffalo.


SEC. VII. Canals. The improvement of the internal navigation of the state, by means of canals and locks, was among the earliest enter- prises of its inhabitants. These works were, however, limited in extent, and confined to the


improvement of natural streams. The canal and locks at Little Falls, on the Mohawk river, were completed in 1795 ; and those at Wolf Rift, with the canal connecting the Mohawk with Wood creek and the Oneida lake, in 1797. Similar works were subsequently constructed on the Seneca river, at Seneca falls and Wa- terloo.


In 1810, the public attention began to be directed to more extensive improvements. The


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360


HISTORY OF NEW YORK.


works, now contemplated embraced a canal communication between the navigable waters of the Hudson and the western and northern lakes. The enterprise was undertaken by the state, and a system of energetic measures adopt- ed for its prosecution. The Erie and Champlain canals, connecting the waters of those lakes with the Hudson, were commenced in 1817. The Erie canal was completed in 1825, at an expense of about $8,000,000, and is one of the most stupendous and magnificent works of the kind ever executed. The Champlain canal was completed in 1823.


The Oswego canal, 38 miles in length, com- mences at Syracuse, and terminates at the mouth of Oswego river on lake Ontario. The Seneca canal commences at the village of Geneva, and, running easterly 2 miles to the outlet of the Seneca lake, continues down the outlet 13 miles to the Montezuma marshes ; thence along the western margin of those marshes, 5 miles, to the Eric canal. These works are lateral branches of the Erie canal, and have been sub- sequently executed.


The Erie canal, extending from Albany to Buffalo, is 40 feet wide on the surface, 28 on the bottom, 4 feet deep, and 362 miles in length, exclusive of side cuts and navigable feed- ers. The locks, 83 in number, are 15 feet wide between the gates, and 00 feet in length, and are constructed of the most imperishable stone, laid in water cement. The altitude of the water at the termination of the canal at Buffalo is 565 feet above that of the Hudson at Albany. The total of ascent and depression overcome by means of lockage, throughout the whole extent, is 688 feet. A tow-path is constructed on the


361


CANALS.


bank of the canal, which is elevated from 2 to 4 feet above the surface of the water.


The course of the Erie canal, commencing at the Albany Ba- sin, is along the bank of the Hudson to Watervliet, where it receives a navigable feeder from the Mohawk, constituting the communication with the Northern or Champlain canal. Thence it proceeds along the bank of the Mohawk, and crosses that river above the Cahoes Falls, by an aqueduct 1188 feet in length, supported by 26 piers. It then continues about 12 miles on the north bank, after which it recrosses the Mohawk, 4 miles below Schenectady, by an aqueduct 748 feet in length, 25 feet above the water of the river, and supported by 16 piers. Thence it winds along the south bank of the river, through Schenectady and Utica to Rome. At Little Falls, the Erie is connected with the old canal, by a stone aqueduct across the Mohawk, 170 feet in length, and supported by 3 arches. The Utica Level, 69} miles in length, without a single lock, commences at Frankfort, 9 miles east of Utica, and, proceeding through that village, Whitestown, Rome, Ve- rona, Sullivan and Manlius, terminates in the town of Salina, and near the village of Syracuse. During this course, it pass- es the Sauquait, Oriskany, Oneida, Canastota, Chitteningo, and Limestone creeks, by aqueducts of various extent. It then proceeds through the village of Syracuse, and crosses the Skeneateles outlet, by a stone aqueduct, supported by 3 arches ; and the Owasco creek, by an aqueduct of 4 arches, to Montezuma; thence through the Cayuga Marshes, the vil- lages of Clyde and Lyons, and, passing Mud creek, by a stone aqueduct, 90 feet in length, continues through l'almyra, Pittsford and Rochester, to Lockport. At Pittsford, it crosses the Irondequot creek; on a stupendous embankment, 72 feet in height. At Rochester, it crosses the Genesee river, by a stone aqueduct, of superior architecture, 530 feet in length. Between Rochester and Lockport, the canal passes several deep ravines, by aqueducts and embankments. At Lockport is an ascent of 60 feet, overcome by five double combined locks, to the Mountain Ridge, through which the canal passes, by a deep excavation, to the Tonewanda creek. It then en- ters the creek, and continues along its channel to its mouth,


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362


HISTORY OF NEW YORK.


where a dam is erected 4} feet in height, and proceeds along the shore of the Niagara river and lake Erie, to its termination at Buffalo.


Connected with the canal, a pier of great length has been constructed in the Niagara river, at Black Rock, for the pur- pose of forming a harbor at that place, and supplying water for the summit level. The water of lake Erie continues in the canal to Montezuma. Thence there is an ascent to the Jordan summit, from which the canal descends to the level of Syracuse. It then ascends to the Utica summit, from which is a continuous descent to the Hudson.


The canal debt, in 1826, amounted to $7,602,000; the receipts of tolls on the canal the same year, to $750,000; and the revenue from salt, and auction duties, belonging to the canal fund, to $420,000. The tolls, in 1827, amounted to $859,000. It is estimated, that the revenues arising from tolls and the canal fund will, besides paying the interest, extinguish the canal debt in 10 years, dating from 1826.


The Champlain canal, connecting the Erie canal and Hud- son's river with lake Champlain, is 71 miles in length, and was constructed at an expense of $875,000. Commencing at the junction in Watervliet, its course is northward across the Mohawk, which it passes, by a dam, into Waterford, and continues along the west bank of the Hudson to Northumber- land, where it enters the river. It continues in the river to fort Miller, where it is taken out, and carried round the falls on the east bank, after which it re-enters the river, and con- tinues in the channel to fort Edward. Here it is again taken out on the east bank, and proceeds through fort Edward and Kingsbury, to fort Anne village, where it enters Wood creek. Thence it continues in the channel of the creek about 6 miles, and is then taken out on the west bank, and proceeds northward 5} miles, to its termination at the village of Whitehall. The summit level, between fort Edward and fort Anne, has an elevation of 140 feet above the tide-water of the Hudson, and 54 above the water of lake Champlain. It is supplied by a fecder at fort Edward, from the waters of the Hudson, which are raised 27 feet by a dam across that stream, 900 feet in length. Connected with the canal is also


363


BANKS, AND MILITIA.


a dam across the Hudson, with a sloop lock, at Troy, which cost $92,270. The canal communicates with these works by a descent of three locks into the Mohawk, below the dam on that river, at Waterford. The tolls received on this canal, in 1827, amounted to $72,833.


The Delaware and Hudson canal is partly in this state. It commences on the Hudson, at Kingston, and proceeds in a south-west direction, through the valley of the Neversink creek, to the Delaware river. This canal will be highly im- portant in supplying New York with coal from the mines in Pennsylvania. .


SEC. VIII. Banks. There are above . 40 banks in this state, possessing a large amount of real and a still larger amount of nominal capital. In 1811, there were 15 banks,-the capitals of which amounted to $11,840,000. Of these, 5 were in the city of New York,- the capitals of which amounted to $8,050,000. In 1819, the aggregate capital of 30 of the banks in this state amounted to $24,000,000.


, SEC. IX. Militia. The militia comprises, with few exceptions, all the able-bodied white male citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 years. The enrolled militia, at this time, amounts to about 150,000 men, and are well organized and provided with arms. Twelve arsenals arc located in various sections of the state, and sup- plied with military stores.


According to the returns of 1823, the enrolled militia at that time amounted to 146,709: of these, 132,639 were in- fantry ; 8622 artillery ; and 5418 cavalry. They were divided into 27 divisions, which were subdivided into 61 brigades, 243 regiments, and 2012 companies. The arsenals are located at New York, Albany, Whitehall, Plattsburgh, Elizabethtown,


364


HISTORY OF NEW YORK.


Malone, Russel, Watertown, Rome, Onondaga, Canandaigua and Batavia.


SEC. X. Education and Literary Institu- tions. The facilities for education are in no country more extensively enjoyed, or more high- ly appreciated, than in New York. The " Re- gents of the University," instituted in 1787, constitute a corporation of 21 members, to whom is intrusted the care of the literature of the state. It is their duty to visit colleges, acad- emies and schools, and to superintend the system of education. They meet annually at Albany, and report to the legislature the state of literary institutions. They are authorized to incorporate colleges and academies, and have the direction and distribution of the funds appropriated to literary institutions.


Six colleges, including those for physicians and surgeons, have been established in this state, and liberally endowed. Columbia college, in the city of New York, Union college, at Sche- nectady, and Hamilton college, at Paris, Oneida county, are all useful and highly flourishing institutions. The college at Geneva has been recently established. The college of physicians and surgeons in the city of New York, is sur- passed by no institution of the kind in America ; that at Fairfield is highly respectable. There are 36 incorporated academies, located in vari- ous parts of the state, and about 8000 common schools. In these seminaries, 400,000 children and youth are annually educated.


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EDUCATION AND LITERARY INSTITUTIONS. 365


Columbia College was founded in 1757, and, till the revo- lution, had the name of King's college. It has a president, five professors, a considerable library, and valuable philosoph- ical apparatus. This institution has been richly endowed, and has about 140 students.


Union College was incorporated by the regents of the university in 1794. It has a president and four professors, a library of above 5000 volumes, and a complete chemical and philosophical apparatus. The number of students is about 250. The funds of the institution, in 1796, amounted to about $50,000; and, since that period, it has received, be- sides other grants from the legislature, a grant by lottery of about $90,000.


Hamilton College was incorporated by the regents of the university in 1812. About $50,000 were subscribed by in- dividuals, and the same sum granted by the legislature to constitute the funds of the seminary. Since that period, the funds have received an addition of $50,000 by indirect grants of the legislature. It has three professors, two tutors, a li- brary of. above 2000 volumes, with a good chemical and philosophical apparatus. It is situated in the heart of one of the most populous and flourishing sections of the state, and promises to become, at no very distant period, one of the most important institutions in the country.


The Presbyterians have a Theological Seminary at Auburn ; the Baptists, at Hamilton ; and the Episcopal Church in the city of New York. Of the Incorporated Academies, Albany, Cayuga, Clinton, Lansingburgh, Montgomery, Dutchess, Union Hall, Whitesborough, Erasmus Hall, Geneva, Hudson, St. Law- rence, Hartwick, Middlebury, Lawville, Oxford, Pompey, Canan- daigua, Cambridge and Ballston are the most important. There are likewise a large number of Private Schools established in various parts of the state, many of which are highly respecta- ble. Above 86000, the revenue arising from the Literature Fund, are annually distributed, by the regents of the uni- versity, among the incorporated academies, in proportion to the number of classical students. Near §200,000, de- rived from the Common School Fund and district or town


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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.


taxes, are annually appropriated to the support of Common Schools .*


SEC. XI. Religion. In New York, the- in- stitutions of the Christian Religion are very gen- erally regarded. The constitution makes no provision for its support, but sccures to every man the free use and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, according to the dictates of his own conscience. The clergy are sup- ported by the voluntary contributions of the people, and are excluded from holding offices under the government. The principal denomi- nations are, General Assembly Presbyterians, Associate Reformed Presbyterians, Dutch Re- formed Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Friends and Lutherans. Above 3000 churches are occupied by the several de- nominations for religious worship.


SEC. XII. Population. New York contains a population, principally descended from Holland, Great Britain, France and Germany, of about 1,800,000. During the early period of its histo- ry, the. progress of population was retarded by the disadvantages of a location remote from the civilized world, and surrounded by a jealous, savage, and revengeful people. . At the close of the first 50 years after its settlement, the Euro- pean population was only 5000; and, at the close of the first century, about 50,000. In 1756, it amounted to near 100,000 ; and has, since that period, increased with astonishing


* In 1823, the sum amounted to $182,802 25.


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367


CHARACTER.


rapidity. In 1800, it was 586,000; in 1810, 959,000; in 1820, 1,372,000; and in 1825, 1,616,000. According to this ratio of increase, the number, in 1830, will amount to 2,000,000.


The original Indian population has been rap- idly disappearing since the European settle- ments, and has now become extinct in most - parts of the state. About 5000, the remains of the Confederated Iroquois, are all that survive of these once populous and powerful tribes. The Oneidas reside on the reservation near Utica ; the Senecas and Onondagas, on the Buffalo and Cattaraugus Creek reservations ; and their adopted brethren, the Tuscaroras, at Lewiston. The Mohawks have retired to Upper Canada.


SEC. XIII. Character. The people of New York, consisting of emigrants, or the descend- ants of emigrants, from most of the European states, can hardly be said, at this period, to have established a national character. They all re- tain, in a greater or less degree, the distinguish- ing characteristics of the particular nation from which they originated. The Dutch, being the earliest settlers, imparted a bias to the others, which is still perceptible, and probably will long continue.


New York has furnished her full proportion in the bright catalogue of American worthies, and has ever been distinguished for patriotism and attachment to freedom. In the progress of the common and liberal arts, and in developing


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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.


and improving her natural resources, she has been surpassed by none of the United States. The activity everywhere apparent in her cities and villages, the high state of cultivation, and the neatness and order, exhibited in most sec- tions of the country ; above all, the great works of internal improvement, which have been exe- cuted since the termination of the late war, sufficiently attest the industry and enterprise of her inhabitants.


369.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 1


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. -


Sketches of the Lives and Characters of some distinguished Men in the Colony and State of New York,


GEORGE CLINTON,


George Clinton was born in July, 1739, in the precinct of the highlands, in the county of Ulster, now the town of New Windsor, in the county of Orange.


At an early age, he displayed that spirit of enterprise and energy of character, which distinguished his conduct through life. During the French war, he entered on board a privateer, which sailed from the port of New York; and, after under- going great dangers and hardships, returned, and accepted the commission of a lieutenant, in a company commanded by his brother James. This company composed part of a regi- ment commanded by his father ; and which, united with other forces, under colonel Bradstreet, captured fort Frontenac, now Kingston, near the mouth of lake Ontario. During this expo- dition, captain Clinton's company signalized itself by attack,- ing a French sloop of war, which annoyed the army in its descent down the lake ; and which, after a bloody engagement, was compelled to strike its colors.




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