USA > Pennsylvania > A geography of Pennsylvania : containing an account of the history, geographical features, soil, climate, geology, botany, zoology, population, education, government, finances, productions, trade, railroads, canals &c. of the state : with a separate description of each county, and questions for the convenience of teachers : to which is appended, a travellers' guide, or table of distances on the principal rail road, canal and stage routes in the state > Part 17
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The vast numbers, in Europe, diverted from agricultural and other indus- trial pursuits by these wars, created a large market for the produce of Pennsylvania; while the immense naval armaments of the combatants, in all parts of the ocean, rendering it necessary to employ neutral ships to carry the produce of the French, Spanish, and Dutch colonies to the parent states, gave profitable employment to a large amount of her tonnage. Nor did her merchants rest satisfied with acting merely as carriers; they em barked in the trade on their own account, and also imported largely fromr. China and India, for re-exportation to European markets; e. g. in 1806, there arrived at Philadelphia from Canton 12 ships and 1 brig, of an aggre- gate tonnage of 4,226 tons :- all with very valuable cargoes. Large for- tunes were rapidly made ; and many persons, before engaged in other em- ployments, were induced to turn merchants. The commerce of the United States prospered to a degree unprecedented in the history of any nation, and in this prosperity Philadelphia, through which passed the whole foreign trade of the State, shared largely ; her population increasing from 42,000 in 1790 to upwards of 96,000 in 1810.
Shortly after the declaration of hostilities between France and England, these two nations commenced issuing decrees and orders in council, and laying embargoes, of a most unjust and arbitrary character, for the avowed purpose of restricting the trade of neutrals with the enemy. Nor were the two great maritime powers of Europe alone in these restrictive measures ; but by their influence or commands, Spain and other European govern- ments followed in their footsteps.
In 1794 a treaty was concluded with England, by which she engaged to pay $10,000,000 to the United States, as a compensation for property ille- gally taken, under her orders in council.
In 1798, in consequence of the arbitrary measures of the French govern- ment, commercial relations between the United States and that nation were suspended, and partial hostilities followed, but no declaration of war ensued. These difficulties were settled by treaty in 1800.
Foreign Commerce of Pennsylvania from 1791 to 1841, inclusive.
EXPORTS.
Years.
Domestic produce or manufacture.
Foreign produce or manufacture.
Total.
IMPORTS.
Duties on foreign Drawbacks on fo- merchandise im- reign merchandise re-exported. ported.
Registered tonnage.
Vessels en- tered :*
Dollars.
Dollars.
Dollars.
Dollars.
Dollars.
Dollars.
Tons.
1791
-
-
1
1,475,428
8,976
53,898
595
1792
3,820,662
1,138,863
37,753
65,212
1793
-
6,958,836
1,926,337
102,659
60,925
1794
6,643,092
2,000,091
502,447
67,895
618
1795
11,518,260
3,053,109
752,550
83,624
779
1796
17,513,866
3,646,271
1,586,065
90,569
858
1797
11,446,291
2,907,894
1,086,839
88,401
641
1798
8,915,463
2,086,714
1,018,127
85,477
459
1799
12,431,967
2,224,313
955,264
90,944
443
1800
11,949,679
3,181,101
1,785,109
95,632
536
1801
-
17,438,193
3,702,898
1,540,701
109,036
667
1802
12,677,475
2,727,365
1,297,662
64,637
653
1803
4,021,214
3,504,496
7,525,710
2,240,715
561,041
67,629
611
1804
4,178,713
6,851,444
11,030,157
3,507,038
872,238
71,199
498
1805
4,365,240
9,397,012
13,762,252
3,652,387
1,319,869
77,239
520
1806
3,765,313
13,809,389
17,574,702
5,100,657
2,052,551
86,728
704
1807
4,809,616
12,055,128
16,864,744
5,197,806
2,012,543
93,993
701
1808
1,066,527
2,946,803
4,013,330
2,599,673
928,568
94,659
298
1809
4,238,358
4,810,883
9,049,241
2,318,699
894,984
106,622
351
1810
4,751,634
6,241,764
10,993,398
3,332,377
879,527
109,629
405
1811
5,694,447
3,865,670
9,560,117
2,364,635
510,328
78,518
500
1812
4,660,457
1,313,293
5,973,750
2,474,990
378,936
71,281
323
-
.
-
-
1
GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
136
-
.
1
1
3,436,093
1813
3,249,623
327,494
3,577,117
503,593
185,821
64,537
74
277,757
3,227
64,183
43
1815
3,569,551
1,024,368
4,593,919
7,199,699
95,806
77,199
487
1816
4,486,329
2,709,917
7,196,246
6,285,455
746,636
77,731
538
1817
5,538,003
3,197,589
8,735,592
4,307,790
702,819
80,513
532
1818
5,045,901
3,713,501
8,759,402
4,540,360
788,574
58,201
576
1819
2,919,679
3,374,109
6,293,788
3,848,630
570,274
59,626
450
1820
2,948,879
2,794,670
5,743,549
2,703,402
555,703
59,458
479
1821
2,832,387
4,559,380
7,391,767
2,719,996
474,394
59,296
441
1822
3,575,147
5,472,655
9,047,802
11,874,170
3,648,745
310,956
61,237
494
1823
3,139,809
6,477,383
9,617,192
13,696,770
3,991,687
612,037
61,409
482
1824
3,182,694
6,182,199
9,364,893
11,865,531
4,311,926
939,322
62,771
501
1825
3,936,133
7,333,848
11,269,981
15,041,797
5,270,030
998,778
65,590
484
1826
3,158,711
5,173,011
8,331,722
13,551,779
5,183,724
1,251,405
63,443
482
1827
3,391,296
4,184,537
7,575,833
11,212,935
4,188,915
1,053,105
61,700
469
1828
3,116,001
2,935,479
6,051,480
12,884,408
5,082,344
802,474
66,840
450
1829
2,617,152
1,472,783
4,089,935
10,100,152
3,574,818
708,970
50,235
374
1830
2,924,452
1,367,341
4,291,793
8,702,122
3,542,977
516,311
47,979
415
183]
3,594,302
1,919,411
5,513,713
12,124,083
4,372,533
326,607
51,294
396
1832
2,008,991
1,507,075
3,516,066
10,678,358
3,501,397
402,972
45,956
428
1833
2,671,300
1,407,651
4,078,951
10,451,250
2,985,278
697,927
49,022
474
1834
2,031,803
1,957,943
3,989,746
10,479,268
2,111,837
295,870
51,441
430
.835
2,416,099
1,323,176
3,739,275
12,389,937
2,506,281
101,812
51,588
429
1836
2,627,651
1,343,904
3,971,555
15,068,233
3,192,007
134,473
51,035
421
1837
2,565,712
1,275,887
3,841,599
11,680,111
39,056
409
1838
2,481,543
995,608
3,477,151
9,360,371
42,266
464
1839
4,148,211
1,151,204
5,299,415
15,050,715
48,569
521
1840
5,736,456
1,083,689
6,820,145
8,464,882
52,268
456
1841
4,404,863
747,638
5,152,501
10,346,698
47,380
504
-
TRADE AND COMMERCE.
I
* From the Commercial List and Philadelphia Price Current, to the kindness of whose editor we are indebted for several other items of information in this article.
137
12*
1814
.
8,158,922
138
GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
The peace of Amiens, in 1802, restoring quiet to Europe, materially re- duced the exports of Pennsylvania; but by the resumption of hostilities, in the following year, a fresh impetus was given to her commerce, which was only stayed by the embargo, to which we shall presently refer.
The continental system, Napoleon's favourite scheme for crushing the power of his great enemy, by prohibiting the importation of British produce and manufactures on the continent, was commenced by the issue of his celebrated Berlin decree, on November 21, 1806, declaring the British islands in a state of blockade, and prohibiting all commerce and correspond- ence with them. In retaliation, his Britannic Majesty in council published three orders, bearing date November 11, 1807, (other orders previously is- sued not proving effective,) by which, in addition to restrictions too numer- ous and complex -to admit of specification here, all neutral vessels trading with France or her allies, were ordered, on pain of condemnation, to stop at a British port, submit their cargoes to inspection and pay a duty on the same.
The Milan decree, dated December 17, 1807, was issued by Napoleon as a rejoinder to the obnoxious orders in council, and declared that any ves- sel which had submitted to search by an English ship, or to a voyage to England for that object, or had paid any tax whatsoever to the English go- vernment, should be deemed denationalized, and a good and lawful prize.
On the 22d December, 1807, the United States government, prior to the receipt of the three orders in council, but with advices which satisfied them that measures of such a character were about being taken by the British government, laid an embargo on all vessels in the ports and harbours of the United States. This measure, unpopular as it was with the mercantile com- munity, and deeply injurious to their interests, appeared to be the only alternative left the government, unless disposed to engage in a war. The great falling off in the exports of Pennsylvania, in 1808, and the consequent depreciation in the value of ships, was severely felt in Philadelphia, at that time the greatest commercial city of the Union.
The long embargo, as it is usually denominated, was raised March 1, 1809, and on May 20th of the same year non-intercourse was established with England and France. Great efforts were made, by the United States government, to induce the British and French governments to repeal their unjust orders and decrees. An arrangement of this character was effected with the British minister at Washington, and, in consequence, trade was resumed with England June 10, 1809; but the British government refusing to confirm the act of its agent, non-intercourse with that country was again established. Napoleon had long endeavoured and hoped to drive the Americans into a war with England. The opening of the trade with that country, while non-intercourse existed with France, was, therefore, a source of great vexation to him ; he, however, dissembled his anger until the ports of his European allies were well filled with American shipping, when, in the month of March, 1810, by his Rambouillet decree, he ordered them to be seized. In this way vessels and goods, to the amount of many millions of dollars, were confiscated almost without the pretence of justice.
The laws directing non-intercourse with England and France were re- pealed by the United States in May, 1810, and a law enacted admitting to her ports the commercial vessels of those nations; but excluding their armed ships, and providing that if either of the above nations should modify its edicts before the 3d March, 1811, so that they should cease to violate neu- tral commerce, of which fact the president was to give notice by proclama- tion, and the other nation should not, within three months after, pursue a like course, commercial intercourse with the first might be renewed, but not with the other.
Napoleon was shortly after induced to give a promise of rather doubtful import ; but which was construed, by the United States' government, to be an engagement to repeal his Berlin and Milan decrees, provided the British government would withdraw their retaliatory orders in council. This the
.
139
TRADE AND COMMERCE.
British government declined doing, on the ground that Napoleon's promise was not what the Americans chose to consider it.
Non-intercourse with Great Britain was again resumed by the United States' government, November 10, 1810, and, after several engagements between the armed vessels of the two nations, war was declared June 19, 1812, four days after which the orders in council were repealed. The right of searching American vessels for British born subjects, and of reclaiming them wherever found, which was asserted by the enemy, may be con- sidered the main ground for the continuance of hostilities.
During the war the commerce of Pennsylvania was limited in its extent, and, in addition to the enemy abroad, had to contend with an evil at home, almost as disastrous in its effects-viz : a deranged currency. With the ex- piration of the charter of the United States Bank, in 1811, a mania arose for the creation of banks, under the influence of which 41, with an aggregate capital of $17,000,000, were chartered by Pennsylvania, in 1814 :- 37 of these going into operation. In the autumn of this year a general suspension of specie payments, by all the banks south and west of the New England States, fol- lowed. The issues of their irredeemable paper were increased, and on July 1, 1816, the paper of the Philadelphia banks was at a depreciation of 17 to 18 per cent .; while that of the banks at Pittsburg and the western part of the State was at 25 per cent. discount. That this undue expansion of the currency exerted a powerful influence on commerce, can scarcely be doubted. To this cause, in some degree at least, may be attributed the vast amount of imports into the United States in 1815-16; paying a handsome profit to the early operators, but entailing heavy losses and bankruptcy upon a much larger number.
The second Bank of the United States commenced operations January 7, 1817; and in February entered into a compact with the State banks along the seaboard, in accordance with which they immediately resumed specie pay- ments. Efficient measures for a contraction of the paper currency to a sound state do not appear, however, to have been taken until 1819; when the dis- tress consequent upon this course of action was severely felt, not only by commercial men, but by the community of Pennsylvania generally. Upon the history of the contractions and expansions of the currency, from this last named period until the present time, which have exerted a most potent influ- ence, not only upon the commerce of this State but on that of the world, our limits preclude us from entering.
On the restoration of peace, in 1815, the foreign trade of Pennsylvania had to seek new channels. The great European powers, being now at peace, turned their attention to the encouragement and protection of their own commerce and navigation. The carrying trade between colonies and their parent states, which had given employment to so much Pennsylvania tonnage, was now, of course, confined to vessels of the nation owning the colonies ; and in the case of the British West India islands, the direct trade between the United States and them, was laid under such restrictions as to confine it almost exclusively to British ships as carriers.
The commercial regulations established by foreign governments since this period have exerted a powerful influence on the foreign trade of the State, by laying such heavy duties on her exports as to limit or prohibit their consumption ; but a mere allusion to the various operations of these would far exceed our limits.
Another source of injury to the foreign trade has been the frequent change in the tariffs laid by the United States' government : and probably the de- triment to the commercial and manufacturing interests, arising from this frequent fluctuation, may be considered as greater than that produced by the imposition of a high protective duty on the one hand ; or a low duty, le- vied merely to defray the expenses of government, without regard to the protection of American manufactures, on the other.
The tariff of 1816 levied duties, avowedly for the purpose of protecting American manufactures. In 1818 and in 1824 changes were made lessen- ing these rates. In 1828, the duties on articles constituting the principal
.
140
GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
manufactures of the Union were increased ; in 1832 again reduced ; but were still so obnoxious to one of the states of the confederacy, as to induce her to threaten to nullify the acts of the general government. In the fol- lowing year, the famous compromise act was passed, gradually reducing the rates of the high protective duties to a minimum rate in 1842. In 1841 the duties were increased; in 1842 the finances of the general government rendered a further increase necessary, and, ere another year rolls past, it seems likely that some further alteration will add its weight to the argu- ment, that the commercial policy of the United States is ceaseless change.
Among the causes influencing the foreign trade we must now allude to one more local in its character than those above noted. Shortly after the restoration of peace, in 1815, the attention of many intelligent minds was directed to the improvement of the means of internal communication with the great lakes and the valley of the Mississippi. The state of New York, by the completion of the Erie canal, in 1825, was the first state of the Union to carry out these schemes, and to reap her reward from the vast increase of her trade with the west. Pennsylvania shortly after embarked in a simi- lar enterprise, (see Article on Internal Improvements,) and Maryland was not slow to follow in her footsteps. Massachusetts more recently has put in her claim for a share of the trade with the west. Since the cost of trans- portation from an Atlantic port to a place of consumption in the west is as essentially a part of the cost of the merchandise to the consumer as its original cost on the seaboard, it is a truth self-evident, that no commercial emporium, depending for its prosperity upon such trade, can continue long to thrive, after a rival city has opened with the country whose trade is sought, a communication by means of which the cost of transportation is ma- terially reduced. This simple truth it was that led to the construction of the various lines of internal improvements, connecting Philadelphia, Balti- more, and Boston with the west.
That Pennsylvama and Philadelphia have not derived nearly so great a benefit in their trade with the west, from the construction of these internal improvements, as has accrued to the state and city of New York, we ap- prehend no one will doubt; nor, unless the cost of transportation on the Pennsylvania works can be put at an equally low rate with that on those of the neighbouring states, can it be doubted, that Philadelphia must take her rank amongst the great manufacturing, rather than the commercial cities of the Union.
In concluding this historical sketch of the foreign trade of Pennsylvania, we append a tabular statement exhibiting its condition, along with that of the foreign trade of the United States, as shown by the exports at three several periods : first, for five years previous to the long embargo ; second- ly, for five years subsequent to the late war ; and thirdly, for five years from 1837 to 1841.
Aggregate Exports from Pennsylvania to Foreign countries.
5 years.
Domestic. $21,140,096
Foreign. $45,617,469 15,789,786 5,254,025
Total. $66,757,565
Year. 1805
78,000
700,000
1816 to 1820
20,938,791
105,000
1,000,000
1837.to 1841
19,336,785
36,728,577 24,590,811
1839
222,000
1,684,000
Aggregate Exports from the United States.
Estim, pop.
5 years.
Domestic. $216,013,759 309,610,311 515,410,482
Foreign. $222,931,482
Total.
Year.
oftheU.S.
1803 to 1807
$438,945,241
1805
6,200,000
1816 to 1820
1818
9,100,000
1837 to 1841
93,097,033 85,461,675
402,707,344 600,872,157
1839
16,600,000
Estim. pop. Estim.pop. of Philad. of Penn.
1803 to 1807
1818
By the above statements it appears that the exports of the produce of the United States from Pennsylvania were less in the last than in either of the former periods, while the exports of domestic goods from the United States have been steadily and rapidly increasing. In the re-exportation of foreign goods the falling off is much greater.
141
The subjoined statement of exports and imports at Philadelphia, (through which passes the whole foreign trade of the State, excepting a very small
trade at Presque Isle,) for the fiscal year 1842, shows a still further decline.
Value of Exports and Imports at Philadelphia for year ending September 30th, 1842.
EXPORTS.
IMPORTS.
Countries.
Domestic produce or manufacture.
Foreign produce or manufacture.
Total.
Countries.
Value.
1. British West Indies
·
$567,483
$ 2,345
$569,828
1. England
$3,521,170
2. England .
397,297
30,727
428,024
2. Spanish West Indies 970,903
3. Spanish West Indies
358,055
60,996
419,051
3. Brazil ·
724,735
4. Brazil
307,451
100,968
408,419
4. Colombian ports
483,946
5. British Am. Colonies
378,134
520
378,654
5. Hanse Towns
380,486
6. Buenos Ayres
199,219
41,784
241,003
6. Buenos Ayres . .
272,017
7. Colombian ports
162,888
25,671
188,559
7. Spain on Mediterranean 8. Hayti
107,777
9. Hanse Towns
121,773
35,319
157,092
9. France on Atlantic
87,976
10. Br. and Dutch E. Indies
123,485
399
123,884 10. Danish West Indies .
83,882
11. Sicily
109,108
10,827
119,935 11. Italy
82,109
12. Chili
100,001
13,754
113,755 12. British Am. Colonies ·
82,028
13. Hayti
67,400
4,893
72,293|13. Holland
80,106
14. Italy
16,851
44,803
61,654 |14. British West Indies .
79,780
15. Swedish West Indies
59,749
1,621
61,370 15. Chili
71,600
16. Gibraltar .
35,971
24,860
60,831
16. Br. and Dutch E. Indies
55,338
17. Holland
23,692
27,291
50,983|17. Mexico
51,089
18. Africa .
44,792
2,696
47,488 18. Sicily
43,521
19. Trieste and Adriatic
2,514
30,628
33,142 19. Teneriffe and Canaries
22,649
20. France on Atlantic .
17,820
1,760
19,580 20. Azores
17,230
21. Texas
12,994
222
13,216 21. Ireland
8,926
22. French West Indies .
9,150
1,374
10,524 22. Swedish West Indies
8,696
23. Mexico
7,037
2,991
10,028 23. Africa
5,735
24. Teneriffe and Canaries
2,261
2,261 24. Portugal
5,061
25. Gibraltar
106
$3,293,814
$476,913 $3,770,727
$7,381,788
Our limits preclude the specification of the articles forming the principal
items of export and import to and from the several countries named. Of
domestic exports, flour manufactured in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Ohio,
forms by far the largest item. Corn-meal, wheat and corn, from the two first
named states, are also exported largely. Tobacco, cotton, pork, lard, naval
stores, rice, bark, &c., from the western and southern states; fish, oil, sperm
tures of iron, refined sugar, soap and candles, manufactured tobacco, furni- candles, cotton manufactures, &c., from the New England states ; manufac-
TRADE AND COMMERCE.
.
134,922
8. Danish W. Indies
168,689
10,464
179,153
·
142
GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
ture and various other manufactures of Philadelphia ; lumber, butter, cheese, and numerous articles, the agricultural produce of Pennsylvania, compose the principal part of the remaining sum. The imports consist principally of manufactures of wool, iron and other metals, silk, cotton, linen, &c., from England and continental Europe; coffee, sugar, molasses, rum, hides, mahogany, dye-woods, manufactured tobacco, &c., from South America and the West Indies.
The total exports in 1842 exceed those of only three years since 1803, omitting the period of the war with Great Britain. The exports of domes- tic produce in 1842 exceed those of seventeen years during the same period. The imports for 1842 are less in amount than those of any year since 1821, when official records of value were first made.
THE DOMESTIC .TRADE. The Constitution of the United States, as before mentioned, prohibits all transit duties on goods passing from one state of the Union to another, and releases vessels employed in the coasting trade from the necessity of entering. By this wise provision for the extension of trade, custom-houses between the different states are rendered unneces- sary, and those on the seaboard, or at the great commercial emporiums of the interior, take no account of the merchandise passing from one section of the Union to another. In the absence of official data as to the extent of this important branch of trade, we purpose giving a hasty sketch of its course, or the channels through which it flows.
With the increase of population and of facilities for the transportation of merchandise, by the improvement of county roads, and the construction of turnpike roads, canals and rail roads, the interchange of commodities with neighbouring states has steadily and rapidly increased ; while the applica- tion of steam to river navigation has rendered doubly valuable the noble streams of Pennsylvania, as a means of extending her commercial opera- tions. By these various channels of trade, and by the waters of the Atlantic, together with those of the various navigable streams emptying into it, the produce of the State, to an amount far exceeding that exported to foreign countries, is distributed through a large portion of the Union.
The domestic trade of Northern Pennsylvania is very limited in its ex- tent, this region being but thinly populated : its principal exports are lum- ber, coal, oats and neat cattle, together with some wool and butter. By means of the port of Erie or Presque Isle a communication is opened be- tween the western part of this region and the great lakes, and trade is carried on with many of the towns on their shores. The tonnage of Presque Isle has been as follows, in the years 1832 to 1841 inclusive.
Year.
Tons.
Year.
Year.
Tons.
Year. 1841
Tons.
1832
967
1835
Tons. 1,730
1838
3,216
2,820
1833
981
1836
1,877
1839
3,632
1834
1,302
1837
2,993
1840
3,369
The Blossburg and Corning railroad, the Allegheny and Susquehanna rivers, and the turnpike and county roads, at wide intervals traversing this section of the State, facilitate interchange of commodities with the neigh- bouring counties and some of the large towns, in the interior of New York state. No inconsiderable portion of the produce of the western part of this region passes down the Allegheny river to the towns bordering on the Ohio river, although a much larger part finds a market at Pittsburg. From the head waters of the Susquehanna river large quantities of lumber are annually sent to Baltimore.
The imports of this region, excepting the large supplies derived by in- ternal trade with Pittsburg, are principally from New York city and state, and are similar in character to those hereafter mentioned as taken by the north-eastern section of the State.
Western Pennsylvania, with its coal, iron, flour, wheat, lumber, wool and manufactures of various kinds which are exported to a great amount, has access to the interior of Ohio and to the lakes, by means of the Penn- sylvania and Ohio or Cross-cut canal and the Sandy and Beaver canal ; by
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