Sketches and statistics of Cincinnati in 1851, Part 24

Author: Cist, Charles, 1792-1868
Publication date: 1851
Publisher: Cincinnati : W.H. Moore & Co.
Number of Pages: 450


USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Sketches and statistics of Cincinnati in 1851 > Part 24


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).


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For six years, commencing Sept. Ist, and ending August 31st, each year.


ARTICLES.


45-'46


'46-'47 '47-'48'48-'49 '49-'50


'50-'51


Apples, green,.


bbls


3920


14444


8512


5824


3519


8064


Alcohol,


1615


1943


1771


3022


3302


3483


Beef,


8896


10367


14811


12523


7558


18949


Do.


. tierces


11301


7970


3615


9332


6625


9028


Beans,


bbls


2048


3782


1097


1685


2496


1590


Brooms,


dozs


1514


5108


3760


3333


7265


7898


Butter,


bbls


1624


1348


2937


1272


964


2748


Do.,


.firkins and kegs


20390


31194


28315


24398


24393


30490


Bran, etc,


.sks


3842


3761


233


4322


5769


Bagging,


· pieces


19716


8867


12632


15910


9353


6407


Corn, ..


.sks


.


258198 88882


19999


3660


1179


1988


Cheese,.


casks


604


1132


30


122


106


25


Do.,


boxes


35459


70104


59374


55134


86902


102825


Candles


3757


16622


29189


39640


67447


102328


Cattle,


16


872


733


97


30


364


Cotton,.


bales


5019


6123


4009


1896


4097


Coffee,


.. sks


18388


41121


36924


55617


73637


54588


Eggs, .


bbls


4787


10303


9450


5229


4246


8309.


Flour,


194700


581920 201011 267420


98908


347471


Feathers,


.sks


29


4000


3736


3824


5380


2828


Fruit, dried,


. bushels


684


16077


5074


8317


1850


14328


Grease,.


bbls


370


694


4268


6922


7597


3600


Grass seed,


642


3967


2431


2387


2528


2611


Horses,


head


654


2026


1268


378


468


581


Hay,.


.bales


.. .


164930


60880


73029


62865


29180


Do.,


. . No


.


12444


9024


7731


11225


10301


Iron,


. pieces


2937


68905 127193


43025


54075


78937


Do.


.tons


1238


5646


6916


6270


5767


7187


Lard,


. bbls


22747


49878|


81679


37521


39192


28900


Do.,.


.kegs


135008


150828 208696 130509


170167


65638


Linseed Oil,


455


6032


3878


3020


4879


799


Molasses,


9046


18332


17750


25878


21538


Oil-Cake, Oats,


. sks


17944


140067


41675


212


5023


11708


Potatoes,


bbls


14956


34130


15687


7073


5283


15889


Pork and Bacon,


hhds


15287


31538


37162


39470


23529


27309


Do.,


tierces


3874


7894


8862


10930


22477


18849


Do.,


bbls


29302


137218 196186 186192


193581


119858


Do.,


.in bulk, pounds 404426 3478850 759188 924256 2310699 4742405


Rope, etc.


packages


13037


8723


5556


4369


3151


4574


Soap,


.boxes


2708


10080


11095


11303


17443


15510


Sheep,


head


100


726


1400


522


460


Sugar,


hhds


4998


11559


8443


9650


10250


Salt,


bbls


65346


39656


39960


29509


26659


Do


sks


4416


5057


5403


8301


5301


Do.


bundles


9339


17351


7081


36245


34898


Lard Oil,


bbls


1650


6199


8277


9550


16984


22330


tons


2792


5246


4897


3274


743


873


Hides,


.pounds


...


327


94


1040


564


588


Hemp


8733


5659


2198


1164


1881


13037


18587


18909


22030


28002


Cooperage,


pieces


57248


20008


Corn-meal,


bbls


1258


53021


7176


265


COMMERCE.


ARTICLES.


'45-'46


'46-47'


'47-'48 '48-'49


'49-'50


'50-'51


Seed, flax, .. .bbls


138


291


2785


808


333 615641


368


Do.,


Do.


tons


2106


18179


16849


21466


11109


9725


Do. liquors, ..


.bbls


358


7193


9364


10913


11798


15580


Do. manufactures,


.. pieces


7975


22251


42412


94934


56810


22103


Do. produce,


packages


1085


17879


28822


17609


10327


13858


Starch, . Tallow,


. boxes


2499


5820


8177


7904


9491


11856


3452


4543


5682


4975


4311


5883


Tobacco,


kegs and boxes


1473


9718


9352


7497


6904


13957


Do.


hhds


3803


6011


3812


3309


4847


1620


Do.


bales


Vinegar,.


bbls


204


3814


123 2753


126 1288


2404


2650


Whisky,


133220


183928 186509 136911


179540


188873


Wool,.


bales


..


....


36710


7037


10230


40294


37619


Castings,


pieces


....


...


...


. . . .


54399


27921


Do.


.tons


....


.


....


2385


935


Pork,


. boxes


....


....


....


....


13448


2956


The commission business of Cincinnati is a heavy one, although there are not materials within reach to compute its aggregate. One house, that of Wann & McBirney, Reeder's building, 57 West Third street, may, however, be given as a sample.


Their shipments of produce to Great Britain, from October 1, 1850, to July 1, 1851, sums up . $540,000


Advances on Consignments to the eastern and southern


markets, and sales here, for same period


362,170


$ 902,170


This, it will be seen, is a nine months business simply, and in the ratio of twelve hundred thousand dollars, annually.


WANN & McBIRNEY,


Are agents for the Philadelphia and Liverpool steamship, "Lafayette," and for McHenry's Philadelphia and Liverpool packets, sailing every month.


Make advances on consignments of produce, to their friends at Liverpool. London, Dublin, Belfast, and all the eastern and southern markets.


Draw sterling bills of exchange, for £1, and upward, payable on demand, which will be cashed without discount, at any of the bankers in the United Kingdom.


.kegs


....


8452


2298


1109


2156


2024


Do.


.. bs


16841


White Lead,.


...


77


134


275


224957 341363 210049


329397


Sundry merchandise,. . packages


23603


266


CULTURE OF THE GRAPE.


XV. MISCELLANEOUS.


CULTURE OF THE GRAPE.


THIS is already an important branch of horticulture in the valley of the Ohio, and rapidly on the increase.


The time will come when our beautiful river may, not inaptly, be termed the "Rhine of America."


The greatest number of vineyards in this valley are in the neigh- borhood of Cincinnati; and the "vine-clad hills" of the picturesque vicinity around us are among the most pleasing and attractive objects to strangers. Within a circle of twenty miles, we number more than three hundred vineyards, containing, in the aggregate, about nine hundred acres, one half of which are now in bearing. The product, last year, was estimated at one hundred and twenty thousand gallons of wine. This will, of course, be doubled when all come into bear- ing, within one to three years. New vineyards are annually planted, and additions made to the old ones; so that it may be fair to infer, that within six or eight years the number of vineyards will be doubled. The business is as yet but in its infancy, but its profits will justify such efforts and experiments as must eventually lead to the most complete success. It has been fully and satisfactorily de- monstrated, that from our native Catawba grape, excellent wines can be made, rivaling the better qualities of the Rhenish wines, and more suited to the American palate. They are fast growing into public favor, and in due time, will displace-to a considerable ex- tent-their foreign rivals.


The culture of the grape, for making wine, has been attempted in various parts of the United States, for the last fifty years-at Phi- ladelphia, New York, Lexington, Ky., Vevay, Ia., and in North and South Carolina-but nowhere, else has it succeeded so well as in the vicinity of this city ; and here only satisfactorily within the last ten years. Much of our present success is owing to the various experi- ments, and the indomitable perseverance of Mr. N. Longworth, to whose zeal and liberal expenditure in various experiments, both with foreign and native grapes, for the last twenty-five years, the wine- growers are greatly indebted.


267


CULTURE OF THE GRAPE.


But few publications have been made, in the West, on the subject of grape culture, except occasional articles in the newspapers, by Mr. Longworth and others. In 1826, a small book was published by John James Dufour, of Vevay-in 1845, a pamphlet by C. A. Schumann-and in 1850, a short treatise on grape culture, with a copious appendix, by R. Buchanan. Nothing in this way can be perfect, for the business itself is but a new one, and every year's experience adds to our knowledge of the subject.


The most favorable region for the grape is supposed to be the valley of the Ohio, from Marietta to the mouth of the river, and extending twenty to thirty miles wide on each side. Further north is thought to be too cold, and further south more subject to the "rot."


As before stated, the principal vineyards of the West are in our own vicinity, say about nine hundred acres-near, Ripley, fifty miles above, are some seventy-five acres-near Vevay, eighty miles below, thirty or forty-around Charlestown, Ia., one hundred miles below us, are over two hundred acres-at Belleville, Ill., a few vineyards have been recently established, and at Hermann, a flourishing German settlement, about fifty miles above St. Louis, on the Missouri river, a number of fine vineyards have been started-in all, probably, forty or fifty acres, from which samples of excellent wine have been sent to this city.


Near Lexington, Maysville, and Louisville, Kentucky, a few vine- yards have recently been planted, which are said to be in a flourish- ing condition. In Berks county, Pa., the Catawba and Isabella grape are said to succeed well on the slate lands-many vineyards have been established, and some excellent wines made.


In North and South Carolina and Georgia, the culture of the grape has been pursued for many years past, and in some sections with considerable success. The " Scuppernong" is the favorite grape, from which, with the addition of sugar, a pleasant sweet wine is made.


It is therefore evident, that in a country like ours, of vast extent, of great diversity of soil and climate, abounding in native grapes, and settled by an intelligent and enterprising population, the making of our own wines is no longer problematical, but will soon be estab- lished on a sure and permanent basis, as one of the great branches of home productions.


268


SUBURBS.


SUBURBS.


WITH the growth of Cincinnati, increasing the value of hround, and diminishing in the same degree, space for occupation and im- provement within its limits, has sprung up, a species of necessity, to add in all directions, suburbs to the city. Under this influence, subdivisions which either are adjacent to Cincinnati, or in the pro- gress of improvement, are expected to become so, have been made of farms and out-lots of ground, which have readily found purchasers among those whose occupations permit a residence at greater or less distance from their business. Omnibuses, stages, and railroad cars, bringing them into Cincinnati, in a briefer space, than a walk from the extremities of the city would require.


There is yet another class of persons, whose business can be car- ried on as conveniently and more cheaply, at a still greater distance. They make up work and manufactures of various kinds, which they need not bring in oftener, perhaps, than at the close of each week. Obviously, the cost of traveling and transportation is of no import- ance, compared with the advantage of cheap rents and ample space to breathe in, which the country and country towns yield to resi- dents. To accommodate this latter class, the laying off towns at points contiguous, or otherwise of ready access to Cincinnati, has been extensively done. Among these is Industry, ten miles west, which will communicate with this city, by canal, the river Ohio, and the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, which makes it a point in the route. The site is well chosen, and a foundery and other improvements, have been recently made. It is already a thriving place.


Caledonia, near the mouth of the Little Miami, is another favorable location, being on the Ohio, as well as of easy access from the city, otherwise. There is a foundery erected here, also, which like that at Industry, is on the principle of associative mutual labor. Cale- donia has been but recently laid out.


Camden, at the intersection of the Little Miami railroad, with the river of that name, is a village, also, lately laid out. It is a beauti- ful spot.


These are given as specimens of other towns, at various distances, and in various directions, designed to afford cheap lots for those who desire homes of their own, and whose pursuits in life, allow them to live outside of the great city which supplies a market to the business avails of their industry.


269


SUBURBS.


There is another class of citizens, whose business is in Cincinnati, but who propose to reside outside its corporate limits, either to escape the heavy taxation, which city improvements impose, or in the expectation that the increasing facilities of railroads will enable them to reach their workshops, stores, or other places of employ- ment, at as early an hour as necessary.


Covington, in Kentucky, which is only separated from us by the river, which is usually crossed in a few minutes, and with little delay, is one of these points. The inducements to reside here, held out to our citizens, have swelled the population of that city, from two thousand and twenty-six in 1840, to twelve thousand ; its pre- sent number of inhabitants. Newport, under the same impulse, has increased during the same period, from one thousand and sixteen, to six thousand and twenty-six souls.


If, as is expected, a bridge shall be built across the Ohio at this point, these cities must increase, even beyond their present rapid ratio of progress.


Another adjacency is the territory lying on both sides of Mill creek, on our west. The largest share of this is in fact within our city limits, but being subject to inundation from high-water in the Ohio river, which spreads Mill creek, at times, over a large part of its surface, it becomes necessary, by embankment or otherwise, to obviate this check on its progress. Measures are about being resorted to, for this purpose, and " Mahkatewa," the aboriginal name of the stream which traverses it, must, eventually, become one of the most important sections of the city.


Farther north, is Fairmount, a north-western suburb immediately adjoining our corporate limits. It rises from the west side of Mill creek, in a gentle slope, and embraces some of the most charming knobs, or hills, within view of the city. The whole place is distin- guished for beauty of scenery and landscape. Commanding a full view of Cincinnati and the circumjacent vicinage of twenty miles diameter ; it embraces the valley of Mill creek to Spring grove cemetery ; the Farmers' College, and a wide sweep of country chequered with villas, vineyards, gardens and groves. It is unsurpassed for healthfulness, removed from the smoke and dust of the city, enjoying pure air and wholesome water.


About one hundred and fifty acres have been platted with large and small lots, to suit purchasers; and extensive sales have already been made. Many of the purchasers, being shrewd and wealthy


23


270


SUBURBS.


citizens of Cincinnati. The Western Baptist Educational Society, have located their seminary at this place, and the Cincinnati, Hamil- ton and Dayton Railroad, passes directly through it. The Western Railroad to St. Louis, also, will enter the city through Fairmount.


In the northern section of Cincinnati, cast of Freeman street, lies a well located property, belonging to George Hatch, which is selling out at private sale only. He proposes to protect those who are willing to secure desirable lots for residences, from coffee-house neighbors and other business nuisances, by controlling, in his sales, the character of the buildings and improvements.


Following the outer edge of the city to the north-east is Mount Auburn, in contiguity to which are Burnet and Reeder's subdivision, and the property upon Prospect Hill, of Dr. William Price. These offer great inducements for those who desire dwellings removed from the dirt, tumult, and impure air of the crowded city, on which the last looks down from a commanding height. This site was origin- ally abrupt and broken hill grounds, but the taste and industry of the proprietor, is carrying out a system of grading, filling and paving in connection with other improvements, which must render this part of Prospect Hill, eventually, one of the most desirable spots in the immediate vicinity of Cincinnati for residences. These lots are sold at a specified rate, the principal of which may lie for several years, six per cent. interest on the purchase-money being paid annually : the proprietor grades and paves all streets, &c., at his own expense.


The Burnet and Reeder property is a suburb also, which will be probably occupied with residences only. It embraces elevated ground of irregular surface, but which, when its grades shall be completed, will possess no more slope than sufficient properly to drain it. Pure air and water are the characteristics of this locality, which must become as densely populated as is desirable for private residences.


271


BIOGRAPHY.


BIOGRAPHY .- S. P. CHASE.


THE subject of this sketch, was born in Cornish, N. H., on the 13th of January, 1808. He is a lineal descendant of Capt. Aquila Chase, one of the original settlers in Newburyport, from whom have sprung a numerous progeny, now scattered over the United States.


At the age of ten years, Mr. Chase was deprived, by death, of a father's care, and shortly afterward, he was sent to Ohio, and placed in the school at Worthington, then under the charge of his uncle, Bishop Chase, where he remained a few years ; when he came to Cincinnati, whither his uncle had removed, and became a student of Cincinnati college, under the Bishop's presidency. He entered Dartmouth college as Junior, in 1824, and was graduated in 1826.


After his graduation, he repaired to Washington, D. C., where he commenced the study of law, in the office of William Wirt ; and while thus pursuing his legal studies, a friendship was formed between the preceptor and the pupil, which terminated only with the decease of Mr. Wirt. While thus a student in Mr. Wirt's office, at the request of a respectable member of the Society of Friends, he drafted a memorial to Congress, praying for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade, in the District of Columbia. This memorial having been revised and modified, was signed by about eleven hun- dred citizens of the district, and presented to Congress in 1828, by whom it was received, and referred to the committee, for the dis- trict of Columbia.


Having completed his preparatory legal studies, Mr. Chase was admitted to the bar by the Circuit Court of the United States, for the District of Columbia ; and shortly after his admission, he returned to Ohio, where he was admitted to practice, by the Supreme Court of the State, and then commenced his practice in Cincinnati, in 1830.


The leisure which usually attends the earlier years of a young lawyer's practice, did not, in his case, pass away unemployed. Finding that his own studies had been retarded by the confused state of the statutes of Ohio, he conceived the idea of embodying, in one work, all the general laws of the state, as well those which had been, as those which were in force. This purpose was carried into effect, and in the short space of three years, he gave to his pro- fession, a work of two thousand three hundred royal octavo pages, which at once established his reputation for diligence and fidelity of


272


BIOGRAPHY.


research, and ability of production. This work, enriched by anno- tations of all the decisions bearing upon the statutes, and by an able and accurate sketch of the history of Ohio, still stands a monument to his fame. His "years of leisure " soon passed away, and these were followed by years of unceasing toil and complete success. In 1837, he made his first forensic effort for freedom, in the case of Matilda, who was claimed as a fugitive slave by a person from Mis- souri; but his effort was unavailing in her case, and the court remanded her to slavery. He afterward defended James G. Birney, upon an indictment for harboring a fugitive slave; and although unsuccessful in the inferior Court, he succeeded in the Supreme Court, in obtaining a reversal of the judgment, and the acquittal of Mr. Birney.


These efforts were followed by his masterly defense of John Van- zandt, in the Supreme Court of the United States, who also was charged with harboring and concealing fugitive slaves ; by his argu- ment in Ohio, in the case of Samuel Watson, claimed as a slave ; and by his public speeches and reports, made to the numerous state and national conventions, held with reference to the great question of human liberty, within the last ten years. In 1841, he became a conspicuous member of the Liberty party, to the democratic prin- ciples of which, as promulgated at Buffalo, in 1848, he still adheres.


In February, 1849, he was called from his office labors, by the voice of the General Assembly of Ohio, to a seat in the senate of the United States, for the full term of six years; a position to which, although placed there from the walks of private life, his previous training, had peculiarly fitted him.


As a lawyer, Mr. Chase is diligent, patient, and accurate, and as an advocate, he takes rank among the first in the country. In poli- tics he is a democrat; and if, in his political action, he has not fully harmonized with the great party bearing that name, it is because of his conviction, that to nationalize, extend, and perpetuate slavery, is irreconcilable with democratic principles.


For twenty-three years past, he has been a member of the Episco- pal Church, and his character is without a stain. Of the various public and benevolent movements of the day, he has ever been a steadfast supporter, and to the poor and oppressed, he has always proved a disinterested friend.


The fine mezzotint portrait of Senator Chase, in these pages, will be recognized at once, as a faithful and striking likeness.


273


FARMERS' COLLEGE.


FARMERS' COLLEGE.


BOARD OF INSTRUCTION.


THE Faculty consists of the following members :---


President .- F. G. Cary, Professor of Moral Philosophy and Rhetoric, and Superintendent of Buildings, Grounds, and Finance.


R. H. Bishop, D. D., Professor of History and Political Eco- nomy.


R. S. Bosworth, Professor of Chemistry, and its application to Agriculture and the Arts.


J. S. Henderson, Professor of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Astronomy.


J. S. Whitwell, Professor of Ancient Languages and Belles Lettres.


C. Sheferstein, Teacher of Modern Languages.


G. S. Ormsby, Professor of Preparatory Course.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS.


President .- E. M. Gregory ; Secretary-J. W. Caldwell ; Trea- surer-S. F. Cary.


Robert Crawford, Giles Richards, Timothy Kirby, Rev. John Covert, W. A. Bagley, James Huston, Joseph Longworth, Sylvester Ruffner, Thomas B. Wetherby, Paul C. Huston, J. P. Reznor, Samuel Wiggins.


This institution, which is situated on a beautiful summit, six miles north from Cincinnati, and is fast rising in public estimation, had its origin in the seminary, called from the name of its founder and proprietor, Cary's Academy.


Near the site of the present college, F. G. Cary, in the spring of 1833, commenced, with only four pupils, a boarding-school, which, at the expiration of eight years, numbered more than a hundred students. This institution was carried on until 1845, extensively by individual enterprise, when a rapidly increasing patronage made an enlargement and re-modification necessary. For this purpose, a joint-stock company was formed, thirty dollars constituting a share; and subsequently a charter was procured, granting the usual col- lege rights and privileges.


In the fall of 1846, the building, under the name of Farmers' Col- lege, was completed, and the college organized. Mr. Cary, merg- ing into the establishment, his private interests, was appointed Pre-


274


MARKETS AND MARKET-HOUSES.


sident, and invested with the power of conducting the internal arrangements of the institution.


Since the organization, there have been annually, over two hun- dred students connected with its various departments; and in the eighteen years of its existence, one thousand young men have gone forth from its walls into the business of life.


Six instructors have been employed, who have hitherto been re- munerated, exclusively, from the fees of tuition. A good chemical and philosophical apparatus, have been procured, comprising a tele- scope with a reflector of six and one-fourth inches aperture, made by Bruno Hasert, of Cincinnati.


An effort is now being made, fully to endow this institution, and place it upon a permanent basis ; and the success which has hitherto attended this educational enterprise, gives encouragement to expect its speedy accomplishment.


The prominent characteristic of this institution, has ever been the practical character of its course of instruction. To assert the dig- nity of labor, has been its object.


MARKETS AND MARKET-HOUSES.


THERE are six market-houses in Cincinnati, all spacious, and well arranged for the exposure and sale of fresh meat and vegetables. These are Lower Market, Canal, Pearl, Fifth, Sixth, and Wade street market-houses. The last named is two hundred and fifty feet long ; the others range from three hundred and seventy to three hundred and ninety-five feet each, in length, except the Pearl street, which is three hundred and forty feet; most of these houses are thirty-six feet wide. But meat may be bought extensively in quarters outside of the stalls, and vegetables are sold in wagons and carts, and at stands, outside of, and beyond the market-houses, to equal extent with that sold inside. The supply to these markets is such as might be expected from the fertility of the Great and Little Miami and Mill creek farms. As high as seven hundred wagons have been enumerated in one day, at a single one of these markets ; most of these wagons, also, carried full loads for two horses. As many as nineteen hundred and fifty market-wagons carts, &c., have attended our various markets in the same day.


Cincinnati has long enjoyed pre-eminence in putting up pork, but




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