Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 2

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894 > Part 2

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).

We add the two following articles, as they throw some additional light upon the year 1893:

From the Philadelphia Times (Democratic), Dec. 31, '93.

THE END OF 1893 .- The year will be remembered all over the world as the year of "hard times." It has not been everywhere or in the same degree a panic year, but it has been everywhere. from Hin- dostan to Oregon, one of commercial and industrial depression. We have not yet got quite free from the habit of our forefathers of regarding every na- tion as separate from and antagonistic to all other nations. This mediaval conception still maintains on the continent of Europe, to the great cost of the people-but every year demonstrates more plainly that the real relations between nations are those of trade, commerce and finance, and that the railway, the steamship and the telegraph have knit them to- gether so closely that the conditions which affect one affect all. While the universality of the depression of 1893 shows this, it also shows how closely the ex- tent and effect of such periods of depression are con- nected in every country with either particular misfortunes or with particular mistakes. In Ger- many we see this very plainly. That great empire is oppressed by the diversion of the best energies of a large part of its population to the unproductive pursuit of war. The cost of the imperial army is not only in direct taxation, but in its bad effect upon the industrial development of the country. The effort to overcome this result of militarism by an un- reasonably high protective tariff, enhancing prices without thereby establishing sound industrial con- ditions, has simply aggravated the disease, and has brought Germany to a condition of " hard times " which even the general recovery expected during the new year will not do much to relieve without a decided change of imperial policy.

Italy affords an even more conspicuous example of the results of excessive taxation. The existing poverty in that country is probably greater than in any other part of Europe, both because the military burden of Italy is relatively the greatest, and be- cause the administrative machinery of the country

is very inefficient, and the taxes imposed upon the people are out of all proportion to any benefits re- ceived from them. France feels the military burden less because the French people are more industrious and thrifty, and because the political administration of the country, under whatever form of govern- ment, is well organized, efficient and economical. But France also has been dabbling in economic quack remedies, protective tariffs and the like, that have disturbed her commercial system more than it has been disturbed for many years past, while the wild speculations in canals, in copper, in all sorts of securities and insecurities indulged in during the past decade, have brought about the inevitable re- action, and France has been suffering with the rest of us the complaint of " hard times."

In Austria the conditions have been aggravated by an unsound financial system and by an effort to reform it, undertaken at an unfortunate time, and not as yet entirely successful. The connection of Russia with the rest of Europe is less intimate, and Russia might, perhaps, have profited somewhat by the misfortunes of her neighbors at this time had she been in a condition to do so. But the disastrous failures of the crops in the preceding year, the re- sulting famine and the following pestilence, the burden of her own great military establishunent, and various arbitrary regulations that have hampered her commercial enterprise, have made Russia also a great sufferer from "hard times." Further off still, in British India, an artificial stimulation of indus- trial enterprise, arrested by the collapse of a debased monetary system, has plunged the people of that land into unusual distress.

Under such conditions England, the central clear- ing house of the world's business, could not escape the universal depression. Investments have failed in the East and in the West; the wrecks left by the bursting of the South American bubble have not yet been cleared away ; trade has everywhere been less- ened by the poverty of England's best customers, and the long strike of the coal miners paralyzed every branch of industry, and left nothing but pov- erty in its train. Alarmed by threatened naval su- premacy in the Mediterranean, England sees that her influence there can only be continued by enor- mous expenditures for new ships-of-war.

The United States, closely united with England in finance and commerce, must under any circum- stances have shared in the general depression of 1893. But with us there were special causes which converted mere " hard times" into what may be denominated a panic. The artificial stimulation of our industries prepared the way for the collapse that came with the farcical failure of confidence in our national currency. In this country, more than in any other, the government has practically assumed not only the regulation of commerce, but a monop- oly of the most important functions of banking, so that our commercial credit is more than elsewhere dependent upon the condition of the public treasury. The result of a gradual substitution of silver for gold as a basis of the national currency had long been foreseen, but the critical point was reached just when the general conditions throughout the world presented the most imminent danger, and at the time when the turning point was reached there ensued a needless panic more severe and far reaching than any which this generation at least has known, and from whose effects the country is just beginning to emerge.

Such is the record of 1893. Happily it is a record that we may now regard as closed, not merely be- cause we shall write a new date in our books, but

UNIMPORTANT ERRATA.

Page 7 : 2d column, end of 25th line from top, add " tion."

21 : 7th line from bottom of Ist column, 1854 should read 1856.

21 : 2d line from bottom of Ist column, 1842 should read 1852.

22 : 13th line from top of 2d column, '48 should read '50.

23 : Ist line top of Ist column, 1852 should read 1856.

25 : 12th line from bottom of Ist column, for " had " read " has."

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because the signs of revival are everywhere appar- ent. Here and there the silent factories are starting np again, not a few of them with the confession that they are behind with their orders, and must work hard to make up for lost time. The integrity of our currency is absolutely assured (indeed it should not have been questioned) ; the economic policy of the government is virtually decided-a policy that will stimulate industry and make possible the wide ex- tension of our commerce. There are difficulties re- maining as the fruit of past mistakes, but they are not beyond the power of Congress and the people to correct with reasonable certainty and promptness.

The one thing needed in closing the account of 1893 is that all true Americans should with it close the prejudices and partisan animosities that have contributed so much to increase the sufferings of the people, and come together with the new year in true devotion to our common national honor and pros- perity. The country needs at such a time the honest help of every honest man, not so much to promote his private interests or personal views, but to build np mutual trust and a feeling of restful security. "Hard times" were never yet cured by bicker- ing and scolding. If we but drop our minor dif- ferences and go forward with a genuine spirit of American loyalty and courage, the gloomy record of 1893 will soon be forgotten.

LONDON, Jan. 3, 1894 .- In a review of English trade in 1893, the "Times " asserts that the year has been a more trying one than any in the decade. It recalls the lock-out of the Lancashire districts, the strike of the dock laborers at Hull, the lock-out on the Midland coal-fields and the attendant strikes in the coal-fields of South Wales and Scotland. All these dislocated trade, which was further disturbed by the long series of bank failures in Australia and the depression in American railway stocks, and by home-investment troubles. These depleted incomes and forced economy upon a large number of English people. In addition, manufacturers and traders had

to meet increasing foreign competition. The Kid- derminster carpet trade and the screw-making in- dnstry at Birmingham, as well as the Leicester shoe trade, have felt the effects of American competition, while the lace-makers at Nottingham have felt the competition of the continent. Sheffield has had to endure German competition in cutlery, the York- shire woolen trade felt the effects of the American financial crisis as well as the wide-spread industrial depression at home, and English steel-makers have suffered from the effects of over-production.

Since the lock-out terminated, in the spring, the Lancashire cotton trade has been benefited by cheap supplies of raw material and by a good and steady demand from India. The lock-out and the silver troubles have, however, absorbed the advantages en- joyed during the latter part of 1893 by the cotton trade. On the other hand, the building and engi- neering trades have been in a generally satisfactory condition, and the silverware industry at Sheffield has received a fillip by the fall in the price of silver.

The inherent conditions of trade have been gener- ally sound, and remain so. What is now lacking is confidence and stability of affairs abroad. In Amer- ica, affairs are clearing, and there is likely to be a revival of trade. If uncertainty in Brazil and Ar- gentina were removed, the deferred shipments to those countries would stimulate industry in Eng- land. The Indian financial situation may be the retarding element, and remain so until the price of silver becomes more specific. With abundant sup- plies of raw materials at almost bottom prices, and a steadily enlarging demand, the prospect for 1894 is more promising than was the prospect for 1893. The cycle of depression which followed the Baring col- lapse in 1890, is now showing signs of exhaustion.

With these articles before him, the historical stu- dent of the next hundred years will be able to get a fair idea of the condition of the commercial and financial world on the 1st of January, 1894, when onr record ends. J. A. H.

THE WATERWAYS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. BY HON. LOTUS INGALLS.

COMMENCING on the north side of the county, the Indian river first attracts the observer's attention. Rising in Lewis county, easterly of Natural Bridge in Wilna, it enters Jefferson county at the Bridge, crossing a corner of the town, and again enters Lewis county for a distance of 10 or 12 miles, and re-enters Jefferson in the town of Wilna near the Antwerp line-through which town it runs in a very crooked manner, making several large bends-as if heading for the St. Lawrence ; but, correcting itself, concludes to water more country by turning westward for a distance, then southward-making an immense bow. Entering the town of Philadelphia on its northern border, it crosses the town south westerly, enters the town of LeRay in the same direction, evidently in- clining towards the valley of Black river, but again

changing its purpose when within a mile of Evans Mills, it turns abruptly on its heel and retraces its course northward, entering the town of Theresa on a northward by western trend, serving as outlet for several small lakes in its course-finally emptying its darkish waters into the Oswegatchie. The color of the waters of all these rivers that rise in the Adi- rondack region, is of a brownish cast, but soft, and classed by chemists as among the very best. The junction of the Indian and the Oswegatchie is not far from where they find their final resting place in the mighty St. Lawrence.

The Indian river has a good fall at Natural Bridge, a moderate one at Sterlingbush, one at Antwerp vil- lage, also one at Philadelphia, another 2 miles above Theresa, and two more (one of them of over 50 feet)

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

. at Theresa village-affording good mill privileges at all these points. But in dry summers and in long, severe winters, the water supply is not adequate to the demands upon it for continuous work. Below Theresa village the river is navigable forsteamers of light draught, and such are used there for business as well as pleasure. Maskollunge are caught in the river and lakes below the high falls, and mullet and suckers at the time of spring freshets. Bullheads and suckers are abundant above the high falls. The river has several tributaries, but they are scarcely entitled to historical mention, except as they serve the important uses of agriculture.

BLACK RIVER .- This is the most important stream of the county, and gave its generic name to this re- gion. of country. It rises in the Adirondacks, north- east of Boonville, and after reaching Jefferson county runs rather directly and centrally through it from east to west, though the territory of the county is larger north of the river than south of it.

Between Carthage, just above which important village this river enters the county, and Dexter, be- low which it enters the extreme northeastern end of Lake Ontario, Black river falls 480 feet, and is an almost continuous series of rapids, with several pre- cipitous falls, varying from 2 to 15 feet in height, af- fording about 25 miles of continuous water power of rare excellence and usefulness. The bed and banks of the river are of limestone, affording firm founda- tions for dams and manufactories.

Black River Bay, into which the river discharges its waters, is accounted the finest and safest harbor on Lake Ontario, not surpassed by any on the entire chain of waterways between Sackets Harbor and Duluth on Lake Superior. The harbor is absolutely safe from heavy winds, being completely land- locked, and covers an area of 60 square miles, with a depth of water sufficient to float large steamers or sailing craft. It was this depth of water that led the government to build (at Sackets Harbor) the 72- gun frigate, the "New Orleans," near the close of the war of 1812 with England. This ship was never launched, but would have been had the war contin- ued another year.

The waters of Black river are dark and soft. Its principal tributaries are the Beaver, Moose, and Deer rivers, receiving of course many lesser streams on its way to the lake. Many of the lakes of the Adirondack region find outlets into the head waters of Black river or some of its main tributaries. It is not a stream in which fish are plentiful-even the proverbial " oldest inhabitant " can scarcely recall the day on which he saw anybody fishing in its wa- ters. But it is said there are more fish in it now than formerly. Black River Bay, however, at cer- tain seasons of the year, furnishes ample supplies of pike and pickerel.

BLACK RIVER FLOODS .- Like most large streams,

this river is more or less subject to floods. It usually has two stages of high water in the spring-the first occurring when the early spring thaw dissolves the snows on the low lands and the cleared fields in its valley ; and the second flood is due two to three weeks later, when still warmer weather melts the deep snows on the higher wooded ranges of the Adirondacks, where the river and its main tributa- ries have their rise. Out of one of these floods grew a memorable law-suit between the mill and factory owners on Black river and the State of New York.

THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1869 .- This was an occur- rence of more than passing interest, happening on the lower part of the river on the morning of April 22, 1869. It was occasioned by the breaking away of the Forestport dam, built by the State in creating a great reservoir to supply the lack of water in a dry time; but more especially to make up for the water diverted by the State from Black river to supply the canal of that name, and feed the 60-mile level on the Erie canal from the " Feeder," which enters that canal at Rome. This greatest of floods ever known here, damaged to a greater or less de- gree nearly every mill-owner on the stream from Forestport to Dexter, of whom there were over 300 in number. The circumstances were peculiar ; there was the usual spring flood prevailing at the time, which had reached its climax on the 21st of April, and had begun to recede-when suddenly (in the night of the 21st, at Lyons Falls, and in the early morning at Watertown), the water rose prodigiously and with great rapidity. The water was high from the natural causes when the Forestport dam gave way, between 4 and 5 P.M. on the 21st, and that fact gave occasion for the State to excuse itself from paying damage, on the plea that it was providential ; holding tenaciously to the questionable allegation that the mischief could not have been due to the wa- ter from the reservoir, for after the dam gave way there was not time enough for that deluge to have reached Carthage, Great Bend, Felts Mills, Black River, Watertown, Brownville, and Dexter soon enough to inflict the damage at the several hours and places it was claimed to have been done. This point proved to be the chief contention in the nu- merous suits brought against the State for damages. The plea of the State was that it was not possible for the waters of the reservoir to pass down the rapids above Lyons Falls, then through the 37-mile level to Carthage, and thence on to Watertown, in 12 or 14 hours-between 4 to 5 P.M. of April 21st, at the Forestport dam, and 5 to 8 o'clock the next morning at Watertown. This was at first rather a stunning plea to the complainants. But where else could the water have come from ? The normal flood had reached its climax and began to recede, when suddenly there came a rise of 8 to 10 feet, in the

3 1833 02213 3315

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briefest period, like a tidal wave, and with herculean force.

The books upon hydraulics and hydrostatics were appealed to, and they solved the conundrum readily. Expert testimony was then introduced to show that the rise of water at Carthage (the lower end of the 37-mile level) was much quicker than if it had traversed that distance in the usual way-establish- ing the fact that the rise at Carthage was by what they denominated a "wave of translation," which would inevitably soon occur on there falling into the upper end of the level 12,000,000 tons of water. It was estimated that 600,000,000 cubic feet of water poured over Lyons Falls into the upper end of the long level within the space of two hours. This enor- mous weight must mechanically make room for itself somewhere, and it could only do that by press- ing the whole unbroken body of water below it (in the channel of the river) further down stream, as that was the direction of least resistance-very much as if the river bed were a huge pipe 37 miles long. - The river, again, was likened to an open trough filled with water; pouring water into it at one end would raise it at the other end instantly without the added water flowing through the mass. Witnesses variously described it as a " wave of trans- lation " and as an "impulse," something like a pass- age of slow electricity. One witness testified that the pouring in of such a body of water at the upper end of the level in so brief a time would cause the water to level up at the lower end long before the added water could flow to that point. This extra water would make a river 25 miles long, 500 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, having a weight of 12,000,000 tons. The experience of eminent engineers and the dicta of the text-books successfully established the genuineness of the theory that the volume of water pouring into the upper end of the level was a force of herculean energy continuously applied, and when the pulsation or " wave of translation " reached the end of the level at Carthage, it would be kept up as long as the force was applied, which would be until the reservoir had emptied itself.

SOME STRANGE DECISIONS .- The taking of testi- mony in these important cases, and the interesting incidents at the trial, ran through two years. Eli- jah Brooks, Beman Brockway, and William Wasson were the canal appraisers, who rendered a decision only the day before some of their terms expired. This gave occasion for the State to ask for a new trial before new appraisers, which request the Leg- islature granted, and so the cases were tried before a new board. Their decision demonstrated to the pub- lic " the glorious uncertainties of law"-for some of the sufferers, with mills on opposite sides of the same flume, and the damage done in the same hour, were denied the right to recover, while neighbors on the other side of the flume, were awarded dama-

ges. This was the case as between Knowlton Bros. and Gilderoy Lord, located opposite each other (at Watertown)-the former recovering, while the latter got nothing. At Brownville, 3 men owned each a part of the same continuous flume. It was carried away bodily. One of these men received damages, but the other two were defeated.

In justification of such apparent inconsistencies, the appraisers are said to have found that the normal flood, just passing its climax, tore away the end of the Coburn dam at Carthage, setting free the waters of the level above, and that those waters did the ear- lier damage below Carthage; while the breaking of the Forestport dam and the rush of the reservoir waters did not reach the lower part of the river until an hour or two later-holding that the State was not liable for damage done by the flood which followed the breaking of the Carthage dam, but might be for that caused by the bursting of the Forestport dam. This is given by them as an ex- planation of the very strange and apparently incon- sistent decisions they made. But the' " vulgar " public is prone to believe that these commissioners were not above Lord Bacon in resisting temptation, and that peculiar influences modified their decision.

The amount of damages claimed by more than 300 suitors, aggregated nearly $800,000, and the amount awarded was not far from $450,000, scattered from Forestport to Dexter. It must have cost the State not far from $600,000 for having a political superin- tendent, who resided 25 miles away from his post of duty-for if he had resided near the Forestport dam and hoisted the waste-gates in season, no damage would have resulted.

It appears to the editor of this History that if the counsel for the complainants had also alluded to the incompressibility of water they could have made their contention more readily comprehended. This mechanical quality of water is none too well under- stood. You can compress (make smaller) iron or any other metal in a normal condition, but water, a fluid, limpid, simple substance, declines to shrink in size in the least degree under the heaviest pressure.

In this connection we may mention that a serious earthquaking disturbance under the sea near Callao, in Chili, produced a tidal wave that was observed at San Francisco (over 2500 miles distant) within 3 hours.

A SUBLIME SIGHT,-This great flood will long be remembered by the inhabitants of the river region. Thousands of people flocked to the banks of Black river on the forenoon of April 22d, to gaze upon tlie sublime spectacle. One of the most imposing sights of the many presented by that raging flood was to be seen between the Knowltons' paper-mill and Lord's factory, where a volume of water like an improvised

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Niagara poured through, half as high as the build- ings. It was curious how it walled itself up in such a way, explainable only by the velocity of the cur- rent and the tremendous force behind it. It was an inspiring and a thrilling sight, not soon effaced from the beholder's memory. But Black river, when left unvexed by abnormal interference, has ever been a blessing to the people of its vicinage, and in spite of the State's deliberate robbery of its water, still brings healthful prosperity to the central part of the county, where her power has been harnessed to the varied machines that lighten yet greatly magnify man's intelligent labors, and so develops industries, thrift, and wealth among an intelligent and prosperous peo- ple, who surely join us in the wish that her volume may never be less.

SANDY CREEK .- The next important stream, as we pass south ward, is Sandy Creek, sometimes called the Big Sandy, though it is not very large in a dry time. The bed of the stream is broad enough for a much larger volume of water. This creek rises in the south part of the town of Champion, two brooks uniting there to form the Sandy. Its first waterfall is at Tylerville (or South Rutland, as the post-office there is named). A grist-mill and saw-mill were erected here in the early days, and are yet used to do the work of that vicinity. Thence this stream flows south westerly through Rodman, Adams, and Ellisburgh, emptying into Lake Ontario at Wood ville. Its utilized falls are at Tylerville, Whitesville (other- wise known as East Rodman), at Zoar (or Unionville), at Rodman village, Adams, Belleville, and Wood- ville-making a serviceable stream for the people of its neighborhood, especially in the spring and fall, when an abundant supply of water for milling pur- poses courses down its rocky bed. The land border- ing on Sandy creek is very fertile and productive, constituting some of the best farm lands in Jefferson county. The people along its banks are prosperous much above the average.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 2

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823- Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094