History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 5

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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1842 .- Wyoming, part of Luzerne, April 4, 1842.

1843 .- Carbon, parts of Northampton and Monroe, March 13, 1843. Elk, parts of Clearfield, Jefferson and Mckean, April 18, 1843.

1846 .- Blair, parts of Bedford and Huntingdon, February 26, 1846.

1847 .- Sullivan, part of Lycoming, March 15, 1847.

1848 .- Forest, part of Jefferson, April 11, 1848, (part of Venango added, October 31, 1866).

1849 .- Lawrence, parts of Beaver and Mercer, March 20, 1849.

1850 .- Fulton, part of Bedford, April 19, 1850. Montour, part of Columbia, May 3, 1850.

1855 .- Snyder, part of Union, March 2, 1855.

1860 .- Cameron, parts of Mckean, Potter, Clinton and Elk, March 29, 1860.

1878 .- Lackawanna, part of Luzerne, August 21, 1878.

The State comprises sixty-seven counties.

DEVELOPMENT OF STATE.

The development of Pennsylvania from a vast uncultivated wilderness in the possession of un-

GENERAL HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

civilized Indians, through a period of two hun- dred and fifty years, into a productive country in the possession of progressive Christians has been truly wonderful. The course of improve- ment in this long period of time is indescribable, -a period long, very long, to us who can at best comprehend only several scores of years in our lives and by our experiences, but when com- pared with the march in countries whence our early settlers emigrated it is small, and when compared with ancient countries, such as Greece and Egypt, it is insignificant.

POPULATION AND TERRITORY .- In 1681, when Penn obtained possession of the province, he estimated the population at one thousand, including all nationalities. Two hundred years afterward, by the census of 1880, it was 4,282,- 891 ; and now it is four and a half millions. Then all the territory in the actual possession of the early settlers amounted to only several hundred square miles, and this lay along the Delaware River, in the vicinity of and below Philadelphia, and it was improved merely with ordinary buildings for domestic use; and the combined wealth could not have exceeded a million of dollars. Now, the State comprises forty-five thousand square miles-an extent of country three hundred miles long and one hun- dred and fifty miles wide-and this vast area is improved with buildings of every description, and roads and turnpikes, and canals and rail- roads, which facilitate life and intercourse and transportation to a surprising degree, and the combined wealth counts into billions of dollars.

FIRST CENTURY .- The first century was devoted almost entirely to rapid influx of set- tlers, to taking up land in tracts varying mostly from one hundred to four hundred acres and improving the same with dwellings and barns, to laying out public roads from settlement to settlement in every direction, and to organizing townships and counties and courts of justice. Agriculture was the principal employment of the inhabitants ; but numerous trades and voca- tions were pursued to supply necessary articles. In this time the population increased to about four hundred thousand. This was certainly a large increase; and it can be said that immi- gration was the most marked feature during

this century in the development of the pro- vince.

SECOND CENTURY .- The second century began under a dark and threatening cloud. The inhabitants had grown in strength, not only in respect to number, but also in respect to industry and wealth, to social influence and to feelings for political independence and ambi- tion for local power. And this strength was being tested in their efforts to establish represen- tative government entirely from the people through the terrible trials and losses of war. It proved strong enough for victory. With the Revolutionary War over, in the first few years, this century then started out earnestly with grand prospects for the years to come, similar, at least, if not superior, to those foreshadowed by the liberal policy of Penn. From a single individual, who fortunately possessed excep- tional views in behalf of mankind, the power of government passed to the whole community. Under the beneficent influences which proceeded from this change these prospects have been fully realized ; indeed, the results have sur- passed the highest expectations of the most san- guine advocates of the new system.

GOVERNMENT .- Government was the prin- cipal subject which engrossed the public atten- tion for the first decade and it was a compre- hensive one for the time. But how admirably the people came to master it, not by themselves, but through the fortunate selection of compe- ' tent representatives ! We may, indeed, ask how such men came to be selected, what senti- ments led public feeling in the right direction and created such a unanimity of purpose. It was not accident. It resulted from general re- spect for learning and fitness, which superinduced men who were not qualified for responsible positions to show no desire for office or polit- ical preferment. Our early Governors and judges were exceptional men. In respect to prominence, they stood out above the great mass of the people just as certain high oaks appear above the surrounding trees in a wide forest. In the course of time, as decade after decade passed away, it cannot be said that we have maintained this state of political affairs. Lat- terly, especially, men obtain offices through acci-

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

dent, without any preparation for the positions which they are called upon to fill, and without any prominence to designate them as men for the times. And if recognized fitness and prom- inence were characteristics worthy of considera- tion in the early history of our representative government, when we had a population num- bering only four hundred thousand, how much more should they be now, when we have a popu- lation exceeding four million, with numerous interests which involve enormous appropriations of money and require the greatest possible exhi- bition of wisdom, honor and courage for their directions towards subserving the public wel- fare.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS .- The next sub- ject in point of prominence was internal im- provements. When the century began we had nothing in this respect beyond public roads, not even bridges to facilitate the crossing of flowing rivers. But a decade had hardly passed before turnpikes and canals were sug- gested ; and the half of the century had not elapsed before we had turnpikes and canals, and bridges and railroads. These were, indeed, rapid strides in advance of the closing period of the first century. They were superinduced by the energy of trade and transportation, and by the great demands of the time for all kinds of manufactured articles, through rapidly increas- ing population. The discovery of coal and the "application of steam to motive-power encour- aged the development of these valuable im- provements. But in this behalf iron-ore exerted the strongest influence. These three agents placed the State foremost of all the States in respect to internal improvements, and brought her energy to such a condition of activity that her productions alone exceeded those of all the other States together.1 In connection with this subject I must mention manufactures,-for in-

1 This has been the case at least in iron articles, coal and petroleum. Pennsylvania has always produced one-half of the pig-iron cast in the United States, and more than one- half of the iron and steel rails, and of the steel ingots. In 1883 the production was as follows :

Tons

Pig Iron.

Tons Rails.

Tons

Ingots.

United States

5,146,972

1,360,694

214,184

Pennsylvania . . 2,638,891

857,818

136,020

ternal improvements and manufactures in our great State have traveled together side by side. The latter necessarily preceded the former, for they required a way for convenient and rapid transportation so as to answer the demands of the growing communities. The life and wealth and progress of the State within the last fifty years are attributable mainly to them. Phila- delphia is particularly indebted to them for remarkable increase of wealth, influence and population. The county of Berks has ever been active in encouraging and carrying on industries of various kinds, such as furnaces, forges, mills, shops and factories,-especially the county-seat, Reading. In this respect our county stands out as boldly as any other district in the State.

EDUCATION .- In looking over the various affairs of the State, the subject of education is prominent. Before 1834 there was legislation encouraging the education of children in the several counties throughout the State, but there was no fixed system for its regulation, and therefore its results were not successful. In 1834 a general system was devised, but it was not compulsory. The spirit of improvement labored on, and through its influences amend- ments of the system were made at different times. Finally, in 1854, each county was re- quired to elect a superintendent for the purpose of supervising the system and of giving it proper direction ; and when this important factor was introduced the progress of general education begau in earnest. The intellectual development of the people, through the increas- ing liberality of the State in this behalf for the last half-century, has been as remarkable on the one hand as successful on the other. In the matter of school buildings and teaching, es- pecially in the boroughs and cities, a great improvement is apparent in every section. The contrast of the present with the past is very marked. The education afforded by means of our colleges, academies, seminaries and numerous pay-schools is worthy of notice. They are an important element in this great cause, and are entitled to much credit iu the intellectual pro- gress of the people ; indeed, the greater part of the credit for thorough and advanced knowledge.

GENERAL HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

The following statistics show the progress of common-school education in the State :

YEAR.

No. of No. of No. of No. of Districts Schools Scholars. Teachers.

Appropriations from State.

School-tax.

Expenditure for building.

Expenditure for teaching, etc.

1836.

1854

907 1656

762 10,4691 17,783 19,919

150,781 581,992 902,412 966,039

808 13,108 20,652 21,464

$146,287 159,5541 723,7841 700,340

$287,105 1,127.9921 6,623,2731 7,623,678

$135.236 266,1981

$193,9721 1,041,571

1876

1,276,578

4,817,563

1884

1,686,132

5,403,6362

1 Not including Philadelphia.

2 Total expenses, $9,463,221.

BUILDINGS .- The 'buildings throughout the State for the transaction of public business also exhibit great progress; and the private build- ings, both for business and domestic uses, are particularly expressive of taste, enterprise and liberality. Some of the buildings erected by corporatious, such as railroad companies, bank- ing companies, insurance companies and pub- lishing companies, are imposing structures which call forth our admiration. This spirit is grow- ing so rapidly that, through active competi- tion, we are drifting into extravagance, if we have not already reached that point in improve- ments of this kind. It were well for us if the structures represented so much actual wealth, clear of debt; but, unfortunately, many of them are encumbered to such an extent as to amount to a burden upon our energy, especially that part which is carried away in rents and interest beyond the limits of the State. And the church buildings can be mentioned in this connection. Many of them are truly magnificent. But their magnificence is overshadowed by extravagance and expensiveness, and, in many cases, by ac- tual debt. We have a prevailing spirit that conceives and inculcates the idea that grand structures, with or without debts, will lead worldly people "unto the Lord," and direct their steps into paths of Christian virtue; yet this same spirit tolerates the suffering of many poor people and the gradual degradation of many poor children. And this spirit, besides exciting generosity in behalf of costly buildings with great spires, also gathers large sums of money, in every community, for foreign mis- sions, notwithstanding crimes and offenses and unlawful practices of various kinds blot our

social life, and notwithstanding the tendency to continue them, if not to multiply them, obtains a stronger hold upon the present generation. The taxes, assessments and collections of all kinds, taken together, amount truly to an enor- mous sum.

Railroad corporations are improving the State in every quarter. Their enterprise and generosity excite our amazement. But do we realize the debt which rests upon these improve- ments,-the interest which is carried away ? Municipal corporations possess a similar spirit ; they have beautified towns and cities with mag- nificent structures. But what of the alarming debts? what of the heavy taxes upon our en- ergy and industry ? This spirit was actually running away with councilmen and legislators, and public sentiment finally arose and put a limit, if not a clieck, to their extravagance by legislative enactment. Insurance companies, . against death and fire, display everywhere a similar spirit. What buildings, indeed, and what salaries and commissions to officers and agents! Are they not a burden, instead of a benefit, as now conducted, taking away from us more than they are returning? Their busi- ness is truly enormous. They are so success- ful, indeed, that from their collections they not only erect costly buildings and pay extravagant salaries, but return our money for our obliga- tions, thus leading us into paying interest be- sides assessments. Theatres and public halls could also be mentioned. Altogether, we have buildings that are truly wonderful. But what of the burdens which they have occasioned ? What of the strain upon our energy ? What of the drain from our income? What of the

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tendency to elevate and empower capital and to humiliate and weaken labor ?

Under all we seem to thrive. The improve- ments are evidence of enrichment. But who can say that this condition of our State is not really an evil. If it is, what is the remedy to cure it? We must reverse the tendency of drawing our people from the rural districts, we must direct their energy back into simple and small communities, and the results of their la- bor into local improvements ; we must scatter the people more from the large cities into vil- lages and towns ; we must encourage numerous populous places throughout the, valleys1 of our State rather than boast of great cities with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of in- habitants ; we must distribute wealth and politi- cal power more amongst our towns and town- ships and counties rather than concentrate them in one large metropolis, more amongst the people rather than in a limited number of capitalists and party leaders.

INVENTIONS .- In referring to the several in- fluences which have been incessantly at work in our gradual development as a State, I cannot overlook the productions of genius in respect to discoveries and inventions. A history of them in the order of their presentation to us would be not only very interesting, but also valuable. They have exerted a wonderful power over our actions. Our progress is mainly attributable to them. By comparing the situation of the people throughout the State in 1776, without the use of coal, steam, petroleum, gas and elec- tricity, railroads and bridges, telegraphs and telephones, and labor-saving machines-such as the mower, reaper, binder, planter aud thresher, the sewing-machines and the machinery of var- ious kinds for manufacturing goods out of iron and wood, cotton and wool, etc.,-with our sit- uation in 1876, in the possession of all these things, we can readily see and appreciate the great progress which we have made.

The wealth which we now enjoy has come to us mostly through them ; and they are the things that continue from generation to

generation. People come and go, wealth is unstable like water, government fluctuates with the passions of mankind ; but discoveries and inventions never leave us,-they contain those eternal principles which survive the revolutions of governments and the struggle of rival nations, and they witness the change and antagonism, of progressing and succeeding religions. These governments and nations and religions have their different measures and standards and theories, providing one set of opinions for one age and another set for another age ; but they, in the onward course of time, pass away like a dream. The discoveries of genius, the inventions of practical minds, alone survive.

PATRIOTISM .- The patriotism of Pennsylva- nia during the several trying periods of our country, especially during the Revolution and Rebellion, stands out like a bold, grand monu- ment above all our achievements. Her people have not only shown great ability in developing her resources, her influence and her power, but also devotion to the principles of political inde- pendence and unity. As her share of assistance to the general government in prosecuting the Civil War to a successful conclusion, she furnished millions of money and over three hundred and sixty thousand soldiers, a number exceeding one- tenth of her population. In the course of her brilliant history she has exhibited energy and liberality enough on the one hand to create a country; but, in the hour of peril, she has mani- fested power and devotion enough on the other to preserve it.

Troops were furnished as follows :

1861 130,594

1862

71,100

1863

43,046

1864.

91,704

1865

25,840

362,284

The population in 1860 was 2,906,215.

AGRICULTURE .- In concluding this brief narrative of the development of Pennsylvania, I must mention a subject which, if not more im- portant than the subjects already mentioned, is, nevertheless, equally prominent-it is agricul- ture.

The great majority of our people have been

1 Railroads are draining income from labor more and more into large cities ; but they are developing and popu- lating interior districts rapidly.

GENERAL HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

engaged from the time of our earliest settlements till now in this enriching department of labor. It was a necessary employment with which to begin the settlement and improvement of a new country. The immigrants came qualified to carry it on successfully. They possessed all the qualifications for pioneer farmers-physical strength and determination, industry and econo- my, and practical judgment and perception. Before the Revolution, everything was depend- ent upon them. They were the motive-power which set the whole community moving in the several avenues of life. In matters of labor, government and religion they constituted the one great element of society which was indis- pensable. If they had been taken away, the province would have returned to its primitive state. Hence they were the agency which ele- vated the country above the condition in which it had been held by the aborigines for centuries.1 Their improvements extended mostly throughout the eastern and southeastern sections, which lay to the east of and about the Susquehanna River, and comprised about one-fourth of the area of the province; and these were effected altogether by actual manual labor, without the aid of labor- saving implements and machinery, a fact worthy of especial mention. After the Revolution, for at least fifty years, the general condition of agri- culture remained about the same in respect to influence. It was extended more thoroughly throughout the territory of the State beyond the Susquehanna River. But the genius of man then, decade after decade, began to introduce new subjects which invited capital and energy into new channels, especially for improved high- ways, and shops, mills and factories of various kinds. The spirit of concentration gradually led away a considerable part of this strong in- fluence from agriculture and directed it into capital and into political and social power, and it was made to subserve the welfare of persons rather than the welfare of communities. The majority of persons still continued for some time

in agriculture, and agriculture was benefited in various ways by improved transportation and by labor-saving machinery. But its real inde- pendence grew less, and it would seem to have grown less as mechanical power developed itself into greater prominence and usefulness. The ten- dency of legislation was gradually directed to- wards capital through steam and coal and iron and manufactured products, rather than agricul- ture through manual labor and the products of the soil-towards towns and metropolitan places rather than towards the larger divisions of ter- ritory, such as townships and counties-towards the leaders of wealth rather than towards the people. Hence, the country districts did not ad- vance in as marked a manner in respect to pop- ulation and wealth as towns and cities advanced. The total productions of agriculture have in- creased wonderfully during this century, es- pecially during the last three decades. This arose mostly through the introduction of im- proved farming implements and machinery, the clearing of land and the increase of farms for agricultural purposes. The general live-stock and barns and dwellings have been improved in character and value. More attention has been directed latterly to the successful cultivation of fruit. The general condition of farmers has been elevated very much ; but as a prominent class in the State they do not give that direction to various important affairs-political, social and religious-which they naturally should give by reason of their number and wealth.

The following statistics are submitted in this connection to show the general progress of agri- culture ; but they reveal also the power and profit of manufactures as compared with agri- culture. The investment in farms, implements and stock is over one billion dollars, the income not two hundred million, or one-fifth ; but the investment in manufactures does not amount to one billion dollars, and yet the income is nearly seven hundred and fifty million, or three- fourths of the investment.

In 1880 the total population of the State over ten years of age, was 3,203,215. The number engaged in agriculture was 301,112.2

'Pennsylvania took the lead of all the colonies in agricul- ture. In 1751 the exports in grain were,-wheat, 86,000 busbeis; flour, 12º,960 bushels ; Indian corn, 90,743 bushels ; and the total amount of exports then exceeded one million of dollars .- Rupp.

2 In manufacturing and mining industries, 528,277.

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Productions of grain, etc., for the following years : 1

1850.

1860.

1870.

1880.

Wheat, bushels.

15,367,691

13,042,165

19,672,967

19,462,405

Rye, bushels.

4,805,160

5,474,788

3,577,641

3,683,621

Oats, bushels.

21,538,156

27,387,147

36,478,585

33,841,439

Corn, bushels.

19,835,214

28,196,821

34,702,006

45,821,531

Potatoes, bushels

5,980,732

11,687,467

12,889,367

16,284,819

Wool, pounds.

4,481,570

4,752,522

6,561,722

8,470,273

Hay, tons.

1,842,970

2,245,413

2,848,219

2,811,654

Tobacco, pounds.

912,561

3,181,586

3,467,539

36,943,272

Improved farms, acres

8,628,619

10,463,296

11,515,965

13,423,007

Value of farms ....

$407,876,099

$1,043,481,582 35,658,196

$975,689,410

Value of implements, etc ..

14,722,541

$662,050,707 22,442,842 69,672,726

115,647,075

35,473,037 84,242,877

Statistics on manufactures for comparison with foregoing table : 1

1850.

1860.

1870.

1880.

Establishments, number.

Persons employed, number

Capital invested

21,605 146,766 $94,473,810 87,206,377 155,044,910

22,363 222,132 $190,055,904 153,477,698 290,121,188

37,200 319,487 $406,821,845

31,232 387,072

Materia Is.

421,197,673 711,894,344

465,020,563 744,818,445

CHAPTER II.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF BERKS COUNTY.

Geology - Minerals - Botany - Mountains - Valleys - Streams-Relative Elevations.

GEOLOGY.

SCIENCE, in her survey of the earth, has recog- nized three kingdoms of nature-first, the an- imal ; second, the plant ; and third, the crystal. The animal and plant are both endowed with life. This life commences from a germ and grows by means of imbibed nutriment. In its growth it passes through a series of changes and a gradual development until it reaches the adult state, wherein it continues to death. In its adult state it evolves new germs or seeds, and thus it multiplies life after its own kind. But the crystal is a lifeless object. It begins in a nucleal molecule or particle, and it enlarges by external addition or accretion alone. There- fore it has no development. It simply exists. It does not reproduce particles after its kind.

The earth in the beginning was like a germ.

It was brought to its present condition through a series of changes or progressive formations. Like an animal or plant, it has its special sys- tems of interior and exterior structure, condi- tions, movements and changes. Under the guidance and the appointed law of an Infinite Mind it passed through a regular course of growth or history, and, like the animal or plant, it has also individuality.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 5

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418