USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 46
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never rounded to for passengers or freight, a‹ a less delay than an hour, even when ten minutes would have sufficed Capt. Eckert for the purpose. All these stoppages were noted by the watch. As may be infered from all this, we were nearly six days on our way from Memphis to Louisville, although we had two feet more water, in the Ohio than when we went down on the Andrew Jackson.
I make this statement, not to gratify the griefs of myself and associates, or to injure the Browns- ville, which is owned as I understand, by her captain, clerk, pilot and engineers, but simply, to point out to those who are inexperienced in such matters, the importance of finding out the character and competency, not only of a boat, but of her officers.
John C. Calhoun.
I think it likely, by what I saw and learned at the Memphis Convention, that this distinguished statesman's opinion on various public questions have been undergoing of late a considerable change, which if of no other effect, will render him less an abstractionist than heretofore. In this he is but reflecting the popular sentiment of his own state, which is fast assuming a practical cast, and for his sake.
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In saying that Mr. Calhoun, at Memphis, was the rallying point of notice, justice is hardly done that individual. The truth is that he towered
{immeasurably higher than whoever there might have been considered next to himself. The ex- . emplary eandor and frankness which characteri- zed every thing he said and did; the marked ability and dignity with which he presided over its deliberations, and above all the winning, yes, seductive charm of his address, won their way to the hearts of all the members. I cannot con- ceive how any one can resist the influence of that address.
Mr. Calhoun returns to the Senate of the Uni- ted States. I say this on the highest authority short of his own. He is, in my opinion, one of the greatest as well as the most interesting men. of the age, and in saying this, it is but fairness to add, that I have come to that conclusion since I went to Memphis, and in the face of preposses- sions against him of various kinds, long and ar- dently indulged. At Memphis, as at New Or- by cvery body withont distinction of party.
Domestic Markets.
One of my exchanges, a country paper, hits off with great success, the miserable apings by some of our western towns and cities of the " State of the market" articles in the New York and Phila- delphia prints.
" Hay was so abundant last Saturday as to furnish the town cows with a belly full apiece free of expense. A small quantity of homony was brought in by a shivering boy in a linen apron, which went off rapidly at a bit a gallon, and a couple of opossums, that delicious epicurean rarity, were sold in less than no time at fif- teen cents each."
Washington Correspondents.
If ever there was a class of men making any pretensions to character, more corrupt and uu- principled than the professional Washington cor- respondents to the press in various parts of the country, I cannot point out its existence. There business being to gratify public enriosity, or to create a sensation, they are constantly tempted to falsify, to invent, and to exaggerate. It is cominon to talk of the corrupting inanenee of the party press, but this is undoubtedly its worst. feature. Every intelligent man at our seat of government, State or National, knows, that as a general rule, there is not an assertion or state-
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ment in letters of this description, to be relied on. The " Spy in Washington," and Bennett's vari- ous correspondents at the sessions of Congress, have done more to corrupt the morals of this class of writers, than any conservative or restorative influence of later date and purer minds can do to purify and correct.
It is time that the independent and moral par- of the press should speak out on this subject.
Pioneer Recollections. MR. CIST:
Sir,-It may serve to fill up the picture of the past, which you are sketching in the " Adverti- ser," to say something of the journeys which our early settlers were sometimes compelled to take through the wilderness, when business or necessity called us to our former homes and neighbours.
The savages were so hostile, that such journeys were not often undertaken. When they were the traveler would start to Limestone by river, in a canoe or periogue, from Fort Washington or Fort Miami, as the case might be. Flatboats were always used to descend the Ohio, but were of course not adapted to ascend it. The traveler always took provision with him, and kept on what was termed the Virginia side, so called from the Virginia land claims. From Limeston his route lay to Lexington sixty-four miles, all a wilderness except a station at the Blue Licks, erected by a gentleman named Lyons, who car- ried on making salt. He had a family of col- oured people and entertained travelers. As this was the only supply of salt to the emigrants at that period, and Mr. L. dealt with great fairness with the settlers, he was very popular, and had a great run of custom for that day. From Lex- ington the traveler proceeded to the Crab Orch- ard, leaving written notices at Lexington that a party would leave the Crab Orchard at such a date. These notices or advertisements were posted at stations or on trees. This was the means of making a party from the various sta- tions, or settlements of such as were desirous also to journey east. At the appointed time the party would assemble to proceed on horseback with their rifles to the old settlements from which they came. But though traveling in this mode in numbers and with their arms in their hands, they were often attacked by Indians, and several at different times lost their lives.
Every thing brought by the emigrants to the west, was taken out on pack horses, but as the children, both white and black, had to be taken this way also, only a few articles of the first ne- cessity could be added. It is easy to judge the privations and sufferings of the early settlers, by this circumstance.
The first printing press in Kentucky, was set up in Lexington, by Mr. John Bradford, and the first one in Ohio, by William Maxwell, whose office was on Sycamore street, on the left hand side as you go to the river. Maxwell was son- in-law to Judge McMillan.
I traveled once in the way of which I speak in 1789 from Columbia, designing to accompany my husband on his way east as far as Lexington, where his father and mother resided, with whom I intended to stay until his return. He was on a journey to New York and Philadelphia. We left Maysville-then Limeston-with the agree-
ment not to speak a word to each other after leaving Washington, until we should reach the Blue Licks, twenty-two miles. At Washington, four miles on our journey, we learned that the Indians had attacked a party the day before of movers to Lexington. This we considered good encouragement to proceed, as the Indians would be off as rapidly as possible through fear of pur- suit. They are a very cautious people, and will not attack except at an advantage. We remain- ed at Lyons, all night, and after reaching Lexing- ton next day, my husband set out for the Crab Orchard on bis way over the mountains. In due time I received a letter from him which was taken through the wilderness by a party of set- tlers coming out on their way to the west. The party was attacked by Indians, and the man who had the letter killed, and the letter which had been on his person was very much stained with his blood. Others of the same party were killed at the same time. Occasionally, travelers would go up the Ohio to Wheeling, by periogue or ca- noe poling or paddling all the way, but most per- sons went the route which I have described. In ascending the river, they always kept the Vir- ginia side, as the safest.
When the courts were first established in Cin- cinnati, the officers who lived in Columbia, went down in canoes, or walked the distance, but al- ways on the Virginia side, for fear of Indians. They were obliged to take their provisions with them, as there were very few inhabitants in Cin- cinnati, and no boarding houses there at that period.
Navigation of the West.
It is necessary only to visit the lower Ohio and the adjacent parts of the Mississippi, to be render- ed sensible of the gross neglect which the Ohio and upper Mississippi interests are sustaining at the hands of the General Government. Since I left home, were to be found the Steamboat Rein- deer snagged just below Memphis, the Henry Bry sunk near Randolph, the Manhattan snagged just above Cairo, all in the Mississippi; and the Rich- mond broke on a rock at the Grand Chain, and the Swiftsure snagged near Golconda, both on the Ohio. All this occurred within a space of three hundred miles in distance, and seven days in time. Here then are five boats destroyed in so short a space of time, and all by sunken rocks and trees, which would not be permitted to lie unremoved a single day, if they lay in the bed of one of our eastern rivers.
My visit to Memphis, has satisfied me that the West has as little to expect frem the south and south west, as she has heretofore received from the north and the east, and must concentrate her strength within her own bounds, and let Con- gress know that if justice be refused her now, she will be apt, under the representation of 1850, in that body, not only to claim her rights for the future, but settle up the arrearages of the past.
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Rail-Road to the Pacific .-- No. 2.
ITS OBJECTS AND RESULTS.
In my last, my readers were presented with a brief statement of the actual character of this project of Mr. Whitney. I shall now advance by sketching the physical, moral and pecuniary re- sults, which, when accomplished, it must cffect.
By the time this great road shall have been conipleted to its terminus at the Pacific, connect- ing lines of rail-road will have been laid from the great centres of commerce and manufactures over our whole country. The rail-road commu- nications from Boston, New York, and Philadel- phia, in less than two years will be made at least as far west in the Lake regions as Sandusky. That from Cincinnati to the same point, will be effected at a still earlier date: From Sandusky, these routes must continue by following the north lines of Ohio and Indiana, and striking the great Pacific road, either by turning round Lake Michigan to the point where the road com- mences, on the western shore of that Lake. or take such direct line from the south end of Lake Michigan as shall enable the two roads to con- nect at some suitable point east of the Mississippi river, where the great rail-road crosses that stream-probably about Prairie de Chien. The various routes from New Orleans, St. Louis, Natchez, g.c., would connect thesc last with the various business centres of the Atlantic, south and southeast. Or if Virginia and South Caro- lina should strike at and cross the Ohio river, they would counect with the routes which Ken- tucky, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, would make from their southern lines. Maryland, and per- haps Pennsylvania, would connect with the same route, which would extend from Cincinnati to Lake Erie. When this road shall have been built, the great general result will be accom- plished of bringing the most distant parts of the eartlı, which have heretofore required a voyage of six months, to receive or return cargoes in their intercourse with each other, into a thirty days access, by land and water. From the Mississippi, which will then become the great business cen- tre of this Republic, if not of the whole world, we can communicate in four days with our At .- lantic or Pacific shores, or with the Gulf of Mexico. By steam vessels we can reach Amoy, in China, the port nearest the silk and tea provin- ces, from the Pacific coast in fifteen days, the distance not much greater than from New York to Liverpool. The superior facilities of rail-road travel, in saving time and expense of transporta- tion, will, to a great extent; supercede the exist- ing river navigation of the United States. The entire traveling of two-thirds of the world, will be across our continent, and the valley of the Mis-
sissippi must become the garden and granary of the world.
In my next, I propose to examine and rendor apparent the great changes, pecuniary, moral and physical, which this vast project must op- erate on the fabric of society thronghout out country, to say nothing of the world.
Buildings in St. Louis.
The buildings put up in 1844, in St. Louis have been estimated by some of the newspapers there at twelve hundred, and the erections this year variously supposed by contractors to reach from twelve hundred to two thousand. Why cannot the actual number be ascertained by enumera- tion as easily in St. Louis as in Cincinnati? There can be no doubt that St. Louis is in a very thriving condition, but one statistic furnished by the editor who states these particulars convinces me that the buildings are overrated either in number or importance. He gives from what ho asserts to be reliable authority, the quantity of bricks thus consumed this season at forty two millions. Our consumption of bricks for fifteen hundred honses built last year, was eighty mil lions, and though I have not thus far ascertained the' quantity made in 1845, yet from the facts that our buildings of this year will equal those put up during the last, while they will far sur- pass them in magnitude, it may be safely stated at one hundred millions. If then forty-two mil- lion of bricks sufficed to do the huilding of. twelve hundred houses, after deducting the re- quirement of bricks for other purposes, they must have been of only half the size of ours. This is incredible. On the other hand, if fifty millions of bricks were used in the building of such ware and dwelling houses as we put up they could not have built more than five hundred houses:
This will be better understood when I state what is susceptible of easy proof, that thirty-one buildings alonc of the fifteen hundred erections of this year in Cincinnati and its adjacency, have consumed more than eight millions of bricks.
To those like myself, who are unwilling to take guesses in these matters, and who know nothing of St. Louis but by information, a regu- lar ascertainment in actual count by some indi- vidual in that city of the houses there, would be interesting and satisfactory.
Landscape and Map Engraving:
This is a line of business in Cincinnati en- tirely distinct from bank note engraving, and has been carried on extensively and successfully by Messrs. Doolittle & Mirnson, here, for the last fifteen years. They are in fact the oldest engra- vers in the west. The engraving and printing
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of maps is their principal business, and their maps of the United States, Ohio, Illinois and In- diana, are extensively distributed throughout the whole country, and especially the west.
Their standard maps are as follows :-
1. The United States, 54 by 42 inches.
2. Ohio, 54 by 60 inclies.
3. Map of Illinois and Indiana, in townships.
4. Map of Iowa and Wisconsin.
5. Same, sectional.
6. Same, in townships.
They have also executed a fine map of the Mississippi river, exhibiting its various bends, reaches, cut off's and bars, with the respective plantations on its margin, which is the fullest and and most accurate steamboat guide extant.
Of the Ohio map, which has been for several years before the public, they have sold to the value of twelve thousand dollars. Of the United States map, which has only been a year before the public, they have disposed of four thousand copies. This is the only map yet published of the United States, which includes Texas, and that Republic is here represented in its various counties and other geographical divisions. In the preparation of these maps there are twelve thousand yards of bleached muslin six quarters wide, annually consumed, with map paper of a quality equal to seventeen dollars per ream. One ream of this size makes one hundred maps.
This firm maintains agencies at New York, Providence, R. I .; Richmond, Va., and Balti- more, and sells its publications extensively at Philadelphia itself, along side of the great map producing establishments of that city. Our Cin- cinnati maps will compare in accuracy and beauty with those made in any part of the Uni- ted States.
Twenty-four persons are kept in employment in the various departments of the establishment.
Our Red Brethren.
It is probably known to most of my readers that the Cherokees settled beyond the Mississippi are enjoying most of the blessings of civilization, a newspaper and national legislature among the rest. This periodical, which is called " The Cherokee Advocate," is an excellent publication, and might shame many of its competitors for dispensing knowledge among the whites; but the National Committee, as they call their legislature, is indeed sui generis in character, business, and nomenclature.
On the 22d Oct., the petition of Messenger Ti- ger for a divorce was rejected, not coming, as they correctly judged, within the purview of their appropriate business. I commend their example to the Legislature of Ohio.
scriptions to the Cherokee Advocate was passed. Happy printer, whose collections are attended to by the public authorities! Same day two public cooks were appointed by the legislature. It seems thus in legislating for the public the Com- mittee does not neglect its own welfare.
On the 28th, Mr. Six Killer proposed the pas- sage of " a bill for the more effectual suppression of the introduction and vending of intoxicating spirits in the country:"-refered to a committee of which Six Killer was chairman.
Nov. 1st, Bark Flute offered an amendment to the act creating solicitors and defining their du- ties. Read and laid on the table.
The Staff of Life.
Flour has risen, owing to the prospect of famine in the British Islands. In the same mea- sure the baker's loaf has diminished here in size and increased in value. This must set numbers to baking their own bread.
To make good bread two or three things are requisite. First, good flour; secondly, an out- oven of bricks, or a good cooking stove; and, thirdly, skill in mixing and baking.
But I do not design to inflict an essay on this subject, important though it be. I hold to the philosophy which teaches by example, and invite my acquaintances, saying nothing of friends, to call at my office and partake of a baking, which will illustrate what good bread is, and what every body ought to have within reach; in good flour, first rate cooking stoves, and proper ba- king. Let them come if they do not mean to live and die in ignorance. They will then find out who sells the best flour in the city.
A lunch, not a la fourchette, but au doigt, may be found accordingly at my office, this day at two o'clock. Those who are afraid to spoil their appetites by partaking it at that hour, may con- fine themselves to a taste, or even to a glance.
I hold that not one man in ten in Cincinnati buys flour such as he ought to; that not one in twenty has the kind of cooking apparatus he should possess, and that not one in fifty knows the luxury of a fine home made loaf, such as is within the reach of most, and of which I propose to furnish a sample.
Destroying the Romance.
A capital story is told of a young fellow, who one Sunday strolled into a village church, and, during the service, was electrified and gratified by the sparkle of a pair of brilliant black eyes, which were riveted upon his face. After the service, he saw the possessor of the bewitching orbs leave the church alone, and emboldened by her glances, he ventured to follow her, his heart aching with rapture. He saw her look behind, and fancied she evinced some emotion at recog-
October 23d, a bill regulating payment of sub« nising him. He then quickeued his pace, and
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she actually slacked hers, as if to let him come up with her-but we will permit the young gen- tleman to tell the rest in his own way :-
"Noble young creature!" thought I-" her artless and warm heart is superior to the bonds of custom."
I reached within a stone's throw of her. She suddenly halted and turned her face towards me. My heart swelled to bursting. I reached the spot where she stood. She began to speak, and I took off my hat, as if doing reverence to an angel.
" Are you a pedlar?"
" No, my dear girl, that is not my occupation."
" Well, I don't know," continued she, not very bashfully, and eyeing me very sternly-" I thought when I saw you in the meeting house, that you looked like the pedlar who passed off a pewter half dollar on me about three weeks ago, and so I determined to keep an eye on you. Brother Jolin has got home now, and he says if he catches the feller, he'll wring his neck for him; and I ain't sure but you are the good-for-nothing rascal after all."
Ohio against the World.
The fine steer Distribution, seven years old, raised by one of the Renicks, the great cattle feeders of the Scioto Valley, has been lately purchased by Messrs. Vanaken Wunder and John Butcher, two of our long established victualers, for the approaching holydays. He is estimated to weigh almost four thousand pounds, and will furnish doubtless an article of splendid beef, such as has not lately been seen in our markets, fine as they usually are in this line. The animal may be seen in the wagon yard of Mr. Marchant, corner of Ninth and Sycamore streets, and is worth a visit. I have not seen so fine a brute since Col. Chapin of New York, exhibited in 1808, his superb stall fed oxen Maximus and Magnus.
The Moustache.
Fashions and customs, apparently absurd, are generally founded on reason, although the reason may sometimes be difficult to trace. We all know that many fashions have been introduced in the courts of Europe to conceal the personal blemishes or defects of kings or other potentates, such as the wearing of the hair long, &c., and the introduction of cravats for the concealment of wens and scars. But I was not aware until a day or two since that the Moustache, or beard on the upper lip, was suffered to grow for a special and deliberate purpose. The custom originated with the diplomacy of France. A well trained diplomatist, however excited, internally keeps his eye and cheek under such discipline as to betray nothing of his sentiments or intentions. But it is found impracticable by the mere exercise of will to arrest the play of the muscles of the upper lip, and to hide the least vestige of motion there, the moustache is permitted to grow.
I know not what apology can be made for the tuft on the chin or under the lip, which assimi- late man, or rather the mannee to the goat.
The Bridegroom to his Bride.
Four years ago dear love!
And we were strangers; in a distant land Long had it been my lonely lot to rove; And I had never touched that gentle hand, Or looked into the lustre of those eyes, Or heard that voice of lovely melodies, Winning its way unto the listener's heart, And gladdening it, as a fresh stream doth part The grass and flowers, and beautifies its road With fresher hues, by its sweet tide bestowed. Then I had never heard that name of thine, Which on this blessed day hath merged in mine!
Three years ago, mine own,
And we had met-'twas but acquaintanceship; There was no tremor in the courteous tone Which, greeting thee, flowed freely to my lip At every interview. Thy beauty seemed Indeed the very vision I had dreamed Of woman's loveliest form; but that it shrined So bright a gem, so true and pure a mind, I did not early learn: for thou art one Whose gentle, kindly actions ever shun The glare of day. I knew not then the power That seems thy richest gift at this blest hour.
Another year went by, And we were friends !- " dear friends" we called each other-
We said our bosoms throbbed in sympathy, That we were like a sister and a brother.
Ah! but do brothers' hearts thrill through each chord,
At a dear sister's smile or gracious word! Do sisters blush, and strive the blush to hide, When a fond brother lingers at her side? Do friends, and nothing more, shrink from sur- mise,
And dread to meet the keen world's scrutinies, And tremble with a vague and groundless shame, And start when each doth hear the other's name?
One little year ago,
And we were lovers-lovers pledged and vowed- The unsealed fountains of our hearts might flow;
Our summer happiness had scarce a cloud.
We smiled to think upon the dubious past, How could so long our self-delusions last? We laughed at our own fears, whose dim array One spoken word of love had put away. In love's full blessed confidence we talked, We heeded not who watched us as we walked; And day by day hath that affection grown, Until this happy morn that makes us one.
Beloved! 'tis the day, The summer day, to which our hearts have turned,
As to a haven that before them lay, A haven dim and distantly discerned.
Now we have reached it, and our onward gaze Must henceforth be beyond earth's fleeting days, Unto a better home, when having loved ONE more than e'er each other-having proved Faithful to HIM, and faithful to the vow
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