USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Centennial : the settlement, formation and progress of Dauphine County, Pennsylvania, from 1785 to 1876 > Part 8
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The following roads were laid out and confirmed by the court during the first year of Dauphin county:
Harrisburg to Middletown, (called upper road,) No- vember Sessions, 1785.
From Francis Wenrich's to the great road leading from Harrisburg to Hummelstown, August Sessions, I 785.
The road from Harrisburg to Jonestown was confirmed at August Sessions, 1787.
The age of turnpike roads commenced about the year 1800, and no portion of the country was more improved by them than Dauphin county. They changed the aspect of the country, and its current of business, and if they were not generally profitable to the stockholders, they have been invaluable to the people.
The following list, showing the length, cost per mile, and total cost of the several turnpikes running through the
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
county is compiled from the report of a legislative com- mittee made in 1822.
1803 .- Downingtown, Ephrata and Harrisburg, 68 miles; individual subscriptions, $116,500; State subscrip- tions, $6,000; cost per mile, $3,750; original price of share, $100; finished in 1819.
1805 .- Lancaster, Elizabeth and Middletown, 26 miles ; individual subscriptions, $67,400; State subscription, $10,000; cost per mile, $4,506; original price of share, $100.
1815 .- Middletown and Harrisburg, 9 miles; indi- vidual subscription, $21,000; State subscription, $14,- 000; cost per mile, $5,000; original price of share, $50.
1816 .- Harrisburg, Carlisle and Chambersburg, 41 miles; original price of share, $50.
1816 .- Harrisburg and Millerstown, contemplated length, 26 miles; individual subscription, $25,000; State subscription, $4,000.
1816 .- Berks and Dauphin, 34 miles completed; indi- vidual subscription, $63,905; State subscription, $29,000; cost .per mile, $3,800 ; original price of share, $50.
We add a list of turnpike companies that were incorpo- rated and went into operation subsequent to 1822 ; they are taken from the same report.
March 27, 1827 .- York Haven and Harrisburg Bridge.
February 16, 1828 .- Peter's Mountain.
April 5, 1830 .- Dauphin and Sunbury.
April 5, 1830 .- Marietta, Bainbridge, Falmouth and Portsmouth.
March 13: 1831 .- Hummelstown, Middletown and Portsmouth.
March 25, 1832 .- Berry's Mountain.
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
The opening of turnpike roads originated new methods of conveyances, the most important of which were what are still locally termed "Conestoga wagons" -- immense four-wheeled vehicles arched over with sail cloth cover- ings, and drawn by six powerful horses, each provided with a row of small bells, adjusted above the hame-heads of their harness. These in time monopolized the entire carrying trade between the city and country merchants; and beside the professional teamsters, nearly every well- to-do farmer in the country was more or less engaged in the business, the latter, however, generally carrying their own produce to the cities, and returned ladened with goods for the country merchant.
With the advent of turnpike roads also came improved facilities for passenger travel in the shape of stages or Troy coaches.
Matthias Slough and William Geer were each proprie- tors of a line of stages running between Lancaster, Har- risburg, Carlisle and Shippensburg, in the year 1797. They had formerly been in partnership. The stages of the former gentlemen "set out from the house of Capt. Andrew Lee, in Harrisburg," now the site of the Jones House. The fare on this line was from Harrisburg to Lancaster $2, from Lancaster to Carlisle $3, and from Lancaster to Shippensburg $4.
The stages of Mr. Geer "set out from the house of Wm. Feree in Lancaster, on every Tuesday and Satur- day mornings at 6 o'clock, proceeding to the westward, and from the house of Mr. Samuel Elder, northwest corner of Market and Front streets, in Harrisburg, every Wednesday morning, arriving at Shippensburg on the same evening. This line connected with stages, which started from the White Horse tavern, in Market
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 105
street, Philadelphia, every Monday and Friday. The same proprietor also ran a stage from Harrisburg every Wednesday, which arrived at Sunbury every Thursday, and returned every Saturday, "so that passengers from Sunbury destined for Lancaster and Philadelphia could proceed thence on Mondays."
Mr. William Coleman was the proprietor of a line of stages that started every Monday morning at 4 o'clock from the public house of Mr. George Zeigler, southwest corner Market Square, in Harrisburg, and arrived at Philadelphia by way of Reading, every Wednesday at noon.
In 1813 Mr. Nicholas Schwoyer ran a light stage twice a week from Harrisburg to the Conewago, where it was met by a line established by Mr. Jesse Shaeffer, which run to York. This stage left the Fountain Inn at Har- risburg every Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
These vehicles, though decided improvements over the previous mode of passenger conveyances, in time became to be regarded as too slow for the wants of the people, and the fast coach system was introduced. The vehicles were larger, the horses were more numerous and of bet- ter quality, and the relays were shortened. Wm. Calder, the father of the present William Calder, Esq., of Har- risburg, may be regarded as the progenitor of this sys- tem. He, in connection with several other wealthy gen- tlemen, not only established the first of these fast stage lines, but in time became the owner of all the lines run- ning out of Harrisburg. The extent of this interest, as well as the influence it had on the trade of the country, may be estimated, when we state that in the palmiest days of the business no less than fifteen stages left this town daily. Three of these ran to Lancaster; two to
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
Reading; one on the Horse-shoe road to Philadelphia; two to Pittsburg via Chambersburg, and two to the same city on the northern route; one to Columbia; one to York; one to Northumberland; one to Pottsville and one to Gettysburg.
The opening of the Pennsylvania canal in 1831 brought additional prosperity to the county, by opening up new and cheaper transportation for freight and passengers. D. Leech & Co. were the first to run a line of packets on this new thoroughfare. Their boats carried freight as well as passengers, and run from Pittsburg to Middle- town. The Pennsylvania canal at that time being fin- ished only to the latter point. Here they connected with and took up the freight and passengers brought from Philadelphia by the Union canal. When the Penn- sylvania canal was completed to Columbia, Messrs. Leech & Co. extended their line to that point, where it connected with the State railroad.
Two years afterwards Messrs. Wm. Calder, Sr., J. K. Moorehead, Silas Moore and Isaac Peters started the "Pioneer" line of packets, carrying passengers only. They were followed shortly after by Messrs. Slaymaker, Carson and others, who started the "Good Intent" line of packets. This latter line, however, lived only a short time, when they were bought out by the Pioneer and Leech lines. During the winter the "Pioneer" line ran stages.
In addition to these Messrs. Calder, Kapp and S. H. Lloyd ran lines of packets up the Susquehanna and North and West Branches.
Upon the completion of the Harrisburg, Mount Joy and Lancaster railroad in 1836, the passenger packets south and east of Harrisburg were withdrawn, and this town
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
thereafter became the eastern terminus of passenger- travel to Pittsburg which it retained up to the completion of the Pennsylvania railroad to that city. The lines on the North and West Branch and Susquehanna divisions of the Pennsylvania canal continued several years longer, when they were finally abandoned by the completion of railroads in their respective sections.
From these early beginnings, the transportation facili- ties have continued to increase hand over hand, until Harrisburg has become the dominating and absorbing centre of a distinct and independent system of railways, radiating from it through every part of the United States, like the spokes of a vast wheel.
The Northern Central railroad starts at Baltimore and passes through York to Harrisburg, thence it runs north through Millersburg, Sunbury, Northumberland, Wil- liamsport, and on to Syracuse, Schenectady, Buffalo, and also to New York city.
The Pennsylvania railroad starts from Philadelphia, and passes through Coatesville, Lancaster city, Columbia, Middletown, to Harrisburg, thence goes west through Duncannon, Newport, Lewistown, Huntingdon, Altoona, Johnstown, Greensburg to Pittsburg, and from thence by trunk lines to every part of the great west.
The Cumberland Valley railroad starts at Harrisburg, and passes through Carlisle, Chambersburg, Shippensburg and Hagerstown to the Baltimore and .Ohio railroad, and thence distributes its freight and passengers through- out the Shenandoah valley and the southern States.
The Philadelphia and Reading railroad starts from Harrisburg and passes through Lebanon, Reading, and by its various branches, through Easton, Allentown and a score more of large towns to Philadelphia and New York.
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
The Dauphin, Schuylkill and Susquehanna railroad starts at Harrisburg thence to Pottsville, passing through Dauphin and intermediate towns of the coal region, and from Pottsville distributes its freight throughout the whole of that coal and iron region.
The South Mountain railroad, after traversing the newly developed ore regions of York and Cumberland counties, has its terminus at Harrisburg.
The new railroad in course of construction from Ham- burg, Berks county, to Rockville, a few miles north of Harrisburg, will connect with the Lebanon Valley rail- road, and carry freight and passengers to Boston, with- out touching either Philadelphia or New York, thus short- ening the present route eighty miles.
Thus it will be seen that the Pennsylvania railroad passes through Harrisburg from east to west, and the Northern Central, from north to south, while the Cum- berland Valley goes south, but in a divergent line from the Northern Central road, while the Dauphin, Schuyl- kill and Susquehanna line, although running along the Pennsylvania railroad track to Dauphin, there diverges, and runs up into the anthracite coal region, as previously stated. In addition to these roads, the Harrisburg and Potomac railroad will cross the river near the Pennsylva- nia steel works, and enter the city from that direction.
109
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND PROGRESS
OF THE COUNTY SINCE ITS ORGANIZATION.
The county is bounded on the north by Northumber- land and part of Schuylkill counties; on the east by Le- banon and Lancaster counties; on the west and south by the Susquehanna river. Its length is 33 miles, breadth 16, and its area 533 miles. The population in 1790, was 18,177; in 1800, 22,270; in 1810, 31,883; in 1820 (part of Lebanon off), 21,653; in 1840, 30,118; in 1850, 35,754; in 1860, 46,756; in 1870, 60,740.
That part of the county below the Kittatinny valley con- sists of undulating slate and limestone lands, beautiful, fertile, and highly cultivated. The other part of the county is very mountainous, but contains a number of narrow and pleasant red shale valleys, and several fertile flats along the Susquehanna. The mountainous region abounds with anthracite coal, especially Lykens and Wil- liams valleys, at the southwestern termination of the great western coal field of Pottsville and Mauch Chunk. This coal field in the vicinity of Pinegrove divides into branches -the northern one under the name of Wiconisco moun- tain, extending westward several miles beyond the county line of Schuylkill and Dauphin counties to Lykens Valley -and the other embraced between the Stony mountain and a continuation of Sharp mountain, reaching nearly to the Susquehanna river. Commencing with the Kitta- tinny mountain, and traversing the county in a north- western direction, the principal ranges crossed are the Second and Third, Peter's, Berry's and Mahantango
15
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
mountains. Between Peter's and Berry's are Short mountain and several minor ridges and broken spurs; and several of a similar character between Berry's and the Mahantango mountains. In these minor elevations the coal beds generally occur. In the southern part of the county are the Round Top hill, near Middletown and Hummelstown, and other isolated knolls, belonging to the Conewago range.
The Susquehanna river runs a distance of 48 miles along the western edge of the county; its western shore, as we have previously stated, being the boundary line. The scenery along the bank is grand and picturesque, especially where the river breaks through the great mountain ranges. At Harrisburg, Rockville, Dauphin and Duncan's Island the grandeur and beauty of nature are enhanced by magnificent engineering structures. The other prominent streams in the county are the Swatara river or creek, entering the Susquehanna at Middletown; Conewago creek, the southern boundary; Paxton creek, Fishing creek, Stony creek, Clark's creek, Powell's creek, Armstrong creek, Big and Little Wiconisco creeks, and Mahantango creek, the northern boundary.
The pioneers of the county were agriculturists. They came here with no knowledge or care for any other pur- suit, and looked for no greater results than the enjoy- ment of religious privileges, the increase of their estates by removing the heavy forests and adding other acres to their original purchases. Of manufactures they knew little. The grist mill and saw mill, the blacksmith and tailor shops-all as indispensable as the plow and the axe-they provided for, as among the necessaries of a farmer's life. The spinning wheel was in every house, and the loom in every neighborhood; and almost every
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
article of clothing was the product of female domestic industry. Thus no general manufacturing interest was prevalent. The policy and laws of the mother country had discouraged this. But the iron beds in the coun- try could not lie neglected. Iron was indispensable, and its transportation from the east to the west of the col- ony was laborious and expensive. The manufacture of bloomed iron in this region commenced before the Revo- lution. The ore was often transported from the ore beds to the forges in the neighborhood of Quitapahillo and Swatara creeks, in leather sacks upon horses. In those days it was not uncommon for bar iron to become a sort of circulating medium, and promissory notes were as fre- quently made payable in iron as in money.
Even as late as 1796 the county was not believed to be destined to become a manufacturing county. About that period William Folsom commenced the manufacture of nails in Harrisburg, and he was followed shortly after by a number of others in the same business. Outside of the bar iron already mentioned, wrought nails seem to have been the first marketable commodity manufactured in the county.
To show the progress of manufactures in the county twenty-five years after its organization, we submit the following statistics from the census of 1810. It will be seen that even up to that period most of its products were of domestic manufacture:
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
Cotton goods made in fam- ilies. . . . .. 22,776 yds
Tanneries
39
Value of same. $15,595
Number of cotton manu-
facturing establishments, 3
Flaxen cloth made in fam-
ilies. . . .81,660 yds
Mixed cloth and hempen. 245,304 yds
Flax seed oil mills. 9)
Gallons made
10,036
cloth manufactured. . .. .. $265,410
Cotton & wool spun in mills, 21,995 1b
Value of same.
$16,497
Looms .
760
Value of same $111,321
Carding machines. 14
Breweries .
4
Pounds of wool carded.
38,495
Barrels brewed.
1,150
Value of same
$3,859
Value of same ..
$4,600
Fulling mills. .
Cooper shops. 31
Yards fulled.
38,280
Value of products. $14,683
Value of same
$5,480
Water turning machines.
1
Labor saving machinery :
Mills.
3
Sugar refineries
1
Spindles
270
Pounds made.
150
Hatteries
24
Value of same.
$18
Wool and mixed hats made,
10,350
Paper mills.
1
Fur hats ..
3,468
Reams made.
2,500
Value of all kinds of hats made.
$26,400
Potteries.
10
Blast furnaces, number of.
1
Pieces made
41,973
Tons of iron manufactured,
2,790
Value of same .
$2,400
Value of same
$139,500
Book binderies.
7
Forges 2
390
Printing offices.
(
Value of same.
$39,000
Value of same.
$7,800
Nailories
17
Flour mills.
65
Pounds of nails made.
160,880
Bushels of grain used
377,754
Value of same.
$17,318
Value of same
$377,754
Gun boring mills.
1
Saw mills.
75
Value of same
$500
Feet of lumber sawed
1,094,198
Gun manufactories
2
Value of same
$10,069
Guns made.
35
Brick kilns.
9
Rifles made.
85
Number of brick made.
(30,000
Value of guns and rifles ...
$1,480
Value of same $3,760
29
Value of same ..
$18,326
Bushels of Lime made ..
4,360
Steel manufactured
50 tons
Value of same.
$600
Value of same.
$12,000
Horses .
10,000
Neat cattle.
38,341
Tin and copper ware man- ufactories
Sheep, merino and common
Number of pieces made ... Value of same.
21,000
breed mixed. 16
$29,400
Common sheep
39,511
Shoes, boots and slippers made .. 35,750 prs Saddles and bridles made. . 1,601
Value of shoes, saddles and bridles. $76,039
Woolen eloth in families. . . 77,451 yds Total value of all kinds of
Value of same $10,080
Dist lleries .. 104
Gallons distilled 222,642
Value of same $2,000
Value of same
$7,500
Tons of iron forged
Value of business
$3,050
No. of blacksmith shops ...
68
Lime kilns.
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
There were no returns of cabinet, wagon and carriage makers.
Limited as the state of manufacturing was at this period, the figures show a very healthy condition, in pro- portion to the population they were intended to supply.
Most, if not all the manufacturing establishments in the county, at this period, were located in or near Harrisburg, Middletown, Hummelstown and Halifax. These points constituted common centres for trade with the farmers. The merchants then were the brokers, as they are to some extent in county towns now, and stood between the farmer and the markets. They received all his produce, and supplied all he wished to buy. The thrifty farmer, on settlement, received his annual balance from the merchant, and this enabled him to increase his acres.
The discovery of coal in Lykens valley, about the year 1825, gave a new impetus to the business pros- perity of the county, and stimulated the settlement to a region of country that then seemed destined by nature, to be a perpetual waste. The first coals mined, were sent to market on rude lumbering wagons, and averaged possibly a ton or two per day. The mining operations were subsequently carried on by a company, who built a railroad from the mines to Millersburg, on the Susque- hanna. Here the coals were ferried across the river to the Pennsylvania Canal, on the west side, and the coal discharged into canal boats, being chiefly transported to Baltimore, by way of the Pennsylvania and Tide Water canals. The subsequent completion of the Wiconisco canal, on the east side of the river, from Millersburg to the head of the Eastern division of the Pennsylvania canal at Clark's Ferry, on Duncan's Island, greatly facil-
114
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
itated the coal trade of this region, which from that period, has steadily increased.
The increase in wealth and prosperity of the county during the thirty years following 1810, was encouraging if not particularly marked.
According to the census of 1840, there were three furnaces in the county, which produced 3,000 tons of cast iron; three forges and rolling mills, which produced 466 tons of bar iron; the furnaces and forges consumed 5,537 tons of fuel; employed 224 men, including mining operations; and the entire capital invested in the trade, was $120,000. There were mined 8,000 tons of coal in the county; in which 30 men were employed; the capital invested was $ 1 50,000.
LIVE STOCK-5,852 horses and mules; 17,429 neat cattle; 15,714 sheep; 27,817 swine; poultry of all kinds, estimated at $13,784.
CEREAL GRAINS-277,248 bushels of wheat; 1,980 bushels of barley; 398,544 bushels of oats; 202,77I bushels of rye; 24,079 bushels of buckwheat; 307,363 bushels of corn.
VARIOUS PRODUCTS-24,021 pounds of wool; 604 pounds of hops; 1,000 pounds of beeswax; 125,051 bushels of potatoes; 18,008 tons of hay; 314 tons of hemp and flax ; 46,730 pounds of tobacco; 322 pounds of silk cocoons; 9,024 cords of wood sold.
The value of the products of the dairy was $54,208; 172 gallons of wine were made; and the value of home- made, or family goods, was $13,330.
Value of manufactured tobacco, $5,000; 8 persons employed in the business, and the capital invested was $3,250. The value of hats, caps and bonnets manu-
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
factured, was $118 50-19 persons employed; and the capital invested was $7,350.
There were 20 tanneries, which tanned 14,935 sides of sole-leather, and 6,044 sides of upper; employed 58 hands, and the capital invested was $82,200. All other manufactories of leather, saddleries, &c., were 26; the value of the articles manufactured was $58,800; and the capital invested $28,610. Twenty thousand pounds of soap, and 60,000 pounds of candles, were made, with an invested capital of $4,500. There were 17 distilleries, which produced 147,000 gallons; four breweries, which produced 466,920 gallons. Four potteries, the value of whose manufactured articles was $2,300; five men em- ployed, with an invested capital of $850.
Value of produce of market gardens, $4,850; value of nurseries of florists, $800; 26 men employed; capital invested $2,000. Three commission houses; capital $23,500. Retail dry goods, grocery, and other stores, 133; capital invested $479,110. Ten lumber yards; capital invested $59,000; 47 men employed. Twenty- six butchers; capital invested $19,400. Value of lumber produced $1,228. Fifty barrels of tar manufactured; I man employed. Value of machinery manufactured $2,000; 3 men employed. Forty-seven small arms made. Value of bricks and lime manufactured $21,219; 91 men employed.
Nine fulling mills; six woolen manufactories; value of manufactured goods $6,215; 31 persons employed; capital invested $4,056. One paper manufactory; 12 printing offices; 6 binderies; II weekly newspapers; I13 men employed; capital invested $73,500. Two rope walks; value of products $7,000; II men em- ployed; capital invested $2,800.
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
Carriages and wagons manufactured, value of, $13,- 185; 51 men employed; capital $5,040. Twenty-nine flouring mills; 15,431 barrels of flour manufactured; 35 grist mills; 76 saw mills and 2 oil mills. Value of furni- ture manufactured $14,750; 44 men employed; capital invested $6,040. Sixteen brick and stone houses built during the previous year; 37 frame houses; value of constructing or building, $72,790. Value of all manu- factured articles not enumerated, $5,120; capital invested $39,025. Total capital invested in manufactures in the county, $367,315.
During the two next decades, notwithstanding the serious, but brief financial depressions of 1842 and 1857, the county increased rapidly in wealth and prosperity. New railroads and additional collieries were opened; new business enterprises inaugurated, and large manu- facturing establishments erected. The natural increase in the population of the county was much augmented by the emigration of families, either to engage in manu- facturing, or agricultural pursuits. New villages were laid out and became flourishing towns; and the price of real estate, both in town and country, appreciated in value.
The census returns of 1860 give the following as the farm products of the county:
Acres of land improved in farms, 170,725; unimproved in farms, 52,852; cash value of farms, $1 3,000,746; value of farming implements, &c., $439,680; number of horses, 7,587; mules and asses, 152; milk cows, 10,473; work- ing oxen, 10; other cattle, 8,846; sheep, 4,546; swine, 22,892; value of live stock, $1,039,396; wheat, bushels, 363,791 ; rye, 116,220; Indian corn, 715,816; oats, 544,- 476; tobacco, lbs., 99,270; wool, lbs., 12,815; peas and
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. II7
beans, bushels, 1,935; Irish potatoes, 231,666; sweet po- tatoes, 5,775; barley, bushels, 1,052: buckwheat, bushels, 16,017; orchard products, value of, $43,546; wine, gal- lons, 441 ; market garden products, value of, $62,103; butter, lbs., 791,885; cheese, lbs., 2,333; hay, tons, 39,- 205 ; clover seed, bushels of, 7,887; grass seeds, bushels, 1,955; hops, lbs., 448; flax, lbs., 1,087; flaxseed, bushels, I36; sorgum molasses, gallons, 164; beeswax, lbs., 405; honey, lbs., 3,501 ; manufactures, home made, value of, $54,234; animals slaughtered, value of, $280,223.
The following table illustrates only the leading manu- facturing operations in the county in 1860:
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