USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 30
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Sometime since we endeavored to set forth the advantages of an enterprise that was conceived to be practical, which would prove of immense profit to the city, especially the re- tail trade, and afford employment to a large number of men. Reference is made to the revival of the boat-building interests of New Albany. The former reputation of the ship-yards located here and the master builders who gave them direc- tions, was unsurpassed by that of any locality in the country. In a large degree the character of the floating palaces, so many of which at one time plied the western and southern rivers, was due to the very excellent timber which was to be found north and west of the city, and which is known to possess qualities vastly superior to that used in localities farther up the Ohio. There are various reasons given by practical men for this superiority, which are unnecessary to rehearse, since the fact is indisputable. Nor is the timber alone worthy of attention. The well known reputation of our engine builders will not be forgotten by those who have a memory of the power which was obtained and the superior manner in which it was util- ized in the excellent construction of the great motors, which was applied in the propulsion of these crafts.
In recurring to this subject again, it is hoped that we shall be able to present such facts before the public as will satisfy those interested, not only of the feasibility of the enterprise, but that shall convince them that other and most important facts, that the establishment of a well appointed boat-yard here will prove remunerative. To this end the following table has been prepared, giving the number of steamers built at this port, extending over a period of twenty years, including a portion of the years 1847 and 1867, with the tonnage and total cost; from which can be drawn some crude notion of the amount of money annually distributed among the peo- ple. Prior to the first year named, it is possible that a greater number of steamers had been constructed at this port, since the first steamer built here was something over thirty years before 1847. It is probable that some of these were not so costly as the latter steamers, as greater speed, luxury, and comfort have been the prominent objects in the construction of steamers of late years. Among those built prior to 1847, may be named such steamers as the Louisiana, Mississippi, Randolph, Homer, Orleans, Sultana, Diana, Shakspeare, Belle Sheridan, and dozens of others, some of which for speed, capacity, and durability, stand without rivals at the present day. The table below gives the year in which the boats were built, the names assigned them, ton- nage, and cost. These facts have been gathered from the
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170
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
best data attainable at this time, and will be found suffi- ciently valuable for all practical purposes, having passed un- der the revision of experienced men.
1847.
NAME.
TONS.
COST.
Luna No. 2
320
$27,000
Hecla.
430
36,000
Lowndes, Jr
350
36,000
Olive
500
45,000
Montgomery
585
50,000
· Conqueror
630
30,000
General Lafayette
600
45.000
Daniel Pratt.
340
32,000
C. E. Watkins
250
22,000
Iroquois.
580
40,000
1848.
Monroe
300
$28,000
Atlantic
400
35,000
Clara.
250
25,000
Uncle Sam.
650
40,000
Kouma.
275
25,000
Tom Brown
275
25,000
Forest Monarch
300
28,000
Mohican .
591
45,000
1849.
Dove.
300
$25,000
Captain Greenlow
420
35,000
Nashville
710
55,000
Belle Key.
750
60,000
Bunker Hill No. 3.
550
40,000
America
850
65,000
Anna.
200
22,000
B. C. Oglesby
325
30,000
Anna Simmington
230
22,000
Mary Clifton.
330
35,000
Isabella
290
23,000
300
22,000
Lucy Robinson
300
35,000
Huntsville No. 2
946
63,000
Peter Tellon
800
55,000
Antelope.
700
45,000
Four snag boats.
18,000
120,000
1854.
Eclipse
400
$35,000
S. F. J. Trabue.
650
45,000
Belle Sheridan.
680
40,000
T. S. Archer
500
38,000
T. C. Twitchell.
6ro
50,000
Fannie Bullitt.
550
35,000
Judy Towns.
300
25,000
1855.
W. N. Shipman.
300
$25,000
R. W. Powell.
450
35,000
Rapides.
600
40,000
Niagara
700
45,000
J. E. Woodruff.
270
20,000
Republic.
300
25,000
Choctaw.
. 768
45,000
William Dickenson.
270
20,000
Scotland. ..
300
25,000
Bee .
270
18,000
Kate Dale
300
25,000
J. M. Clendenin.
310
30,000
NAME.
TONS.
COST.
Texas Ranger.
260
$22,000
Ambassador, " Mobile"
438
38,000
P. F. Kimball.
430
35,000
George Collins.
320
24,000
Black Diamond.
275
25,000
Francis Jones.
210
· 15,000
Reindeer
320
35,000
1852.
Lucy Robinson
300
$25,000
Eclipse "Extra"
1,288
140,000
Volante. .
275
22,000
Argyle
300
26,000
E. Howard.
537
40,000
Octavia.
270
20,000
Belle Gould.
280
27,000
Sallie Carson.
275
27,000
Piota .
300
25,000
Sallie Sharon
310
25,000
Cremona.
290
23,000
Magnolia "Mobile"
290
35,000
Sam Dale.
610
45,000
H. R. W. Hill
956
65,000
Opelousas.
220
20,000
Eliza Battle.
500
35,000
Tishomingo.
275
20,000
1853.
Eastport.
587
$45,000
A. L. Shotwell.
1,050
85,000
John M. Stockwell.
300
21,000
Robert J. Ward.
800
80,000
Sangamon
200
15,000
Alida.
200
15,000
Lucy Bell.
250
22,000
Laurel Hill ..
550
45.000
Tribune
290
23,000
Texas.
130
15,000
Oregon
610
40,000
Empire.
650
45,000
1850.
Cora No. 2
400
$28,000
Cherokee
500
35,000
Swan.
300
25,000
Sarah Gordon.
300
25,000
Julia Dean
400
28,000
Cuba
325
25,000
Ophelia
250
22,000
New Latona
530
38,000
Bulletin
430
30,000
Saxton .
280
22,000
Magnolia
895
65,000
Martin Hoffman.
310
25,000
Brilliant.
400
35,000
1851.
Diving-Bell Boat.
170
$10,000
Glendy Burke.
620
45,000
Fashion No. 2.
500
40,000
Fashion " Mobile"
530
30,000
Bell Gates.
300
22,000
Pelican
220
18,000
Sultana.
I71
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
NAME.
TONS.
COST.
NAME.
TONS.
COST.
Acadia.
200
$20,000
Iberville
400
45,000
Governor Powell.
400
35,000
White Bluff.
250
18,000
Nina Simms.
250
30,000
Henry [. King.
350
28,000
DeSoto.
300
35,000
J. N. Eaton.
300
25,000
T. W. Roberts
400
45,000
Saracen
280
22,000
Magenta
940
75,000
Cora Anderson.
250
20,000
H. D. Newcomb
656
50,000
Chancellor.
350
28,000
John Warner.
280
22,000
Arkansas Traveler.
130
12,000
Glasgow
350
$40,000
Legrande.
250
18,000
Des Arc.
350
40,000
Bloomer.
220
18,000
Bell Memphis.
400
35,000
St. Charles.
295
45,000
St. Nicholas
295
45,000
Prima Donna.
295
45,000
Alice Vivian.
295
45,000
Woodford
600
$ 60,000
Leviathan.
1,300
125,000
Magenta
800
80,000
Avenger
240
25,000
Vindicator
200
25,000
Luna.
200
25,000
Burd Levi.
220
28,000
Cora S.
220
37,000
Huntsville
220
32,000
1865.
St. Charles.
400
$50,000
Montana.
300
35,000
St. Nicholas
400
50,000
Lucretia.
240
25,000
Emma Brown.
150
25,000
Sarah.
240
25,000
Jennie Browne
150
25,000
St. James.
400
50,000
1866.
Will S. Hays.
300
$25,000
Mary Ament
150
25,000
Frank Bates.
450
55,000
B. J. Lockwood
350
40,000
R. E. Lee
1,227
180,000
John Raine
700
50,000
Piota
200
35,000
Aline
200
20,000
1859.
Black Hawk
300
$35,000
Empire Parish
300
40,000
Lizzie Simmons
700
70,000
Magnolia
900
65,000
Cherokee.
400
45,000
Arkadelphia City
200
20,000
Jim Barkman
300
35,000
Peytona
650
45,000
General Quitman
900
85,000
Sennie Kirk
200
20,000
1860.
W. S. Berry
400
$45,000
B. J. Adams.
400
45,000
James Battle.
550
50,000
L. C. Ferry
350
40,000
W. M. Levy.
250
30,000
Mary Keene.
765
75,000
1861.
Louisville
300
$35,000
Gunboat Tuscumbia
800
$150,000
Huntress
220
28,000
1864.
John Briggs.
250
22,000
Baltic ..
737
60,000
W. S. Ewing.
400
35,000
Boneta.
200
15,000
1857.
Baltic, tow boat.
600
$40,000
Alice Parrott
250
32,000
C. W. Dorrance.
350
40.000
E. H. Fairchild.
610
40,000
New Uncle Sam.
1, 100
85,000
B. L. Hodge.
400
45.000
Vicksburg.
825
70,000
Caddo Belle
300
25,000
W. Burton
300
25,000
Pacific ..
730
60,000
1858.
W. V. Gillam,
300
$25,010
Submarine No. II.
75
10,000
Submarine No. 12.
75
10,000
Bell Boat Southerner
50
8,000
J. D. Perry
300
35,000
Empire .
300
35,000
1867.
Legal Tender.
450
$55,000
Total cost.
.$7,347,000
The above comprises a list of two hundred and four steamers built at this point during the twenty years, at a cost of $7,347.000. Nearly the whole of this vast sum was ex- pended in this city; and the profit upon the trade which it indicates went into the pockets of manufacturers, mechanics, merchants, and laborers. Now let us see who are the parties that have been benefited by the business. First in the list we note the ship-yards, of which, during a portion of the time, there were five, employing in the aggregate four hun- dred and fifty mechanics and laborers direct. The founders employing about two hundred skilled mechanics and their assistants; the cabin builders were another class of contrac- tors, who gave employment to a large number of workmen! the furniture men were also largdy benefited and gave em- ployment to numerous mechanics and laborers; the tin and copper-smiths came in for a liberal share of the necessary
1856.
James Montgomery
650
$45,000
Ben South, ferry
75
10,000
1862.
1 863.
172
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
work in completing an outfit for steamers; while the black- smiths, with numerous employes, cut a very considerable figure in the construction of these vessels,
The Chandler's, etc., comprising the many smaller estab- lishments at which were obtained the various necessary articles for outfits, employed hundreds of men; and in the aggregate came into possession of large sums of the grand total expended.
These are the parties most directly interested in this enter- prise, giving employment to from two thousand to two thou- sand five hundred able-bodied mechanics, artisans, and laborers. Upon the labor of these men depended from eight to ten thousand of the population for support-no inconsider- able city as to numbers. Besides, the building of such a large number of steamers at this point attracted numerous men who are engaged as officers and employes, so that it is safe to say that twelve thousand of our population in a large degree depended upon the business of steamboat building for support. As a matter of course, this large number of people collected together gave employment to merchants and mechanics, who were indirectly benefited by the trade which arose for the demand for the necessaries of life. It would be difficult to determine what were really the profits thus directly and indirectly gained by people of all classes in the city. But it was large, and those who remember the prosperous days of fifteen years ago, know that many of the mechanics had built themselves comfortable homes, and were in the en- joyment of more than the usual share of happiness. They will be remembered too, as among the most worthy and thrifty of our people. In this one branch of industry there has been a most marked change within the past ten years. The ship-yards have been idle, the foundries closed, the smith shops almost gone to wreck, and hundreds of idle men are wandering around the streets, while others have removed from our midst.
While this marked decline in the ship-building interest here has been apparent, it is known that other localities, less favored, have been busy. There is a cause for this, which is patent to many of our people. Just prior to the war, the system of credit was very extensively practiced by the master builders, and the war caused the loss to these enterprising men of thousands of dollars, so crippling them that they were compelled to abandon the business. Had it been pos- sible that these men could have received temporary aid, they could have drifted over their calamities and continued their business.
Now the need is a comparatively small amount of capital, at either a very low rate of interest, or, for that matter, with- out interest, to enable them to once more open their yards and manufactories, with an assurance that they would not be cramped in carrying out their contracts, which would enable them to invite owners of steamboat shares to give them a visit and invite competition for the construction of the large number of steamers which are annually. set afloat on the western and southern rivers.
.
A few years ago a feeble effort was made to organize a company here to renew the business of steamboat building, but the means were entirely inadequate, and nothing was ac- complished. If this locality is to be benefited by this prof- itable business a sufficient sum must be placed at the disposal of competent men to secure the necessary machinery for the building of sheds, the erection of ways, and for other modern appliances, to enable a company to enter in competition with builders at other points. How much will be required for this purpose can only be known to experienced men. Probably .rom $75,000 to $100,000 would be ample. Such a sum judi-
ciously applied would prove more profitable to every business interest of the city than an equal amount in almost any branch of manufactures. The mechanics, the skill, the timber, and all other needed material is at hand, and what is now required is the necessary capital.
There is not a business man in the city but is interested in this matter. Every owner of real estate, every landlord, and in fact all classes have an interest in building up manu- factories in this city, which will attract population and wealth, and none of these manufactories are of more importance . than that of steamboat building. Within a short time Messrs. Hill & Co. have opened a yard at this point, and have made one contract. This yard will be supplied with all the necessary machinery to enable it to compete with the most favored yards in the country. We understand that it is the design of the proprietors to connect a ship-jomner's estab- lishment with the yard, unless some one of our master build- ers shall undertake it. Messrs. Hill & Co. are accomplished master builders, and have had large experience, and it is hoped they will meet with that degree of encouragement and success to which they are entitled.
It will be seen from the above table that ship- building at New Albany advanced steadily until 1856, at which time it reached its zenith, and from which time it began steadily to decline. In that year (1856) twenty-two boats were built, and the business kept up fairly until the war came and nearly put an end to it. After the war had progressed two or three years, there was much demand for steamboats by the Government and from other sources, and plenty of money to carry on business of all kinds, and the ship-building revived in 1864, promising to become as great as ever; but the collapse of the rebellion caused a collapse in the ship-building at New Albany, and it has never revived. The expected revival of the business, according to the above commu- nication, upon the advent of Hill & Co. in 1867, did not occur, and few if any steamboats have been built since 1867. Messrs. Murray & Co. are the present ship-builders of New Albany, but they are principally engaged in building flat- boats and barges for the transportation of coal and other heavy freight. These boats are towed by steamers, and carry immense loads.
The steamboat business north of Mason and Dixon's line has greatly decreased in the last score ot years, owing in great part to the nu- merous railroads, and the consequent cutting of freight rates; and also to the more rapid transit, and the growing desire of the people to save time, do business rapidly, and get through the world as rapidly as possible. Steamboats are too slow for the age. Men can so utilize their time now that it becomes of more value than cheap transportation.
.
173
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
CHAPTER VIII. EDUCATION IN NEW ALBANY.
THE EARLY SCHOOLS.
The proprietors of New Albany, coming as they did from a land of schools and churches, where the moral and secular education of the young was considered a matter of primary im- portance, endeavored from the first to implant this idea in the wilderness, and immediately set about laying a solid foundation upon which to build the educational institutions of the infant city. The seed thus early sown and carefully nurtured has grown and flourished, until the schools in New Albany have been pushed to the front rank of the schools of the State.
The first school-house was erected by the Scribners, and was a large square cabin standing on one of the public squares of the city. The site of this building is on State street, opposite the court-house, the large brick building belong- ing to John Briggs and John Mann now occupy- ing the lot. The old school-house is yet in ex- istence, and should be preserved. It stands on the corner of Lower First and Spring streets, be- ing used as a blacksmith shop. John Aston re- members this building, and says Stephen Beers taught school here in 1817. School-houses were not generally constructed on the lots donated by the Scribners, but the lots were sold from time to time for the benefit of the schools. In 1820 a log school-house stood out on the commons north of the village, in the neighborhood of Trublood's old mill. It was in use many years, but caught fire and burned to the ground while the school was in progress. About this date a man named Corcelius was teaching a "select" school in the village, in the upper part of James Anderson's dwelling, located on the northeast corner of Pearl and Main streets. Corcelius after- ward became a doctor, and moved away from the village. These were the first schools of which anything is known at present. The first school- house was used for religious meetings and public gatherings of every kind.
As a brief history of the schools is given in a communication which follows, it is only neces- sary here to state that they grew and developed as rapidly as schools everywhere in the new country, and perhaps, owing to peculiar advan- tages, more rapidly than in most other places.
From a map of the county published in 1854, it is ascertained that there were at that date in the city, one high school, six primary schools, twenty-eight teachers, and three thousand one hundred and two children enrolled. The value of public school property was $55,000. In ad- dition to the public schools and the Scribner high school, there was Ayers' university, then in a flourishing condition, and three colleges, to- wit : the Asbury Female college, Anderson's Female college, and the New Albany Theologi- cal seminary.
The Directory of 1868 speaks as follows re- garding the schools of that date :
There are eight schools including the Scribner high school The cost of school buildings is seventy thousand dollars ; five thousand five hundred and fifty-five scholars are enrolled, and there are thirty-five teachers. The schools are graded, and all classes are taught, the pupil beginning at the A, B, C, passing through many classes and departments, and final- ly graduating in the high school, after which he is prepared to enter the freshman class of any college. In addition to the public schools of the city there are twelve private schools, some of them, notably Townsley's academy and Morse's academy, equal to any private schools in the State. The St. Mary's (Catholic) high school building is the finest in the city except DePauw college, it being fifty by seventy feet, and five stories in height. It cost twenty thousand dollars. Here pupils are given a thorough scientific course. The higher branches are also taught in many of the private schools of the city.
This Catholic school is more especially men- tioned in the history of the Catholic church, in another chapter of this work.
AN OFFICIAL HISTORY.
In 1879 H. B. Jacobs, then and now superin- tendent of the schools of New Albany, furnished the following at the request of the State superin- tendent of public instruction :
It is evident that the founders of New Albany were thoroughly imbued with the idea that the happiness and per- manent prosperity of a community depend largely upon the intelligence of its people, and that the education of youth was an object of the highest importance, for very early in the history of the town steps were taken to raise funds for edu- cational purposes. The town was laid out by Joel, Abner, and Nathaniel Scribner, who purchased the original plat, comprising an area of eight hundred and twenty-six acres, of John Paul. Lots were sold by the Scribner brothers at pub- lic auction November, 1813. In the advertisement of the sale there was a stipulation that "one-fourth part of each payment upon the lots sold should be paid into the hands of trustees, to be chosen by the purchasers, until such payments shall amount to five thousand dollars, the interest upon which to be applied to the use of schools in the town, for the use of its inhabitants forever."
Upon a petition of the citizens of the town the Legislature passed an act entitled, "An act incorporating the New
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174
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Albany school," which was approved January 8, 1821. By this act Seth Woodruff, John Eastborn, Charles Woodruff, Samuel Miller, and Samuel Marsh were incorporated a body politic and corporate by the name and style of the "Presi dent and Managers of the New Albany school." They were appointed to serve until the first Monday of the following May, at which time and annually thereafter the citizens of the town were to meet at the place where the school was kept and elect five trustees, who were householders and resi- dents in the town." The provisions of the act referred to, with several supplements to it, were strictly observed by the different boards of trustees that were successively elected during a long series of years. Proper steps were soon taken to organize a school, employ a competent teacher and in every way carry out the design of the founders of the town.
The first school was opened in the fall of 1823, with John A. Spaulding as teacher. It was continued in successful operation, without much change in the plan at first adopted, until 1838, when an assistant teacher was employed, and separate departments for the male and female pupils or- ganized.
With a part of the accumulation of the interest on the money donated by the Scribner brothers as a sinking fund for the use of the schools, the Scribner high school, a neat two-story brick building on the corner of Lower First and Spring streets, now known as the Boys' high school of New Albany, was built during the summer of 1849.
It will be seen by this brief account that the early settlers of New Albany, even while it was yet a very small forest town, nestling on the banks of the majestic river that flows past a now prosperous city, manifested a deep interest in the edu- cation of the youth within her borders.
The first school established grew in importance and effi- ciency until 1853, and, together with the district schools or- ganized under the old district or local school law, furnished school accommodations for all the children of school age in the town.
From the time of the passage of the district school law, to which we have just referred, until 1853, the schools of the city were controlled by three separate boards of trustees. The one had control of the Scribner school fund, and the city schools, and the other two bodies, acting under the district law, had control, in separate districts, of what are now called common schools. The latter bodies organized a number of ungraded schools in different parts of the city, and erected several brick buildings, one of the most substantial of which is the Main Street school-house, which was built under the supervision of Hon. John B. Winstandley, who was one of the trustees when it was erected.
In February, 1853, the city assumed control of the district or common schools within her borders. During the summer of the same year the president and managers of the New Al- bany public schools passed a preamble, setting forth that they believed that the intention of the original donors of the Scribner tund can be carried out as well under the present law and organization of the common schools of the city as under their management, and upon the passage of an appro- priate resolution, all funds, property, books, notes, etc., in their possession were transferred and assigned to the city of New Albany for the use of the common schools, since which time all public schools of New Albany have remained as one corporate body, and have been under control of one manage- ment.
The board of trustees, or superintendents as they were then called, under whom the schools were consolidated, were Judge T. L. Smith, Charles Van Dusen, Dr. P. S. Shields,
V. A. Pepin, and James Collins. They soon began to make arrangements for grading all schools under their control, in- cluding the necessary arrangements for establishing a central high school, and on the first Monday of September, 1853, a complete system of graded schools was organized. The high school, however, was not opened until the first Monday of the following October. The first teachers of the New Al- bany High school were George H. Harrison, principal, and Miss Eunice Elderkin, assistant. The schools thus organized were continued in session till July, 1854, a period of ten months; and although numerous difficulties, consequent upon inaugurating a new system, were encountered, the re- sults of the year were entirely. satisfactory, and the success of the system was apparent. There were twenty-eight teachers employed-six males and twenty-two females ; the number of pupils enrolled was 1,570, with an average attendance of 970.
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