Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 17

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 17

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Farmers came west of the Alleghanies to raise grain, vegetables and stock. They soon found that the large droves of cattle and hogs from the back settle- ments in Virginia and the Carolinas cut them out of the markets of Alexandria, Baltimore in part and Philadelphia in part. This was a sore disappointment. Stock raised by slave labor could and did undersell the stock of Western Penn- sylvania in the markets of Baltimore and even Philadelphia. The result to the farmer here was that instead of raising live stock on a large scale for market, he settled down, raised only enough for home demand and waited and hoped for better times. They did not raise grain in large quantities, because there was no demand except at home. This refers to the time immediately succeeding the Revolution and previous to 1790. Rye was raised for the distilleries. There was no demand for grain for shipment. It did not pay costs to raise more than was needed by the farmer and his merchants. Often flour per hundred- weight sold here for $1, sometimes for a French crown, and $1. 50 was deemed a high price if paid in cash. In goods a hundredweight of flour often brought twelve shillings sixpence. Half a crown per bushel was the usual price for corn. Rye was invariably turned into whisky. Beef was often sold for $2 and pork held at a guinea cash per hundredweight, but in goods they brought from twenty shillings to $3. It was the practice of the farmers to trade all the produce they possibly could to the merchants for their goods. The merchants were obliged to accept the situation and market the produce. About all the money the farmer needed or got was enough to pay his taxes and for his land. Com- merce at this time (1783-90) was confined almost wholly to barter; in fact, bal- ances were often settled in an exchange of property. Country linen and woolen goods were invariably a legal tender, or at least an acceptable tender. Several families in Pittsburg were disposed to be aristocratic and would not wear country clothing, but donned imported dress goods and broadcloths and held themselves aloof from the society of their country cousins, as well as from many of their fellow townsmen, and it was true that blood and breeding ruled society.

It was found unprofitable during the period referred to to ship the product of the farms to New Orleans, owing to two important facts: I. The long time

(e) Items from sundry issues of the Gazette.

(f) Gazette, 1787; Vide supra as to society here in early times.

(g) Gazette, 1787.

(h) Gazette, August 19, 1786; also Gazette, May 20, 1831.

148

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

consumed in making the trip; 2. The methods adopted of wearing out a seller at New Orleans by holding off from buying until expenses had eaten up profits. The Spanish and French down there were too tricky and unreliable. A market, such as it was, could always be had East, but no capitalist had the temerity then to buy grain on a large scale in the Western country to be shipped by wagon East, as the risks were too numerous and great. Besides, there were better invest- inents for capital. Farmers continued to raise only enough for home consump- tion, and merchants made what they could out of their goods. This community, therefore, was not famed for its commerce until after the merchants were called upon for supplies for the Western country, when it was seen that goods manu- factured here could be sold as well West as those manufactured farther East and shipped to Pittsburg to be distributed. And thus manufactures were commenced and have continued down to the present time.

As soon as it was settled that Western Pennsylvania, particularly Pitts- burg, must look to its manufacturers and not to its agriculturists, it had no more trouble. Prosperity came on the wings of the wind and the waves of the rivers. Nails were floated down the river and met an eager market in the swiftly growing settlements of Ohio and Kentucky, and more were called for. Hatchets, axes, hoes, andirons, spades and numerous other products of iron were demanded of Pittsburg and were not long withheld. The demands of the great West pointed the road of prosperity, wealth and fame to Pittsburg, and from a thousand sources down-stream came the demand for innumerable forms of iron, for tons of coal, for many varieties of glass, for cotton and woolen goods, for flour and for many other articles, which, be it said to the credit of the first residents, Pittsburg was not long in supplying. But the town was slow in learning her destiny. Furnaces and forges began to spring up over Western Pennsylvania after 1790, but no permanent one was put in operation here until 1805-6, and only two were in operation during the War of 1812. Not a rolling and slitting mill was running liere until 1818-19, though this was long after they had sprung up in various parts of Western Pennsylvania. The annual trade in Pittsburg in' 1815 amounted to over $2,600,000 and was largely made up of the hand-made products of iron and steel, as no rolling and slitting mills had been set going. One had been built by Christopher Cowan in 1811-12, but, according to the best accounts, it did no rolling and slitting. Imniense quantities of bar-iron, rolled in the Juniata country, were handled by the Pittsburg merchants.

The first stock board was established here in 1799 (i), but what it succeeded in accomplishing to benefit commerce cannot be learned. The proposal of Spain to shut off the commerce of the Mississippi River from the Ohio Valley for twenty-five years greatly disturbed the people of this vicinity late in the eighteenth century, but the purchase of Louisiana by the United States in 1803 settled the question-to the intense relief of Pittsburg.

In 1800 the merchants dealt largely in flour, whisky, bar-iron, castings, country and Irish linens, pork, beef, etc. The Indian wars of 1791-2, the whisky insurrection of 1794, the establishment of the O'Hara glassworks in 1797 and the McClurg foundry in 1805, the enormous increase in the manufacture of iron, the construction of boats, and the constantly increasing trade on the rivers, may be said to have been the commencement of the enormous commercial growth of Pittsburg. In 1800 Oliver Ormsby, Mahon & Sharp, Thomas Jones, James Dunlap, Scott & Trotter, Prather & Smiley, George Stevenson, James Hogg, Jeremiah Barker & Co. and others conducted stores here. William Eichbaum's tavern stood on Front near Market, and Richard Hancock's tavern stood where Mrs. Mary Murphy had formerly entertained the public. William Morrow also .

(i) Commercial, February 16, 1865.

149

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

conducted a tavern at this time. The traffic on the rivers in 1800 consisted of dry goods, flour, whisky, apples, beef, pork, ginseng, cotton, nails, glassware, corn, tobacco, castings, salt, buffalo robes, peltry, sugar, lard, bacon, venison, country linen, harness, shoes, saltpeter, hemp and cordage, guns, etc. Accord- ing to the report of the commandant at Fort Massac, near the mouth of the Ohio River, there passed that place from the Ist of March to the 31st of May, 1800, 276 boats from Kentucky, the western parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia, Tennessce and the Northwest Territory, destincd for Natchez, New Orleans and other places on the Mississippi.

During the holidays of 1800-I markct prices in Pittsburg were as follows; Beef, 3 to 5 cents per pound; pork, 3 to 4 cents; mutton, 4 to 6; veal, 4 to 6; venison, 3 to 4; flour, $1.25 to $1. 50 per hundredweight; buckwheat flour, $I to $1.20; Indian meal, per bushel, 23 to 44 cents; potatoes, 25 to 33 cents; turnips, 20 to 25 cents ; apples, 50 to 75 cents; oats, 20 to 25 cents; butter, 10 to 13 cents; hogs' lard, 5 to 7 cents; eggs, 7 to 12 cents; turkeys, each, 40 to 60 cents; geese, each, 25 to 33 cents; ducks, each, 12 to 17 cents; fowls, each, 7 to 10 cents.

In 1801 Tarascon Brothers, James Berthoud & Co. conducted here a large store; they grew out of the previous establishment of James Berthoud. William Steele, Alexander McLaughlin, Joseph Davis, William Christy, Andrew Willock, Abner and Jesse Barker, John Hamsher, Isaac Gregg (in Judge Brackenridge's building) and others conducted stores. In 1801 James Berthoud opened an establishment of his own on Water Street, near Henderson's Ferry. In 1801 Thomas Baird had been here nearly fourteen years, and Dr. Gazzam over eight years (j).

In 1802 John Hanna, Denny & Beelen, B. S. Spitzer, Scott & Trotter, David Evans, John and Alcxander Willis, William Woods & Co., Robert Simpson, David McIlhenny, William Christy, William Cecil, John Johnson, John Gilliard, Joseph Davis and others conducted stores or shops here. From the start great interest was taken in securing and maintaining the New Orleans market, which was regarded as the natural outlet for the products of Pittsburg. John Wilkins, Jr., in a circular letter, addressed the farmers, millers, merchants and manufactur- ers of the Western country (k), to the following effect: That inasmuch as they could not at all seasons understand the state of the market at New Orleans, owing to the distance of that city and the long time necessary for the passage of news between the two points, they were at the mercy of traders there, who could and did compel them to hold their goods on their boats until expenses had eaten up all the profits; that $60,000 had been lost to the Western country in 1802 by this means; that therefore he would suggest the formation of a company with a capital (say) of $100,000, which should establish agents and warehouses at New Orlcans and other places along the rivers to protect the interests of the members; and that a meeting should be held in Pittsburg September 29, 1802, to organize such a company. If such an organization was effected, that fact is lost to history.

In January, 1803, came the news that the Spanish Intendant at New Orleans · had closed that port against the people of the Western country. Great consterna- tion ensued here, because many people were in arrears to the government for excise and other debts and taxes and could not discharge the same unless a market was afforded for their wares. An Eastern market was out of the question, owing to the high rates of carriage over the mountains and the low price of products, and a shutting off of the Western market meant ruin. Public meet- ings were held in Western Pennsylvania; and a petition addressed to the Presi- dent and Congress was circulated in this vicinity, declaring that "protection and allegiance were reciprocal;" that the immediate interposition of the Government

(j) Gazette, 1801. (k) Open letter in Gazette, September 17, 1802.

150

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

would be relied upon; that the people now had the right to demand of the Govern- ment protection in the prosecution of lawful commerce; that the Government should either take the people's produce at a reasonable price or relieve them from contributions, taxes, etc .; that delay was critical; "and that imperious necessity may therefore compel us, unless relief is afforded, to resort to measures which we may deem calculated to insure protection to our trade, though they may result in consequences unfavorable to the harmony of the Union" (1). Strong grounds were thus taken; but what effect they had on the Government would be difficult to decide. One thing is certain: The purchase of all of Louisiana, as before stated, immediately followed, and the New Orleans market was thrown open to all the Western country, of which Pittsburg was then a prominent center. Many people of the Western country had favored taking forcible possession, if necessary, of the Mississippi River and New Orleans.

"The authority at New Orleans ought to have been compelled to open this port to us. The pressing wants of our citizens demand such a measure. Justice would have defended it. The outrage should have been complained of, and, at the peril of war, regulations insisted upon that would place the support of half a million of people above national or individual perfidy" (m).

In 1803 the manufactures amounted to $266,000; produce brought to market, $92,000; exports, $180,000; imports, $250,000; balance against the city, $70,000. The latter fact caused Zadoc Cramer to warn the citizens to be more prudent and import less and manufacture more (n).

Many of the earliest and best stores were opened by agents of Philadelphia or other Eastern merchants. A comparison of prices in Pittsburg and New Orleans in June, 1803, shows that a fair profit was made by the shipper, if no unnecessary delay ensued. But the prices then prevailing in New Orleans under the French were much lower than they had formerly been. Cotton, negroes, flour and other commodities had depreciated one-third in value. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the importance of the New Orleans market in the opinions of the inhabitants of Pittsburg of that day.

"The position of New Orleans certainly destines it to be the greatest city the world has ever seen. There is no spot on the globe to which the produce of so great an extent of fertile country must necessarily come" (o).

Canals and railways were then unknown, and commerce sought and mainly depended upon waterways. Pittsburg was situated on navigable water, which connected it via New Orleans with the great markets of the world. Is it any wonder that the people of this place, shut off from the East by the mountains and a road that was impassable half the year, used extreme measures to main- tain an open Mississippi and a free market with New Orleans?

In 1800, 723 barrels of salt were shipped from Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1803 the shipment amounted to 2,736 barrels, nearly all of which came to Pitts- burg down the Allegheny. In 1805 the quantity reached 7,589 barrels. In 1809 it reached 14,346 barrels, nearly all, as usual, coming to Pittsburg. In 1807 over 3,000,000 feet of boards came down the Allegheny; and in 1808 nearly 5,000 bar- rels of salt came down from Onondaga, New York (p). In 1810 Christian Lauderburn, from his factory near Connellsville, sold to the Skeltons of Pitts- burg 60.000 pounds of Spanish brown manufactured by himself from native earth. Immense quantities of flour, whisky, hardware, queensware, pork, beef, tobacco, lumber, hemp, grain, etc., were handled by the merchants here from 1807 to 1812. In fact a season of extraordinary commercial prosperity, except per-

(1) Gazette, February 3, 1803. (m) Gazette, March 25, 1803.

(n) Pittsburg Intelligencer, 1841.

(o) Thomas Jefferson in letter to C. C. Claiborne, July 7, 1804.

(p) Niles Register, 1814.

15I

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

haps for one or two years, was enjoyed from 1803 until the close of the War of 1812. As early as 1810, perhaps earlier, petroleum oil was brought here by the gallon from Oil Creek. "It comes from a spring on which is an oil similar to Barbadoes tar" (q).

"There are fifty stores, generally well assorted and supplied, and which divide the retail business of the town and adjacent country in tolerably good proportion. Some, however, have rather a superiority of custom, the owner of one of which, a man of veracity, assured me that he received in ready money, one market day with another, $150, and that he had once taken $180, besides the credit business. Either as a trading or manufacturing town I think Pittsburg, for situation, is not excelled in the United States, and that it bids fair to become the emporium of the center of the Federal Union" (r).

In early times numerous maple sugar camps were conducted along the Monongahela River, and large quantities of the sugar found their way to Pitts- burg. An average tree produced annually about four pounds of sugar, worth thirteen cents per pound. Numerous flouring-mills lined the banks of the same - stream, and shipped abroad immense quantities of flour, which was justly cele- brated in the markets of the world.

The manufacture of hemp into ropes enriched the State of Kentucky "much faster than if its citizens had discovered a gold mine." The quantity of spun yarn for ropes and hemp which passed through Pittsburg for the Baltimore and Philadelphia markets in 1810 was as follows:

Pounds.

Through T. & J. Cromwell's warehouse, May 1, 1810, to Novem- ber 14, 1810. 308,944

980 creels of yarn, average 9,000 pounds each, hemp . 882,000

C. Cowan's warehouse, 83 creels of yarn, 900 pounds each. 74,000

G. Anshutz warehouse, 254 bales of hemp .. 24,000

James Adams' warehouse, spun yarn, in two months. 90,000

Total spun yarn and hemp. 1,378,944

This commodity was worth per pound fifteen cents, total $206,841.60. The quantity of bar-iron and castings sold in Pittsburg in 1810 was 1,307 tons, worth $182,980, as follows:

Tons.

G. Anshutz, bar, rolled and slit iron

332

Castings. .

C. Cowan, castings. 50

Sundry iron. 300

T. & J. Cromwell, castings

Sundry iron. 150

Produced by others, estimated 300

Total

1,307

In 1810 the most important items of trade here were as follows: Anshutz, bacon and pork from Kentucky principally, handled 25 tons; Cowan, sundry bacon, 25 tons; the fifty tons valued at $11,000. Cotton handled by Anshutz, Cowan, Cromwell and others, 240,000 pounds. Cut and wrought nails and Juniata iron, Anshutz 50,000 pounds, Cowan 40,000 pounds, others 20,000 pounds; all worth $18,700. Tobacco by Cromwell, Cowan and others, 20,000 pounds, worth $2,600. Glass handled by Cromwell, $10,000 in value. Of the above all the nails were

(q) Navigator, 1812. (r) Cumming, 1808.

152

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

manufactured in Pittsburg (s). It was carefully estimated that in 1810 the trade passing through Pittsburg annually amounted to $1,000,000, and the sale of Pittsburg manufactures amounted to $1,000,000 more; total, $2,000,000. Down the Ohio were sent glass, paper, apples, cabinet work, furniture, saddlery, boots and shoes, and up the Ohio came sugar, furs, tobacco, cotton, lead, hemp, etc. From January 1, 1813, to January 1, 1814, a gentleman living four miles east of town counted 4,055 wagons loaded with merchandise going to Pitts- burg (t). Large numbers of boats unloaded their cargoes here in addition.

"Our merchants in town import of foreign productions, which are the great sore of our country, and will be so as long as the balance of trade is against us on the sea, probably about $1,000,000 in amount annually, which are vended here principally for cash. Of this it is possible they may be enabled to pay one-fourth in articles of barter, such as country linen and flour, leaving a bal- ance of trade against Pittsburg and in favor of Philadelphia and Baltimore of $750,000 annually, which must be paid in specie or an equivalent" (u).

"Besides the fine situation of Pittsburg for manufactories, another circum- stance encourages much the settlement of industrious tradesmen in it, which is the cheap, plentiful and various market. There are two market days weekly, and the common prices of necessaries are: Good beef, from 23 to 4 cents per pound; pork, 33; mutton, 4; veal, 3; venison, 3 to 4; bacon, 6 to 10; butter, 10 to 18; cheese, 8 to 12 cents; ducks, 25 cents each; geese, 33 to 37; turkeys, 40 to 75; flour, $1.75 to $2.50 per hundredweight, or from $3. 50 to $4 per barrel; corn, . 33 cents; potatoes, 40; turnips, 18; Indian meal, 40; onions, $1; white beans, $1; dried apples and peaches, $1; green apples and peaches, 40 cents; eggs, 10 to 18; fresh fish, 3 to 6 cents; maple sugar, 10 to 12 cents; whisky, per gallon, 30 to 40; peach brandy, 75 to 80; beer, $5 to $7 per barrel; cider, $3 to $4; 700 country linen, 40 cents, and tow cloth, 33 cents per yard; salt, usually $2.50 per bushel, which is occasioned by its being supplied from the Onondaga salt works, in the upper part of the State of New York, whence it is brought by water, with a few portages, through part of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and down French Creek and the Allegheny to Pittsburg, which is a great article of trade, giving cmployment to several keelboats on the river" (v).

"In the last two or three ycars the markets have risen considerably: Beef, 6 to 7 cents; flour, $4.50 per hundredweight, or $9 per barrel; potatoes, 75 cents per bushel; cabbage, 6 cents each head; butter, 25 to 50 cents per pound; fowls, 50 cents per pair; ducks, 50 cents; geese, 75 cents to $1.25 each; turkeys, 75 cents to $1 each; venison, 5 cents per pound; pork, 7 cents; hogs' lard, II cents; mutton, 7 cents; veal, 6 cents; cheesc, 18 to 25 cents; eggs, 25 cents; onions, $1.25 per bushel; Indian mcal, $1 per bushel; soup beans, $1 per bushel; fish, 4 to 5 cents per pound" (w).

During the boating season of 1812, Maysville, Kentucky, at the mouth of Limestone Creek, shipped to Pittsburg 1,000 tons of Kentucky produce-salt- peter, tobacco, hemp, spun yarn, cordage, gunpowder, etc. J. A. Tarascon and James Berthoud owned large mills and warehouses near Louisville, Ken- tricky.

"Mr. Lambdin, one of the board of inspectors for the borough of Pittsburg, said that about 7,000,000 feet of boards and scantling passed inspection for 1812, worth at a low estimate $63,000. He also said that 300 frame and brick houses were built in 1812, but this is likely an overestiniate" (x).

The enormous pine and hemlock swamps far up the Allegheny River con-

(s) Navigator, 18II. (t) Gazette, November, 1814.

(u) Navigator, 18II. (v) Cumming, 1808.

(w) Navigator, 1812. (x) Navigator, 1813.

I53

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

tinued for many years to supply the Pittsburg market with boards, scantling, shingles, etc.

"It is not extravagant to suppose that the day is not far distant when its [Ohio River] whole margin will form one continuous village. The various productions of the most extensive and fertile part of the United States must eventually be sent to market on this river" (y).

A. J. Lewis & Co., David Logan & Co., G. & C. Anshutz, Isaac Harris, John Wilkins, N. Richardson, William McCandless, William Mason, John M. Snowden (books), Cramer, Speer & Eichbaum, James Wiley, Jr., R. Brown & Co., conducted mercantile establishments of various sorts in 1812-13. The merchants in those days ordered their goods twice a year-in the spring and fall. On those occasions immense stocks were accumulated before Western merchants arrived to make their purchases and shipments. Pittsburg mer- chants never experienced a more profitable period than during the War of 1812. Their stocks sometimes doubled in value on their hands. Approved bills at sixty days were taken for cash. Country linen rose to three shillings per yard. George Evans & Co. offered 75 cents for wheat and 50 cents for corn and rye per bushel at their steam flouring-mill in 1812. In September, 1813, they offered $I for old wheat and 90 cents for new. At the latter date A. J. Lewis & Co. had on hand 99,385 pounds of New Orleans sugar, and N. Cunningham & Co. 28,000 pounds of Spanish wool. Brown sold large quantities of New England cloths. Isaac Bean of Pittsburg, agent of the Harmony Company, offered for sale 6,000 gallons of highwines. Peebles, Tweedy & Co. conducted a large hat store; R. E. Fleeson a wholesale and retail grocery; he called for 10,000 pounds of yellow butter (z).

The direct tax of the Government took effect December 31, 1813 Notes, bills, bonds and paper were stamped before usage.

In March, 1814, the Pittsburg Steam Mill (Evans') offered $1.25 cash for wheat, and 623 cents cash for corn and rye per bushel. War prices soon pre- vailed everywhere, for in May, 1814, the prices rose to $1. 50 for wheat, $1 for rye and 873 cents for corn.

On April 16, 1814, prices stood as follows: Beef, 9 to 10 cents; bacon, 15 to 163 cents; pork, 10 cents; flour, per hundredweight, $4; flour, per barrel, $6. 50 to $7; Indian meal, per bushel, $1; oats, 45 to 50 cents; butter, 37} to 50 cents; potatoes, per bushel, $1; wheat, $1. 37}; corn and rye, 75 cents (Pittsburg gristmill).

"Robinson & Barber of Pittsburg advertise in the Baltimore papers the cargoes of six keel-boats expected from New Orleans with 380 barrels and 28 hogsheads of sugar, 201 bales of cotton and 6 barrels of indigo. The house of Richard Brown & Co. of Pittsburg advertise in a Winchester, Va., paper 510 bar- rels of New Orleans sugar and 205 bales of cotton for sale" (a).

Bosler & Co., from April I to September 1, 1814, imported from New Orleans 1,403 barrels of sugar-365,672 pounds; 15 boxes white Havana cigars- 4,769; 129 barrels of coffee-19,604 pounds; 380 bales of cotton-128,793 pounds; '28 bales Spanish wool-13,244 pounds; 100 kegs quicksilver-7,000 pounds; 30 seroons and 30 barrels of indigo and logwood-7,800 pounds; 60 barrels of rum- 7,800 pounds.

The extent of the commerce of Pittsburg in 1814 was little known to the country east of the mountains. The war had engrossed public attention and at the same time had multiplied home industries of every description and stimu- lated commercial pursuits to a wonderful degree. In 1814 the freights of one merchant of this place, up and down the Ohio, amounted to $60,000. Up to this

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 17

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192