USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati in 1841 : its early annals and future prospects > Part 11
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16. W. side of Main, between Second and Pearl.
17. E. side of Main, between Fourth and Fifth.
18. E. side of Main, between Sixth and Seventh.
19. N. side of Water, between Walnut and Main. 20. N. side of Front, between Walnut and Main. 21. N. side of Pearl, between Walnut and Main. 22. Corner of Fourth and Walnut.
23. N. side of Fifth, between Walnut and Main.
24. E. side of Walnut, between Sixth and Seventh. 25. N. side of Front, between Vine and Walnut. 26. N. side of Fifth, between Vine and Walnut.
27. E. side of Vine, between Front and Second. 28. Corner of Canal and Vine.
29. N. side of Water, between Race and Vine.
30. N. side of Fifth, between Race and Vine.
31. N. side of Front, between Elm and Race. 32. N. side of Fifth, between Elm and Race.
33. W. side of Plum, between Water and Front.
34. N. side of Water, between Elm and Plum.
35. W. side of Race, between Second and Third.
147
WATER WORKS.
WATER-WORKS.
Samuel H. Davies, Superintendent ; James F. Irwin, Secre- tary; Ezra Carpenter, Collector.
This important establishment was originally projected by Col. Saml. W. Davies, in the year 1817. In May of that year, he obtained from the city council a charter, granting the exclusive privilege of laying pipes, &c. in the streets of the city, for the term of 99 years.
A suitable building for his operations was commenced in 1819, on the bank of the river, a short distance above Deer creek. This edifice, which is appropriated to the machinery for raising water, has its foundation laid deep and strong in the rock which, at this place, forms the bed of the Ohio. Its walls, commencing about ten feet above low water mark, are built of limestone. They are eight feet thick at the foun- dation, diminishing gradually to a height of thirty-five feet, where they are five feet thick. Here the brick-work com- mences. The building on the river side is ninety feet high. A well, which has been excavated in the solid rock beneath the building, communicates by a canal with the deep water, and thus guarantees a constant supply at the lowest possible depression of the river. The water is raised from this well by lifting-pumps to a point above high water mark, and is thence forced up to the reservoirs on the hill, a distance of about seven hundred feet. These reservoirs are elevated one hundred and fifty feet above low water mark, and about thirty- feet above the upper plane of the city. The machinery em- ployed for the purpose is a forty horse power steam engine.
The largest of these reservoirs is one hundred and three feet by fifty feet, and the smaller ninety-four feet by forty-five feet. The average depth of the whole is twelve feet, and their capacity one million six hundred thousand gallons. The water is carried through cast iron pipes under the bed of Deer creek to the intersection of Broadway and Third street, where it is distributed along all the principal streets, through
148
WATER WORKS.
pipes of oak logs with iron joints. About twenty-four miles of pipe have been already laid, and they are constantly ex- tended as rapidly as public convenience and patronage require. The price of water varies according to the quantity supplied to a hydrant, the minimum rate being ten dollars. Those who take the water are at the expense of conducting it from the main pipe in the street, and furnishing hydrants, as well as keeping them in order.
Until 1826, the works were carried on individually. In that year, under the necessity of increasing its operations, the ownership was transferred to others, who became incorporated under the title of "The Cincinnati Water Company," and who, after repeated efforts to sell out to the city since, accom- plished that arrangement, under the sanction of a public vote of the citizens, in 1839.
The report of the superintendent of the works, for 1840, will serve to explain their present condition.
Statement of the Condition of the Water Works, on the 15th of December, 1840.
There are now in the city,
Wooden pipes, from 1} to 22 inches in diameter, 19} miles.
Iron pipes, from 4 to 20 inches in diameter 44 6
Making in all 233 ." There has been laid since the purchase of the works by the city, Wooden pipes of 23 inches diameter 3,337 feet.
Iron pipes of 4 to 10 inches diameter 3,311 «
Making in all . . 6,648 " Being all the pipes laid down in that period, except the ordi- nary repairs of logs, the expense of which equals the cost of three inch iron pipes ; and in view of this fact, I again respect- fully suggest to the committee the importance of abandoning the putting down the logs entirely, and laying nothing but iron pipes. It is at once seen, that although the original cost of logs is much cheaper than iron, yet the repairs of such logs
149
WATER WORKS.
cost as much as the first cost of iron pipes of double the capa- city; as regards economy, therefore, there can be but one opinion, and that is in favor of good iron pipes. Another dis- advantage from the use of logs, which is severely felt in the upper part of the city, is the impossibility of supplying through them as much water as the wants of the citizens require ; being necessarily of small diameter, and the draft on them constant, the water will not rise in the upper part of the city to within twenty feet of the height of the reservoir. In cities, such as Philadelphia, where the average height of their reservoir is less than in our own city, they have an abundant supply of water, not only for domestic purposes, but in case of fire also, which I deem one of the first objects of a well regulated water works. The reason of this abundant supply is obvious, as in Philadelphia they have iron pipes of capacity sufficient for all their wants. They suffered formerly at Philadelphia in the same manner as ourselves, when at one time they had six lines of wooden pipes leading their water to the city, which they finally abandoned and substituted iron pipes of large diameter.
There has been discontinued since the city came into pos- session of the water works-of wooden pipes, seven thousand eight hundred and seventy-one feet. Of this amount three thou- sand three hundred and eleven feet have been replaced with iron pipes, and four thousand five hundred and sixty feet have been discontinued on streets where the former company had laid down iron pipes, and still continued the use of the logs. The attachments were therefore changed to the iron pipes and the logs abandoned, by which considerble leakage and many repairs have been avoided.
The consumption of water in the city has averaged for the last year, one million and eighty thousand gallons daily, which has been distributed to three thousand tenants, being an ave- rage daily supply to each tenant of three hundred and sixty gallons. This large average supply is attributable, partially, to the constant practice throughout the city of families and . other establishments supplying themselves with water from
N 2
150
STEAMBOATS.
the hydrants and pipes without authority, which has become a very serious drawback upon the revenue of the works. But the large average supply (so greatly beyond the wants of the citizens) is principally owing to the innumerable leaks from the wooden pipes, which it is impossible to discover, as the water descends into the gravel and into the numerous sink holes, so common on the upper plane of the city.
As the iron pipes are substituted, this waste will diminish, and I have no doubt, when the wooden pipes are all abandon- ed, and some prompt measure enforced against such as take water without authority, that the present amount of fuel con- sumed by the engines will supply double the number of tenants.
The average supply of water to each tenant in the city of Philadelphia is one hundred and seventy-seven gallons daily, being less than half the quantity supplied from the works of this city.
The present engines and pumps can supply, by working twelve hours each day, twenty-one million gallons of water, by running both engines at the same time.
Respectfully submitted,
S. H. DAVIES, Superintendent.
STEAMBOATS. List of steam vessels belonging the District of Cincinnati, January, 1841.
Adriatic tons 383
Columbus
340
Atalanta
180
Creole
110
Athenian 110
Commodore 198
A. M. Phillips 175
Com. Barney 25
Bridgewater 160
Davy Crockett
99
Ben Franklin 311
Dolphin 48
Bowling Green 148
Dove 34
Columbia 140
Echo 158
Chieftain 322
Elk 89
' Crusader
98
Eagle 56
Cinderella
125
Fair Play 135
151
STEAMBOATS.
Freedom 38
Patrick Henry
162
Fairy Queen 60
Picayune
80
Flying Dutchman 169
Pike .
295
General Pike
235
President
249
General Wayne
208
Paul Pry
34
General Harrison 149
Queen of the West 291
Gov. Morehead 98
Relief
90
Home 75
Reporter
135
Hoosier 82
Renown
148
Hope
44
Rubicon
164
Indian
73
Southerner
205
Indiana
137
Swiftsure
116
Independence 275
Swan
93
Joan of Arc
343
Sunflower
71
Lawrence
79
Scioto Valley
195
Lexington 230
Splendid .
354
Lady Scott
58
Saline
75
Lily
82
Mail 148
Mediator 215
Marmion
204
Maryland
100
Tide .
99
Triumph
68
Trader
29
Vesta
35
Victor
90
Vienna
155
Volant
113
Wacousta
98
Wyoming
99
Winchester
162
Princeton
125
Sylph
65
Tuckahoe
80
Transit .
104
Tarquin
178
Maid of Kentucky
192
Miami 115
Mechanic 98
Monroe
89
North Star
148
New Orleans
305
Ohio Belle
295
Ozark
130
Osceola
94
Zephyr
109
There are 437 steamboats navigating the western waters, of the following tonnage :- from 30 to 100 tons, 78; from 100 to 200, 212; from 200 to 300, 105; from 300 to 400, 24; from 400 to 500, 8 ; from 500 to 600, 5; from 600 to 700, 4; 785 tons, 1.
Levi Welch
83
Swallow
253
152
UNITED STATES OFFICES.
UNITED STATES OFFICES.
CINCINNATI is a port of entry and enrolment. J. B. War- ren, Surveyor and Depository of Public Monies for this dis- trict.
Office of the Surveyor General of Public Lands.
This office was created by act of congress, passed May 18, 1796, and embraced what was then called the " North-west- ern Territory." After the purchase of Louisiana, its jurisdic- tion was extended to all the public lands west of the Missis- sipi river, and north of the 33d degree of latitude, compre- hending then within its limits, an extent of territory which now comprises the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Arkansas; and the territories of Wisconsin and Iowa.
By subsequent acts of congress, new surveying districts were set off, and similar offices established. This surveying district now embraces the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Mi- chigan.
Under the direction of the surveyor general, all the public lands in those states are surveyed. He appoints his own dep- uties, who receive their instructions from him; and by them the public surveys are executed. The original field-notes of all those surveys are returned to the surveyor general, and fil- ed in his office. From these field-notes the plats, or maps, of the several townships of the public lands are prepared in this office, and copies thereof transmitted to the general land office at Washington city, and to the land offices respectively, at which the lands are to be sold.
The following are the names of the several surveyors gen- eral who have held this office :-
Rufus Putnam, appointed in 1796; Jared Mansfield, 1803 ; Josiah Meigs, 1813; Edward Tiffin, 1814; William Lytle, 1829; Micajah T. Williams, 1831; Robert T. Lytle, 1835 ; Ezekiel S. Haines, 1838.
153
UNITED STATES OFFICES.
The office, as now constituted, consists of-Ezekiel S. Haines, Surveyor General; Samuel Williams, Chief Clerk ; Samuel Morrison, Augustus Hopkins and Charles Woelner, Draughtsmen; James T. Higbee and Arthur St. Clair Vance, Clerks.
Office, at the Lytle Mansion, Lawrence, between Symmes and Fourth streets.
Post-Office.
The first post-office at Cincinnati was established in 1793, Abner Dunn being postmaster. His successors have been, William Maxwell, Daniel Mays, William Ruffin, and William Burke, the present incumbent. In 1815, the mails that arriv- ed each week, were but nine; in 1828, they were twenty- three ; at present there are sixty weekly mails.
Year. Revenue. Weekly Mails. Year.
Revenue. Weekly Mails.
1826 . . $8,162.00 . . 23
1838 · · 51,226.71 . . 60
1828 · · 12,150.00 . . 23
1839 · · 55,017.32 . . 60
1829 · · 16,251.00 . . 32
1833 · · 26,118.00 . . 60
Arrivals and Departures of the Mails, at the Post-office at Cincinnati, Ohio.
Eastern Mail, via Columbus, O., and Wheeling, Va., arrives at 8}, A. M .; departs at 11, A. M .; closes at 10, A. M. Southern mail, via Louisville, Ky., by steam-boat, arrives at 7, A. M .; departs at 10, A. M; closes at 9, A. M. Southern mail, via Georgetown and Lexington, Ky., arrives at 7, A. M. ; departs at 10, A. M .; closes at 9, A. M.
Northern mail, via Hamilton and Dayton, Ohio, arrives at 12 at night; departs at 5, A. M .; closes previous to day of departure at 8, P. M.
Western mail, via Indianapolis, Ia., arrives daily, Mondays excepted, at 8, P. M .; departs daily, Sundays excepted, at 5, A. M. ; closes previous to departure at 8, P. M.
Newport and Covington mail arrives at 8, A. M .; departs at 9, A. M; closes at 9, A. M.
1840 · · 49,815.13 .. 60
154
UNITED STATES OFFICES.
Chillicothe, O. mail, via Hillsborough and Bainbridge, Arrives, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, . · at 6, P. M.
Departs, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8, A. M.
Closes, previous to day of departure · at 8, P. M.
West Union mail, via Milford and Batavia, O.
Arrives, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday . at 5, P. M.
Departs, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6, A. M.
Closes, previous to day of departure · at 8, P. M.
Maysville, Ky. mail, via New Richmond and Ripley.
Arrives, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday . at 7, P. M.
Departs, Monday, Wednesday and Friday . by 6, A. M.
Closes, previous to day of departure at 8, P. M.
Cynthiana, Ky. mail, via Newport and Alexandria, Ky. Arrives, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday · at 5, P. M.
Departs, Sunday, Tuesday and 'Thursday . by 6, A. M.
Closes, previous to day of departure · at 8, P. M.
Stillwell, O. mail, via Mount Healthy, O.
Arrives on Saturday at 4, P. M.
Departs on Friday at 9, A. M.
Montgomery mail, via Walnut Hills, O.
Arrives, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday . · at 6, P. M.
Departs, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday . · at 6, A. M. Lawrenceburgh, Ia. mail, via Burlington, Ky.
Arrives, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday . · at 9, P. M. Departs, Monday, Wednesday and Friday . . . at 10, A. M.
EARLY ANNALS OF CINCINNATI.
IN preparing " Cincinnati in 1841" for the press, I pro- posed to furnish an extended narrative of the incidents con- nected with the early settlement and progress, until 1835, of the place,-which I designed should serve as a principal sec- tion of this work. It became, however, apparent, that I must exclude either this whole subject, or every thing else which it was proposed should succeed it, the materials gathered for the purpose proving so valuable and ample as to forbid the idea of reducing the space allotted this department to a few pages. Reserving for future use, therefore, the great body of fact and incident relating to the early history of Cincinnati, and trusting that further researches will render my materials more authentic and complete, I shall substitute in this section of the publication, EARLY ANNALS OF CINCINNATI, compiled from the early newspaper press, then and always the most de- tailed, accurate, and interesting records of contemporary facts ; and transcribing all notices that are matters of interest, with such comments and explanations as may be necessary to shed light on the darkness of the past.
My extracts commence with the "WESTERN SPY and HAMILTON GAZETTE," reaching as far back as the ori- gin of that press in 1799; Mr. Joseph Carpenter, the editor and proprietor, commencing it as a weekly print, and issuing the first number on May 28th of that year. This was not, however, the first newspaper published in Cincinnati, Free- man's Journal and Maxwell's Gazette having successively
155
156
EARLY ANNALS.
preceded it. I have not been able to obtain either of those prints thus far, although they are believed, at least in scatter- ed numbers, still to exist; but except as curiosities, they are probably of little value. They were both published very ir- regularly, and neither lasted for any length of time. The SPY itself, although published in what may be termed a more ad- vanced state of society, was occasionally intermitted in its publication, as the mails, then once a week at oftenest, failed in their arrivals, or a supply of printing paper run out, or the proprietors had a job of public printing on hand. How little had newspapers, in that day, approximated their present im- portance and interest, which renders thousands so dependent on them, as to feel the failure of the morning news a privation as great as the loss of their breakfast.
May 17, 1799. " POST OFFICE. Notice is hereby given that a post-office is established at CHELICOTHA. All per- sons therefore having business in that part of the country, may now have a speedy and safe conveyance by post for letters, packets, &c."
This was of course carried on horse, there being no wheel route, nor any thing more than an Indian trace through the woods, at that time.
Our respected fellow-citizen, Griffin Yeatman, figures among the active scenes of the early days of Cincinnati. His adver- tisement, same date, runs thus : " Observe this notice. I have experienced the many expenses attending my pump, and any FAMILY wishing to receive the benefits thereof for the future, may get the same by sending me twenty-five cents each Mon- day morning."
Ye who growl at paying ten dollars a year for the use of wholesome, palatable river water, delivered into your hydrants at your doors, how would you relish it, like your predeces- sors, to pay thirteen dollars per annum for the nauseous well water, of which specimens may still be found in parts of the city, and constrained at that to carry it yourselves to your own house, frequently at a great distance ?
ODD FELLOW'S HALL
DOOLITTLE& MUNSON ENGRAVERS
BANK NOTE ENGRAVING
Drawn by CFoster
Engraved by Doodle & Munson
POST OFFICE, CINCINNATI. Third Street, between Walnut and Vine ,
DOOLITTLEM MUNSON MAP PUPLISHERS
BANK NOTE ENGRAVING
C FOSTER ENGRAVER & DRAUGHTSMAN
157
EARLY ANNALS.
The militia figured here, as every where else in new settle- ments. "Battalion Order, May 13, 1799. The lieutenant colonel again calls on the officers of every grade to exert themselves in exercising and teaching the men the necessary manœuvres as laid down in Baron Steuben's instructions, &c. And it is hoped that the delay of the battalion muster may produce a good effect ; that is, that the industrious farmers may have time to put in their summer crops, and the industri- ous officers, at their company parades, may improve their men in exercising them, so that they may be distinguished when the battalion is formed, which will be on the fourth of July next. BY ORDER, DANIEL SYMMES, lieutenant and adju- tant."
Two excellent reasons, certainly, for postponement. A doubt, however, might naturally arise in the minds of some, myself among the number, whether much progress could be made by the farmers in military science while getting in their crops. Possibly they were taught, like the farmer's son in the " Poor Gentleman," who sowed his three acres of wheat be- fore breakfast to the tune of Belleisle's march, to mark time in cutting their grain, and keep step with their horses in wag- oning it home.
In due season, as appears by " a Spectator in the SPY, that the battalion paraded accordingly ; that two or three compa- nies on foot were in uniform, and a troop of horse, about thir- ty in number, mostly so also; the whole being reviewed by his excellency William Henry Harrison, governor of the ter- ritory," pro tempore.
Thomas Goudy, of Millcreek, at the close of a long adver- tisement, in which the capacities and facilities of his mill are fully set forth, adds, " as to the despatch of business, I need say no more, than that Mr. Jessup had 32 bushels corn ground on her in precisely eight minutes. I hope to gain a general custom, but she is absolutely idle for want of work at present."
Who at that time could have contemplated the possibility, within forty years, of this same region between the Miamis,
0
158
EARLY ANNALS.
after supplying a home consumption for citizens and farmers, sending off to New Orleans three hundred thousand barrels flour per annum.
June 18 .- " Natchez and New Orleans price current. It may be depended on. Markets very much glutted at Orleans and this place (Natchez.) Whiskey 50 to 60 cts. per gall. Iron 11 dollars per 100. Castings 8 to 9 dollars ditto. To- bacco, ready sale from 9 to 10 dollars per hundred. Flour from 5.50 cts. to 6 dollars per bbl. and very dull sale. Bacon 8 to 10 cts. per lb. Cordage very dull sale-E. Craig just arrived with three boat loads with it. Much complaint of the scarcity of cash."
Again, June 25th, among other prices at Natchez, whiskey is quoted at 5 to 6 bits-622 to 75 cts .; castings and iron same as last ; untarred cordage 18 to 20 cts. per lb. ; nails 25 to 33} cts. per lb .; cotton 20 to 21 dollars per hundred.
Many of these articles do not vary much from modern prices. Iron and castings have been reduced one-half by our improved facilities of manufacture and transportation. These were articles which went down the river ; we shall presently see the astonishing disparity of prices-past and present-on what was carried up the Ohio.
Cotton was then just becoming an item of produce-the most far-reaching mind, unable to have anticipated its future value to the country-and while it was so far short of an ade- quate supply to the wants of the people, was not, perhaps, higher in price than might be expected. Cordage was double its present rates. The price of nails-wrought nails, I pre- sume-serves to point out the value of cut nails, an article of such daily use and indispensable necessity, and which, even at their reduction to one-fourth the price quoted here, constitute a heavy share in building expences.
The business of the city appears to have been done princi- pally on Main below Second-then Columbia street, so called from leading to the town of that name,-Front street facing the landing, and Sycamore, a short distance from Front street.
159
EARLY ANNALS.
Robert Park-the first hatter in the place-at the corner of Main and Second, the ground now occupied by Bates' drug- store, advertises hats for cash or country produce ; buys furs, and wants an apprentice on good terms, which, like others, he prefers to get from the country.
We are all apt to speak of the weather, in comparison of other periods, as the hottest or the coldest we have ever known. What shall we say of the sufferings of the early settlers under what must have been an unprecedented degree of heat here, in June, and uncommon in that month every where.
June 25th .- " We have, within these few days, experi- enced a greater degree of heat than was ever known in the country. On Thursday, the 20th, the mercury rose to 103 in the shade, four degrees higher than was ever known before ; Friday, 21st, 100; Saturday, 22d, 96; Sunday, 23rd, 100; Monday, 24th, 101."
Notices of marriages ran thus in the newspapers :- Mar- ried, on the - January, Mr. Henry - to the amia- ble Miss -; or the amiable and accomplished Miss This was a form common also in Philadelphia, as I well re- collect, about the same period, superceded there as here in the progress of a purer taste.
As an illustration of fashions, I notice at this period adver- tisements in the Spy of hair-powder, and fair-top boots.
July 4th, 1799, the first recorded celebration in Cincinnati, of our national anniversary :- " The morning being ushered in by a federal salute from Fort Washington, and the 1st bat- talion Hamilton militia paraded at the muster ground, in the vicinity of this place, they went through the customary evolu- tions and firings .- As to their performance, we need only re- fer our readers to the governor's general orders .- After the battalion was dismissed, the governor, the federal officers from Fort Washington, the officers of militia, and a large number of respectable citizens, dined under a bower prepared for that purpose. Capt. Miller having furnished a piece of artillery,
160
EARLY ANNALS.
which, with captain Smith's company of militia, accompanied by martial music, made the woods resound to each of the fol- lowing toasts," &c.
The toasts are in good spirit and taste, but are too long to insert here.
" In the evening, the gentlemen joined a brilliant assembly of ladies, at Mr. Yeatman's, in town; it is impossible to de- scribe the ecstatic pleasure that appeared to be enjoyed by all present," &c.
Then follows the general order, referred to, of the governor, in which he highly compliments the battalion on the ease and exactness of their evolutions and firings; which, he adds, would not discredit regular soldiers. Governor St. Clair- these general orders and other publications being testimo- ny-appears to have understood, with Cromwell before his day, and Napoleon since, both of whom he resembled in his exercise of authority, that the greatest degree of familiarity with the rank and file of the people, is not incompatible with the most arbitrary conduct towards those just below his own degree, in political and social influence.
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