USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Settlement in the West : sketches of Rochester with incidental notices of western New-York > Part 39
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
Street Improvements completed in Rochester in 1837.
800 feet in length of Main-street ; macadamized 36 feet in centre ; paved 10 feet on each side; cut kerbstones ; sidewalks on each side, 17 feet wide.
880 feet on North and South St. Paul-street ; macadamized track 22 feet ; paved on each side, 10 feet ; cut kerbstones ; sidewalks on each side, 12 feet wide.
2200 feet of Main-street, east section, macadamized 30 feet in width ; paved 8 feet on each side ; hammer dressed kerbstones ; sidewalks on each side, 10 feet wide.
800 feet on Front-street ; macadamized 26 feet wide ; paved on each side 8 feet ; cut kerbstones ; sidewalks 12 feet wide on each side.
1100 feet South Fitzhugh-street; graded, gravelled 32 feet wide ; paved 6 feet wide on each side; cut kerbstones; sidewalk 12 feet wide.
Sewers in Rochester previous to 1834.
Troup-street sewer, 3000 feet long, angling through the centre of the city.
500 feet of sewer from Rochester House to Buffalo-street ; from thence to river 450 feet.
700 feet of sewer along State and Mumford streets.
400 feet of sewer called Factory-street sewer.
Clinton-street sewer, along Johnson and Stone sts. through property to St. Paul-street, distance about 2000 feet.
None of these sewers are less than 2 feet square, and Troup-street sewer is 3 feet square.
1835. Fish-street sewer, 875 feet long, 3 feet square on State-street. M&Crocken sewer, 485 feet long, 2 feet by 1 foot 10 inches on State-street. Ann-street sewer, 1750 feet long, 3 feet square, from the river to Elizabeth-street.
Spring-street sewer, 560 feet, 2 feet square, from Troup-street sewer to Fitzhugh-street, with lateral sewers.
Mortimer-street sewer, 500 feet long and 2 feet square.
River Alley sewer, 350 feet long and 2 feet square.
1836. Buffalo-street sewer, from the river to Washington-street, arched, 3 feet 6 inches wide, and 5 feet 3 inches high to crown of arch, with lateral sewers to every alternate property, when the property does not exceed 50 feet front. The whole laid in water cement at an expense of $7500.
Buffalo-street middle-section sewer, from Ford-street to Park Place ; laid in water cement, 800 feet long and 2 feet square.
Buffalo-street sewer, from Washington-street west to Canal Bridge ; 450 feet long, 2 feet square.
Monroe and Clinton streets sewer, 1100 feet long, 2 feet square.
Court-street sewer, 500 feet long, 2 feet square.
Plat-street sewer, 1700 feet long, 3 feet by 2 1-2 feet.
1837. Main-street sewer, 800 feet long, 3 feet by 2 1-2 feet ; laid in water cement, with lateral sewers to each property.
North and South St. Paul-street sewers, 850 feet long, 2 feet square, with lateral sewers.
The estimated expense of the above sewers is about $27,000
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THE MUSEUM, WATERWORKS, ETC.
The Rochester Museum.
This establishment is steadily accumulating curiosities, and has advanced as rapidly as could reasonably be expected in a place of such recent origin as Rochester. The proprietor, J. R. Bishop, is indefatigable in his efforts to collect and preserve whatever may be within his means for gratifying curiosity. Rooms more easy of access and more spacious would render the Museum more attractive. Some small remains of the Mastodon, found in Perrinton, in Rochester, and on the western prairies, may be seen in this collection.
The Promenade
Is situate on the east bank of the Genesee River, abreast of the Middle or Main Falls. This spot, much frequented by visiters, commands a fine view of the city on both sides of the stream, as well as of the cataract. The ground is high, and affords opportunity for the arrangement of a pleasant promenade. It is now private property -owned by an association of manufacturers interested in the water-power ; and was purchased by them for the purpose of securing to their use on the west side the pro- portion of water to which this ground ou the east side is entitled. From this prome- nade, at a point about thirty rods north of the Genesee Falls Mills, the visiter may ob- tain views of the Main Falls like those represented in the engravings. This spot is at present a pasture lot-without those improvements which might be expected in such a commanding situation. It is not improbable that an effort will be made soon to procure this commanding spot for the recreation of the citizens, and for the suitable reception of the travellers who in great numbers visit the place, notwithstanding the present access to it is not very inviting. It cannot he doubted that those who bought the tract for the sake of using elsewhere the water to which it is entitled will dis- pose of the land on reasonable terms for purposes such as are here noticed.
As the city has never been at the expense of purchasing any of the public squares (those grounds being the gifts of individuals who owned property around them), some expenditures in this way, when present pecuniary difficulties shall have subsided, would not probably be considered improper by the generality of citizens,
Rochester Waterworks Company.
This corporation was created in 1835 for the purpose of supplying the city with "pure and wholesome water," to be conducted from a copious spring of excellent water situate in a tract of high and broken land on the southerly line of the city, near the new Cemetery and beside the river. The land is owned by Charles J. Hill. An organization is effected under the charter ; but the works are not yet constructed. The directors, elected by the stockholders, are Levi Ward, Jr., Charles J. Hill, James M. Fish, Levi W. Sibley, and George W. Pratt-the first-named persons being presi- dent and secretary. The high grounds around the spring command a beautiful view of the city, &c.
Supplying of Water.
On the subject of supplying the city with pure water for culinary and other uses, Mayor Johnson followed up the suggestions of his inaugural address by a report to the Common Council on the 16th of January, 1838. This report has been issued in pain- phlet form, twenty pages octavo, from the press of Luther Tucker. The importance of early and extensive arrangements for supplying all parts of the city plentifully with water-the increased facilities for comfort, health, and business, and the aug- mented security against fire, which would thus be afforded-together with the pe- cuniary economy of the measure, are set forth convincingly by this report. A cal- culation is made to show that the cost of the requisite waterworks would be speedlly counterbalanced to the citizens by the diminished rate of ensurance consequent on such additional safeguards against fire as would be afforded by the branches of the works acattered throughout the city. The mayor suggests a plan for effecting these objects by forming reservoirs beside the river, wherein sufficient water could be secured to supply the city during the turbid state of the stream in high floods, &c. These res- ervoirs are calculated " to contain 12,315,646 gallons of water-an ample supply for the city during the longest river floods."
"The works would furnish daily about 1,500,000 gallons, or 450 gallons to each family of six persons, in a population of 20,000," says the mayor. " In other cities, the average quantity used for all purposes is about 150 gallons to each family of six persons in the entire population. We should be able to furnish this quantity to 10,000 families or 60,000 inhabitants. The actual cost of this water would be one cent for 608 1-3 gallons, or about 16 8-9 barrels." The estimates may appear low to those who consider not the local facilities for accomplishing the object.
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Fuel-Wood and Coal.
The city is at present abundantly supplied with fire-wood-at an expense for say beach and maple of about $2 50 per cord, delivered at the houses. But it is necessary to reflect now on the prospects of a supply of other fuel. The facilities for obtaining coal consequent on the construction of the Genesee Valley Canal are among the important considerations connected with that valuable improvement. Some interest- ing examinations on this subject were made last summer by FREDERIC C. MILLS, the chief engineer of the Genesee Canal. These investigations resulted from the proposed improvements between the southern termination of the canal (at Olean) and the coal-beds of Pennsylvania. By means of a short canal and slackwater navi- gation up the Allegany, partly within the limits of both states, the coal and iron heds along Potato Creek in M'Kean county may be easily reached. Mr. Mills surveyed the portion of the route between Olean and the Pennsylvania line, and inspected the remainder of the distance, as well as the depositories of the minerals. He states that he was surprised to find so little fall in the streams, and the flats so well adapted to canalling. The coal lies in a direct line, about twenty-eight miles south of the junction of the Genesee Canal with the Allegany River at Olean; but the length of the contemplated improvement for reaching the mineral would probably be forty-two miles, about eight of which would be in the State of New-York. "I saw the coal at five places," says Mr. Mills, " varying from one fourth to one mile apart. It was dif- ficult to determine with certainty whether at all the points the coal was of different veins or not, though I ain inclined to believe it was at most, if not all of them. The veins vary in thickness from ten to seventeen inches of solid coal. The most perfect opening I saw exhibited three veins, alternating with slate, making together eight feet in depth, from the top of the upper to the bottom of the lower vein-some four or five feet of which will, I think, when the drift is carried farther into the hill, prove to be good coal. It is bituminous, and of a fair quality. Bog iron ore of an excel- lent quality is found in large quantities in the same region, and also limestone."* * * " From what I saw," concludes Mr. Mills, "I am induced to believe it will prove suffi- ciently abundant to work advantageously, and, with the improvement in question, must eventually contribute largely to the trade and importance of tho Genesee Valley Canal."
Police of the City and County.
It is a fact worthy of particular notice, that, from the foundation of Rochester to the present time, no mob or tumult has occurred like those which have occasionally disgraced some other large towns. The general tranquillity of the city is noticed among the remarks of one of the mayors, whose office included a period of much ex- citement on the abolition and other questions-excitement which elsewhere led to frequent riots. Although Monroe holds nearly the same rank among the counties that Rochester does among the cities of the State, no capital conviction has ever yet taken place within its limits; and, notwithstanding the two acts which have unhappily marked the last few months (the murder of Mr. Lyman and the outrage on Captain Gage), the annals of few communities present pages less blackened by crime. May we not be backward in employing the means which prosperity places within our reach, for the prevention of crime and the eradication of vice-for the advancement of intellectual and moral culture !
A city night-watch has been maintained for some years. Ariel Wentworth is the present police magistrate.
Cemeteries.
The arrangements for the dead furnish strong indications of the characteristics of the living. It is gratifying to find that in this matter, as in most other cases, the spirit of our people is shown in a favourable light. A tract of ground has been secured for the purposes of a cemetery on the east side of the river, on the southern line of the city, which will supersede the use of the present cemeteries. The tract contains about fifty acres, and includes some high grounds which overlook the city and its vi- cinity for many miles. The land is varied by hill and valley, and has an abundance of trees and shrubbery, which may be trimmed so as to make beautiful shade. With an edifice erected on the highest summit, to serve as a chapel partly and partly as an observatory, this cemetery would soon become a resort for those who wish to withdraw occasionally from worldly bustle to meditate on their own condition and on their past relations with the dead. From the spirit manifested by the citizens, it cannot be doubted that the new cemetery of Rochester will soon be arranged with a degree of taste which may render it an object as interesting to our citizens as Mount Auburn is to the people of Boston.
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FINE ARTS.
Miscellaneous Notices-Artists, etc.
First settlers and first settlements are characterized by works of necessity rather than of ornament. Manifestations of taste and liberality in reference to the Fine Arts are, however, increasing in Rochester in a ratio commensurate with the pros- perity of the citizens. The architecture of our churches and other public buildings, as well as that of many of the private edifices, is generally creditable to the taste of the inhabitants, as well as to the skill of the builders.
On the death of De Witt Clinton, the Franklin Institute raised a subscription to procure a full-length portrait of the lamented statesman. Catlin, who has since ren- dered himself conspicuous by his works among the Indians, was the artist selected for the task. The painting, copied from a likeness taken by the same artist for the corporation of New-York, was sent to Rochester in charge of his brother, whose untimely fate at a romantic spot is elsewhere mentioned in this volume. The In- stitute having met with some difficulties, the property was disposed of, and the por- trait of Clinton fell into the hands of Elisha Johnson, the present mayor, who, we doubt not, would cheerfully do all that could be expected reasonably from an indi- vidual in rendering the painting the property of some public institution. Might not a subscription be raised to secure for the public this interesting memorial of departed greatness ?
The traveller who has ever sojourned at the Clinton House of Rochester while Ma- thies was landlord cannot have forgotten the portrait of the Red Chieftain which ar- rested his attention on entering the pariour of that hotel. The striking physiognomy, the piercing eye, the peculiar medallion on the breast, might well have excited in- quiry ; and had the inquirer met with any who had known the original, he would doubtless have been assured that it was a capital likeness of Saguaha or Red Jacket, that noble Seneca, whose wisdom, eloquence, and patriotism are worthy of higher fame than will probably crown the champion of a decaying race. Mr. Mathies de- voted considerable time and employed much persuasion to induce the old chief to permit a portrait to be taken. Mr. Mathies was a person of eccentric genius, who oc- casionally seized the pallet, and devoted himself for some weeks or months to a pur- suit in which some such pieces as this bear evidence of his ability. It may be ques- tioned whether any other artist ever enjoyed such facilities for sketching accurately the lineaments of the great chief. The picture is now owned by Dr. John B. Elwood.
The portrait of Vincent Mathews, painted by request of the junior members of the Rochester bar, was executed by Daniel Steele, formerly of this city. It hangs in the courthouse. The miniature portraits of General Mathews and Colonel Rochester, drawn for engravings to be placed in the Sketches of Rochester, were painted by V. Pason Shaver, who has just returned to the city after practising during the winter in the National Academy at New-York. The portrait of General Mathews was drawn from life; that of Colonel Rochester from a painting made by IIarding a few years before Col. R's. death. Where there are so many hundreds whose ac- quaintance with the subjects enables them to judge of the correctness of the portraits, it is needless to use many words in commending the fidelity of the artist.
A portrait of Jesse llawley was drawn by G. S. Gilbert of Rochester for presentation by Mr. Hawley himself to the New-York Historical Society, to be preserved by that body in connexion with his early writings on the policy of the Erie Canal.
John T. Young is the artist who has sketched for us the various scenes and edi- fices represented by forty-two engravings in this volume. To those who are ac- quainted with the aspect of things at Rochester, it is needless to say that his drawings are remarkable for accuracy. Mr. Young drew some large-sized sketches of scenery at Rochester-the Middle and Lower Falls, &c .- which were published a couple of years ago by C. and M. Morse, booksellers, and which form appropriate ornaments for the parlours of our citizens. As a landscape-drawer, Mr. Young has a very respectable rank in his profession, and should be aided by a liberal patronage. There are many scenes in and around the city which might be depicted by him in such way as would embellish the walls of the best-finished houses ; and we hope to see our wealthy citizens evince their taste by encouraging art in this way.
Probably the earliest artist who attempted to settle on the banks of the Genesee was a son of the celebrated Benjamin West, President of the British Royal Academy, of whom Dunlap relates a few particulars in his History of the Arts of Design.
"In 1810 Raphael West, son of Benjamin West, visited America, to improve wild lands ; and although he did not exert his talents as a painter for the public, or exhibit any pictures during his stay, his taste had influence on the arts of the country-for the leaven cannot be mingled with the lump and produce no effect ; and the drawings lie brought with him, and those executed during his residence at Big-tree (between Geneseo and Moscow), and communicated or presented to his friends, must be con- sidered as swelling the tide of western art by a copious though transient shower. Disappointed, discouraged, and homesick, Raphael gladly broke from the Big-tree prison, to return to the paternal home in Newman-street. On his way he visited me
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
in New-York. His anger was kindled againat Wadsworth, who, like a true American, saw in the wilderness the paradise which was to grow up and bloom there, but which was invisible to the London painter, and, if possible, still more so to his London wife. ' Would you believe it, Dunlap ? aa I sat drawing by a lower window, up marched a bear, as if to take a lesson ""
Falls of the Genesee-Fate of Catlin.
The ill-fated career of CATLIN should not be left unnoticed in connexion with the Falls of the Genesee at Rochester, particularly as it was admiration of those cata- racts which occasioned his untimely fate. He was literally a martyr to his love of Nature, and expired amid a scene which his perceptions of the "sublime and beauti- ful" caused him to appreciate with an enthusiasm akin to that which has since se- cured well-deserved celebrity for his brother, the unrivalled picturer of the character and appearance of the Red Men of the West.
Admiration of the worth and services of DE WITT CLINTON caused the Franklin Institute of Rochester to propose a subscription among the citizens for securing a portrait of that statesman. Catlin was the artist selected for the task, which he ac- complished before starting on his memorable seven years' tour among the wild scenes and wilder men of the West. The painting was brought to Rochester by the brother of whose fate we now speak.
A beautiful morning tempted young Catlin to saunter along the banks of the river to the Lower Falls. The water was at that stage whereat those falls appear most beautiful. The young artist (for, though a graduate of West Point, he had adopted the profession of his elder brother) descended the precipitous banks for the purpose of admiring the scenery from the margin of the river below the falls, where the Genesee assumes the level of the waters of Lake Ontario. The view of the cataract and of the high banks between which the river has worn its passage is beautiful indeed. After admiring the scenes presented by some curves in the river-banks, the young artist returned close to the fall. Here he went into the river to bathe, or perhaps to get a view of the cataract from the centre of the river or the west side. But a short shrill cry of agony soon warned a fisherman that the swimmer was in peril-and the enthusiastic artist sunk to rise no more with life !
The suspicions of foul play entertained against the fisherman -- the only spectator of the tragedy-were dispelled promptly by the consequent investigation ; and the belief prevailed that death resulted from cramp.
Among those who were associated with the writer in discharging the last duties to the dead, was one whose pen produced some lines upon the melancholy event. In quoting a passage, we hope to be excused for naming the author, HO" .TIO GATES WARNER, now of Chittenango.
" Methought, while o'er his bier the many gazed, Who knew but of his name, nor friends nor home,
Who lent a hand in Christian charity
To give the stranger all that friends can hope- Methought upon the loved of him who found A watery death, untimely, sad, and strange-
Perhaps, while o'er that bosom falls the earth, The rattling earth that hides our every gaze, A mother softly heaves a prayer to Heaven To guard from dangerous chance her absent son : Perhaps, while not a teardrop falls upon The turf that shields a once-fond brother's heart,
Some boding spirit steals a sister's sigh,
And midnight dreams the slumbers haunt of Love : Perhaps, while strangers chant the hymn of death, In him their dearest hopes are full and high : On Fame's broad roll, in Fancy'a ken, they see Engraved his name with such as live in death- With Hogarth, Holbein, Raphael, Angelo- And feel the joy that Genius wins from Fame.
Oh! it is bliss to feed upon the hopes That worth and talents wake for those we love! There is no joy that warms a parent's bosom That is of purer, heavenlier glow than this ! And ah ! no ills of life that sicken souls- That crush the spirit when it seems most bless'd, And on the dearest hopes cast deadliest blight, Rolla Sorrow's cloud more chilly, deeply dark, Than when we thus must mourn the wither'd bud Of Genius cropp'd by rude and unlook'd Fate- Denied the boon to close his dying eyes, Or pour our gushing sorrow o'er his grave !"
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CARTHAGE BRIDGE AND IRONDEQUOIT BAY.
Carthage Bridge.
As this was one of the boldest feats in bridge building-remarkable in its fate as in its construction-some account of the structure may not be uninteresting to the in- quirer after the " Antiquities" of Rochester. The bridge derived its name from a vil- lage allotment now included in the northern part of the City of Rochester. It crossed the river between the Lower Falls of the Genesee and the Ontario Steamboat-Land- ing, at a point where the precipitous and rocky banks are upward of two hundred feet above the surface of the river, there nearly corresponding with the level of Lake Ontario.
This bridge was built by an association of gentlemen interested in property on the east bank of the river, in 1818-19, in the village allotment formerly known as Car- thage. In this association were included Elisha B. Strong, Levi II. Clarke, and Heman Norton, the two latter now residing in the City of New-York. The boldness of the enterprise causes the insertion here of the names of the architects-Brainerd and Chapman-as well as of the projectors.
" The bridge was completed in February, 1819," said the account of Rochester and its vicinity in 1827. "It consisted of an entire arch, the chord of which was 352 feet, and the versed sine 54 feet. The summit of the arch was 196 feet above the surface of the water. The entire length of the bridge was 718 feet, and the width 30 feet- besides four large elbow braces, placed at the extremities of the arch, and projecting 15 feet on each side of it.
" The arch consisted of nine ribs, two feet four inches thick, connected by braced levellers above and below, and secured by 800 strong iron bolts. The feet of the arch rested upon the solid rock, about 60 feet below the surface of the upper bank. Soon after the completion of the bridge, loaded wagons with more than thirteen tons weight passed over it without producing any perceptible tremour. It contained about 70,000 feet of timber, running measure, besides 64,620 feet of board measure. It was built in the first place upon a Gothic arch, the vertex of which was about 20 feet be- low the floor of the bridge, and was, in point of mechanical ingenuity, as great a curiosity as the bridge itself.
"The famous bridge at Schaffhausen, in Switzerland, which stood for fifty years the pride of the eastern world, was but twelve feet longer span than the Carthage Bridge (in what is now the City of Rochester). The most lofty single arch at pres- ent in Europe is 116 feet less in length than this was, and the arch not as high by 96 feet.
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