Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 18

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 18

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).

(y) Navigator, 18II. (z) Navigator.

(a) Niles Register, July 9, 1814.

I54

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

time the freightage on the rivers had been limited to the capacities of the keel- boats and barges. Navigation by steam completely revolutionized the system and improved its facilities to a degree difficult to fully comprehend at this day. The possibilities were seemingly boundless and opened to the comprehension of the river merchants of that date such an extent of trade as to kindle into life industry, skill and capital without limit.

"It is difficult to repress the expression of feelings which arise toward the person to whom we owe it that this mode of navigation, so often before attempted and laid aside in despair, has become practical, but it is unnecessary to give them vent. The obligation which the nation, I had almost said the whole world, owes to him will be freely acknowledged by history" (b).

During 1813 the following estimates of the number of boatloads and wagon- loads received at Pittsburg were niade: 350 boats loaded with 3,750 tons of salt- peter, salt, lead, peltry, sugar, cotton, etc .; 1,250 tons of hemp, 3,750 tons of hempen yarn; 4,000 wagon-loads of dry goods, groceries, etc .; 1,000 wagon- loads of iron.

"Verily this looks something like a seat of commerce. The exports must also have been immensely valuable. Pittsburg is not the only place of business on the Western waters. Many other towns have great exports and imports, and several are likely to be in a very few years what Pittsburg is now. Pittsburg, sometimes emphatically called the 'Birmingham of America,' will probably become the greatest manufacturing town in the world" (c).

In 1812 the ironmongery manufactured in Pittsburg was estimated to amount to 396 tons, worth $174,240. The value in 1814 was estimated at $300,000; and the whole value of the products of iron could not be much less than, if it did not exceed, $500,000.

"Died recently, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Conrad Hawk; he was the first man who drove a wagon over the Alleghany Mountains, being driver in the expedition under General Forbes, which took Fort Pitt in 1758. When we recollect that from 4,000 to 5,000 wagon-loads of goods have been delivered at Pittsburg in one year, we may estimate the change that has occurred since its first wagon was driven across the Alleghanies" (d).

In October, 1815, one of the merchants of Pittsburg advertised for sale 99,385 pounds of New Orleans sugar; other merchants offered for sale amounts nearly as large. They also had on hand large quantities of cotton for the numer- ous carders, spinners and weavers in this vicinity. Large quantities of red lead were kept for sale. At that time an immense section of country poured its trade into this place to exchange for the products of New Orleans.

It was during the war of 1812-15 that coal in quantity began to be mined and brought to Pittsburg from the south side of the Monongahela. At first it was ferried over, but after the completion of the first bridge across that stream in 1818 it was brought over on that structure. In 1818 there came large demands from Cincinnati for coal, to be used in the large glass and iron factories there. Put down in that city it was worth twenty cents per bushel. This demand from Cincinnati, as well as from Louisville, New Orleans, St. Louis and many other Western points, greatly stimulated the production and shipment of coal here. In July, 1818, wagon-loads of goods bound from Philadelphia to Pittsburg were deliverable under contract in twenty-two days, though the actual time required was less than this.

In July, 1818, work on the first Allegheny bridge was commenced. At that time a bridge on that river was not considered so important as one across

(b) Pittsburg Correspondence in National Intelligencer, April 22, 1814.

(d) Niles Register, April 1, 1815.

yours sincerely mary. E. Schenley any

157

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

the Monongahela; because an immense trade came to the city from toward, and within the boundary of, Washington County; much greater, in fact, than from the country across the Allegheny.

In May, 1818, market prices in Pittsburg were as follows: Beef, 8 to 10 cents per pound ; pork, same; veal, same; mutton, same; butter, 25 to 31 cents; eggs, 12 to 18; fish, same; bacon, 12; crackers, 7; coffee, 35 to 37; Steubenville broadcloth, $8 to $II per yard; Pittsburg broadcloth, $7.50 to $9; flour, $5 to $5. 50 per barrel; wheat, 75 to 87; rye, 50; barley, 75; corn, 50 to 62; oats, 33 to 37; Juniata iron, $200 to $210 per ton; lumber, 75 cents to $1.75 per hundred feet; nails, cut, 15 to 19 cents a pound; nails, wrought, 22 to 25; writing paper, $3.50 to $4.50 a ream; peach brandy, 75 cents a gallon; salt (Conemaugh), $8 per barrel; cigars (American), $2.50 per 1,000; sugar (New Orleans), 20 cents per pound; sugar (country), 16; loaf sugar, 34; lump sugar, 32; tallow, 12 to 15 cents; tobacco (Kentucky), 15 to 18; tobacco (country), 23 to 25; wool (Merino, clean), 40 to 62; whisky, 40 to 50 cents (e). It will thus be seen that high prices still prevailed.

In 1818-19 among the large mercantile houses here were Bosler & Co., ironware and groceries; James Riddle & Co., iron, steel, glass, etc .; McClurg & McKnight, dry goods; William & John Hill, dry goods, queensware, etc .; H. Bonnet & Ronaud, dry goods; William Eichbaum, Jr., books, etc .; Samuel Shannon & Co., shoes; J. Teale, straw bonnets; Miller & Wilson, iron and grocer- ies; R. Patterson & Lambkin, books, etc .; Isaac Harris, dry goods and groceries; Francis McBean, dry goods, hardware, etc .; William Kepner, copper and tin ware; Pugh & Doyle, commission house; Ormsby & Doane, groceries; Roseman & Wright, furniture; Foster & Doane, groceries; Armstrong & Ewing, groceries; T. & G. Algeo, general merchandise; Irwin & Henry Wallace, iron, salt, etc .; William Robinson, Jr., groceries; January, Winans & January, commission; Abishai Way & Co., dry and fancy goods; Anshutz & Rahm, iron and steel; John Gibson & Co., salt and groceries; Miller & Wilson, ironware; G. T. Beyer & Co., groceries and liquors; I. Doane, hardware and groceries; Joseph Hill & Co., druggists; Allen & Grant, groceries; H. Langtry & Co., queensware, hardware and saddlery; Samuel Edgar & Co., groceries; C. Latshaw & Leech, groceries.

"Mercantile pursuits have become so much the rage and offer such tempta- tions for the expenditure of hard-earned gains that our country is fast approach- ing to that state of perfect exhaustion that all nature abhors. The consumption of foreign produce and foreign manufactures is enormous. Those old- fashioned articles, silver and gold, are now the only thing we can offer in exchange for the loads of finery that are disgorged upon us from the East. . . Nature intended Pittsburg for something more important than to be the mere depot of Eastern merchandise. The immense beds of coal, the inex- haustible forests that fringe the borders of our rivers, the majestic stream that flows from our doors, all combine to prove that Pittsburg was formed for the metropolis of a great tract, as the soul of a flourishing country" (f).

From a commercial point of view Pittsburg was much interested in 1818 in the question of the annexation of West Florida to the United States. It was thought that Mobile and Pensacola would probably rival New Orleans in the magnitude of trade. In any event Pittsburg regarded the acquisition as desirable, because it would afford an expansion of her territory of trade. The vast differ- ences in climate, productions and local interest were yet to be revealed and felt. No one here doubted that the prediction of Jefferson, that New Orleans would become one of the greatest commercial cities in the world, would be verified. "In our last we mentioned that there was nearly one million of merchandise

(e) Gazette, May 22, 1818. (f) Gazette, July 3, 1818. (g) Gazette, October 30, 1818.

I58

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

lying at our shores. A merchant of Lexington has since informed us that it amounts to near three millions. We must certainly clear out the river" (g).

"On Saturday last we counted thirty large keel-boats, besides flat-bottoms, loaded with goods, anchored in the Monongahela, or lying along the shore" (h). "The embargo on our vessels is at length happily raised, and three millions' worth of merchandise has within a few days floated off on the rapidly swelling bosom of the Ohio. It may appear somewhat paradoxical, but Pittsburg is delighted to have her shores deserted. The large fleet of boats which has for some months been lying before our city might serve to give strangers a just concep- tion of the immense importance of our situation, yet its protracted detention gave a melancholy feature to this proof of our greatness; we fear the effects of it will be severely felt in the cities and in the West. However, in all cases of gloom where our country is concerned our motto is, Sperate. The beautiful steamboat James Ross has weighed anchor for New Orleans; she will take in freight at several places between this and Louisville. May success attend this gallant vessel in her voyage of 2,000 miles across our immense continent" (i).

Large quantities of buffalo robes were disposed of here during the War of 1812. In 1818 one merchant of Pittsburg, an agent of the Government, sold to distant merchants $23,500 worth of revenue stamps. Prices of produce con- tinued very high in 1818, and store goods of all kinds were low. Thus the farmers during that year fared much better than the merchants.

"Our shores exhibit one of the most animating scenes of bustling emigration we have ever witnessed. The beach of the Monongahela has been for several days completely lined with flatboats destined for the Illinois and other districts below the falls of Ohio. The great body of emigrants now are of a different kind from those which we have been accustomed to see in this place. It is com- posed of English, who appear to come full-handed, as we term it" (j).

"In Pittsburg alone, without including the neighboring towns (which would probably produce as many more), there are perhaps thirty mercantile establish- ments which alone remit to the cities every year $35,000 each for goods; this amounts to upwards of a million; add to this the rest of the mercantile expendi- tures of this place and probably the sum sent over the mountains from this place will not fall far short of one million five hundred thousand dollars, of which Pittsburg and its vicinity pay, say, one million; at all events the Western country pays the whole. Suppose then, our transporting trade, which is calculated to yield us one million five hundred thousand dollars a year, diverted to Virginia and Maryland, what must become of us? It is a melancholy fact that, leaving manufactures out of the question, we have not a single article of staple exporta- tion. The country below us destroys every dependence on agricultural products. Without manufactures the country will be drained of every cent of paper and specie in a short time; with them we may set the Cumberland Road and the whole nation at defiance" (k).

"'Farewell, poor Pittsburg!' exclaimed a wiseacre in one of the Cincinnati papers lately, speaking of the establishment of a foundry there."

" 'Farewell, Orleans,' may be pronounced with more reason by some city to the east of it before many years, if our Government do as they ought to do-retain Florida" (1).

Among the commercial articles in this market in 1818 were veneers of mahogany from Mexico; dress goods from England; silk goods from France; sugar and cotton from New Orleans; spices from the East Indies; tobacco in

(h) Gazette, November 17, 1818.

(i) Gazette, December II, 1818.

(j) Gazette, September 29, 1818.

(k) Gazette, October 13, 1818; see chapters on Transportation.

(1) Gazette, August 21, 1818.

I59

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

various forms front Virginia, Kentucky and Cuba; muslins from England, India and the Eastern States of the Union; cigars and fruits from Spain and its colonies; tea from China; iron from the Juniata, England, Sweden and Russia; salt from the Conemaugh; plaster-of-paris from Canada, etc.

During the spring and summer of 1818 twenty-two steamboats were em- ployed in trading between New Orleans and towns on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and their tributaries. The down cargoes were cotton, tobacco, cordage, etc., and up were dry goods, hardware, groceries, etc. Fourteen of these boats ran between Louisville and New Orleans. In 1818 seven steamboats were in process of construction at Pittsburg (m).

"During the suspension of manufactures we have been only kept alive by our transporting trade, from which we have derived a million and a half a year. If our manufactures be not reestablished, woe to Pittsburg! Woe to the neigh- boring country! They will have exhausted the cup of adversity to the very dregs" (n).

"What little silver, small change, was brought into circulation by the sun- shine of the last resumption of specie payments has taken a second plunge into the wooden chests of our sagacious peasantry, and if we know anything of the character of our worthy country folks it will require some as yet undiscov- ered process in chemistry or philosophy to relieve the dear little pieces from this, their second stage of bondage. The country folk get along very well, for if the balance of trade is against them they make you take eggs for the amount; but the merchants, to be on a footing of equality, must adopt some rule of protection. They are completely stumped since the fifty-cent city tickets have become illegible. We will be much obliged for some plan to overcome the diffi- culty. Cut money or bullion might answer the purpose, providing we can procure any, which, by the by, is somewhat doubtful. Our merchants might tender ribbon to settle such differences. Unless something can be done the whole business of trade must shortly be conducted by exchange, for in another year there cannot be a dollar in circulation if the diminution goes on" (o).

In the summer of 1819 Steubenville broadcloth was worth in Pittsburg from $8 to $II per yard, while Delaware broadcloth could be bought for $4.06 per yard (p). A manufacturer denied that Steubenville broadcloth cost so much and said that if wool could be sold for fifty cents, washed on the sheep's back, the cloth could be sold at $3.75 per yard.

"It is doubted whether he would not even then prefer buying British cloth at $12 to $14 per yard, to the pleasure of wearing a coat manufactured in his own country of equal quality and of one-half the price" (q).

"Will it be believed abroad that for some time past the supply of butter has actually failed, and that what little has been exhibited for sale has been sold from thirty-seven to fifty cents a pound? That veal is from ten to twelve cents, beef ten cents, and potatoes eighty-seven cents a bushel?" (r).

The merchants generally of the city kept domestic manufactures for sale, such as cotton cord, linen linsey, window-glass, rosin soap, starch, sole leather, nails and tobacco.

"The times are indeed alarming. Our difficulties are increasing every day. Many have already failed, and hundreds more are on the very verge of bank- ruptcy and ruin. But a little more pressure and they, too, must fail. And we all know that the failure of one often undermines the foundation and lays the train for the ruin of perhaps ten or twenty more; and thus the evil spreads

· (m) Cramer's Almanac, 1819.

(o) Gazette, May 18, 1819.

(q) Gazette, August 10, 1819.

(n) Gazette, October 6, 1818.

(p) Gazette, July 30, 1719.

(r) Gazette, March 23, 1819.

160

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

far and wide like a devouring flame. The cry with everyone now is, something must be done and done immediately" (s).

"Presentments .- The grand inquest of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, have presented, as a grievance, the great scarcity of specie in their immediate neighborhood, as well as in the country generally, by which means real as well as personal property is diminishing in value and labor and industry of every class in the community is reduced to such an alarming degree that the most resolute and enterprising hearts cannot under such growing and severe pressure feel easy and comfortable. This they attribute to the enormous and fearful balance of trade against our country originating from the great influx of for- eign goods manufactured in foreign countries and imported into this and thereby causing the gold and silver which ought to be in circulation in the country to be shipped abroad therewith to purchase foreign fabrics. From a consideration of these and other circumstances they have

"Resolved, Unanimously, that the grand inquest of Allegheny County, aforesaid, individually pledge their words and their sacred honor that, for the time to come, they will neither purchase nor wear any woolen clothes nor any linen or cotton goods which shall have been manufactured by any foreign nation; and further, that the inquest as aforesaid recommend to their fellow- citizens throughout the county of Allegheny the adoption of similar resolu- tions" (t).

In January, 1819, wheat was worth $1, corn and rye sixty-two cents. In December, 1819, wheat was quoted at seventy-five cents, rye at fifty and corn at forty-five. In March, 1820, wheat was worth only fifty cents, corn forty and rye forty-five. In 1821 prices reached the bottom. In May, 1821, the price of flour per barrel was $1, whisky, per gallon, fifteen cents, good pine boards twenty cents per hundred, sheep and calves each $1. It required a bushel and a half of wheat to buy a pound of coffee, a barrel of flour to buy a pound of tea, and twelve and a half barrels of flour to buy a yard of superfine broadcloth (u).

The Pittsburg Manufacturing Association, organized for commercial pur- poses in 1819, answered the expectation of its founders in affording facilities for the interchange of commodities-supplying raw materials to the mechanic and manufactured articles to the farmer and country merchant in exchange for produce. Beyond this it did not go. The Legislature of 1819-20 chartered the association, which greatly increased its facilities for benefiting the community. This association did not confine its operations to the handling of Pittsburg man- ufactures only, but kept for sale in its large warehouse the flour of distant mills, broadcloths of the Steubenville Woolen Factory, cotton goods not made here; in fact, a general warehouse where supplies of every description could be obtained. George Cochran of Richard was the first agent of the company at Pittsburg. Of the stock about $4,000 had been paid in by April, 1819. A board of managers conducted the affairs of the institution. In 1820 more shares were subscribed and the paid-in fund still further increased. After 1824 ten per cent. dividends were declared annually during the life of the company. It is said that this company, after 1823, handled annually $60,000 worth of Pitts- burg manufactures. In 1826 John Hannen was president; Thomas Hazleton, James Marshall, Thomas Fairman, Alexander Miller, Jr., John Sheriff, John Spear, Benjamin Bakewell, James Arthurs, Jr., Thomas Liggett, managers; S. R. Johnson, secretary; Abner Updegraff, treasurer; George Cochran, agent.

It will thus be seen that commerce here flourished from 1792 to 1799; then seems to have languished until 1803, when it again improved until 1807, and

(s) A citizen in Gazette, August 27, 1819.

1 (t) Niles Register, December 1, 1821.

(u) Western Address Directory, 1837.

16I

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

then again languished, with short periods of revival, until 1812, when it arose to an unexpected and extraordinary height. Everybody seemed to make money during this wonderful period. It was made with such ease that business men were led to speculate with an utter disregard of a return to normal conditions. As a matter of fact, commerce suffered a decline to the other extreme, until the year 1821 may be said to have witnessed the commercial death and anni- hilation of this community.

CHAPTER VIII.

COMMERCE CONTINUED - THE REVIVAL OF TRADE IN THE TWENTIES-STATISTICS SHOWING THE WONDERFUL ADVANCEMENT IN BUSINESS-THE EXPANSION OF TRADE INTO NEW FIELDS-THE IMMENSE TRAFFIC BY WAGONS-OPENING OF THE COAL TRADE-COMMERCE ON THE RIVERS-NEW COMMERCIAL RELA- TIONS CREATED BY THE CANAL-EFFECT ON TRADE RELATIONS

CAUSED BY THE CANAL-THE BOARD OF TRADE AND THE MER-

CHANTS' EXCHANGE-THE PANIC OF 1837-SHIPMENTS ON THE CANAL-IMPEDIMENTS TO RIVER COMMERCE-ENTER-

PRISE OF THE MERCHANTS-MANY NEW BUSINESS

VENTURES-EFFECTS OF THE MONONGAHELA IM- PROVEMENTS ON COMMERCE-THE WONDERFUL

STIMULUS GIVEN TO COMMERCE BY THE

CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS - THE DISTRESS OF 1854 - STATIS- TICS AND MISCELLANY, ETC.

The year 1823 witnessed a slight improvement in commerce over the dreadful depression which prevailed here in 182I.

In 1823 there were measured by Shott, Crawford & Liggett at Pittsburg 3,222,784 feet of boards and 15,000 feet of scantling. There were also handled here 650 tons of hay, 395 cords of wood, 570 cords of bark, 3,061 barrels of whisky, 149 barrels of oil and seventeen barrels of brandy (a). Business had begun to improve in some directions, and others were added on the following year.

"Pittsburg is full of bustle and business. The arrival and departure of steamboats takes place almost daily. Vast quantities of valuable products have been brought down the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers during the present season, and a few days since the American left Pittsburg for Brownsville, being the first steamboat that ever navigated the first named river" (b).

"Our rivers are now in fine navigable order. The recent rise of the waters has given renewed life and vigor to our commercial operations. Within a few days past property of various descriptions has been brought to this market exceeding at the lowest estimate half a million of dollars. The shores of the Alle- gheny River alone are covered with arks and flatboats, upward of a hundred in number, richly freighted for this market. Within the last week there have safely arrived by this channel, on a moderate calculation, 7,000 barrels of salt, 500 tons of bar-iron, 500 tons of pig metal, besides other articles of merchan- dise" (c).

In 1825 there were sent in one package from Kittanning 6,000 pounds of butter to New York via Lake Erie and the Erie Canal (d).

During the fiscal year ending April 1, 1826, there were inspected in Pitts- burg 13,739 barrels of salt, valued at $17,172, and 3,163,690 feet of boards were measured, besides a large quantity of shingles, scantling, lath, logs and hewn

(a) Cramer's Almanac, 1825.

Niles Register, November 19, 1825. .

(b) Niles Register, April 23, 1825.

(d) Mercury, March 28, 1825.

162

163

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

timber, all of which, including the boards, were worth $22,818. The salt and lumber merchants of Pittsburg in these transactions realized a profit of $11,500 (e).

During the year 1826 there were received at Pittsburg from the East 9,300 tons of merchandise, which were estimated to be worth at least $150 per hun- dredweight; total nearly $2,800,000. Good times had indeed set in for all classes. In 1827 there passed eastward from and through this place 12,000 boxes of glass and these shipments continued to grow. The following were the exports of Pittsburg for the year ending April 1, 1826:

Iron

$398,000

Nails .

210,000

Glass.

105,000

Paper.

55,000

Porter

18,000

Flour

10,500

Castings

88,000

Wire work.

8,000

White lead.

17,000

Steam engines

100,000

Tobacco and cigars.

25,800

Bacon, 860,000 pounds. 51,820 Cotton yarn and cloths.

160,324

Axes, scythes, shovels, sickles, etc.

49,000

Whisky, 4,200 barrels, at 22 cents per gallon.

29,832

Dry goods exported to the North and West. 480,000

Groceries and foreign liquors exported to North and West. 625,000 Saddlery and other products of leather. 236,000

Miscellaneous exports of beeswax, feathers, candles, soap,

cordage, coal, country linen, cider, apples, etc.

214,000

Total

$2,881,276

Balance of trade in Pittsburg's favor, 1825-6 (e) 662,276

$2,219,000

For the year 1825-6 (ending April Ist) the following goods were imported: Merchandise of various kinds $1,332,000

Groceries and liquors. 813,000

Drugs, stationery, etc 74,000

Total. $2,219,000

Of the groceries $339,000 worth were domestic, and of the merchandise $425,000. Of the sales $22,465 were of books and $179,500 were at auction. There were sold of these imports during the same time totals as follows (f):

Merchandise of all kinds $932,000

Groceries and liquors. 801,000

Drugs, stationery, etc. 62,000

Total.

$1,795,000

Leaving on hand

424,000

Total.

$2,219,000

"Iron blooms and pig metal are included, but I think $1,000,000 a very

(e) Pittsburg in 1826; Samuel Jones.

(f) Pittsburg in 1826; Samuel Jones.

164

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

moderate estimate for carriage alone. For some years back I have preferred getting cotton front Tennessee up the Ohio and sending it overland to Phila- delphia and Baltimore. In the year 1821 I had some shipped via New Orleans. Cost of insurance two and a half per cent. from that eastward and ȘI a bale for shipping prevented me from sending any more that way. The average of what I have sent eastward for some years is from 300 to 400 bales. This year it has been somewhat less than former years. Of bacon and lard alone from 600 to 700 tons must go eastward this year. Ohio tobacco is a very considerable article; one house sent 1,400 hogsheads last year from Wheeling and this year there will be much more" (g).

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 18

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