Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 78

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 78

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).

In August, 1801, John Irwin, John Hamsher, John Wilkins, Jr., James O'Hara, William Earl, David Davis, Adamson Tannehill and Jeremiah Barker prepared and signed a remonstrance to the effect that, inasmuch as hay and coal had been and were bought and sold in Pittsburg by estimation, and that frequent losses and impositions had been sustained by purchasing and receiv- ing weighty articles by estimation, such as hay and coal, proper scales should be established at some convenient place within the borough under the direction of the corporation. They called a meeting to consider the subject. At this time, if the old newspapers may be believed, the condition of the streets was deplorable. Deep sandholes had been dug at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Smithfield Street, which were regarded as dangerous to life and limb.

On the 29th of June, 1801, a town meeting was held "for the purpose of enacting certain ordinances for the better regulation of the borough." In con- sequence of representations and memorials addressed to the burgess, the fol- lowing objects, it was announced, "would be submitted to the consideration of

682

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

the burgess, freeholders and inhabitants:" To prevent the driving of horses at a rapid gait through the streets; to prohibit the beating of drums late at night; to prevent the keeping of wagons and teams too long within the public square, etc. "By the records of the borough, it appears that at different times since 1794 taxes to the amount of $3,916.94 have been levied for the pur- pose of repairing streets, etc., the utility of which is, at the present time, scarcely apparent. A proposal has been laid before the burgesses for making improvements of a more permanent nature, paving the streets, etc." (a).

The ordinances, which had been passed in August, 1801, were ordered published in the Gazette in July, 1802, for the information of the freeholders. These ordinances contained substantially the following provisions: That foot- ways of brick, stone or gravel, bounded by curbstones or by square pieces of timber, should be placed, under the direction of the regulators, on the following streets: Both sides of Market from Water to Fifth; Water, from Wood to Redoubt Alley; north side of Front Street from Wood to Ferry; south side of Second Street from Wood to Ferry; north side of Second Street from Wood to Redoubt Alley; north side of Third Street from Wood to Ferry; both sides of Fourth Street from Smithfield to the alley on which the jail was built; south side of Fifth Street from Wood to Market; east side of Wood Street from Second to Virgin Alley; west side of Wood Street from Water to Fifth. It was ordered that unless the owners of adjoining land should build such foot- ways by January 1, 1803, the supervisors should construct such works of gravel, to be bounded by squared timbers, the expense to be charged to the owner and collected like other tax. It was provided that any person who should obstruct the execution of the ordinances should be fined $20 for each offense. The street regulators were empowered to pitch and regulate the grade of streets, and each of such officers was ordered to be paid $1.50 per day.

In May, 1802, the following borough officers were elected: Isaac Craig, chief burgess; David Evans, burgess; John Reed, Abner Barker, Thomas Ferree and John Davidson, assistants; Joseph Davis and John Ferree, assessors; William Amberson and Robert Magee, supervisors; William Christy, town clerk; William Gray, high constable. The borough officers elected in May, 1803, were as follows: Presley Neville and James O'Hara received the same number of votes. They cast lots to see which should be chief burgess, and the honor fell to General O'Hara. William Earl, Thomas Collins, William Hays and Peter Mowry were elected assistants; Robert Simpson, town clerk; William Cecil, Sr., high constable; Anthony Beelen and Abraham Kirkpatrick, assessors; Alexander McNickel and John Reed, supervisors. On March, 1804, under the new charter, the election resulted as follows: Burgess, Presley Neville; Town Council, Dr. George Stevenson, William Hays, Isaac Craig, James Morrison, Joseph Davis, David Pride, Ebenezer Denny, John Scull, Jeremiah Barker, William Porter, John Darragh, Thomas Bracken and William Davis; high constable, Andrew Willock; clerk of the market, Robert Magee.

At the election for Assembly in 1802, 330 votes were polled in Pittsburg; but in October, 1803, only 280 votes were thus polled. Under the old borough charter, when ordinances were passed many of the inhabitants assembled in town meeting to discuss their measures and act upon them. Inasmuch as the charter of 1804 repealed that of 1794, the ordinances between those dates, though a part of the early history, are usually overlooked by historical writers. They were simple in their character, and were only passed as they seemed necessary from the growing demands of the borough. In August, 1802, William Christy, town clerk, called for proposals for four public wells, to be

(a) Gazette, June 26, 1801.

683

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

dug on Market Street, of a depth not less than forty-seven feet, and further called for proposals for pumps for such wells. This call was authorized by the ordinance of August 9, 1802. It was ordered that the wells should be sunk and pumps erected wherever the burgesses deemed advisable, beginning with Market Street, and wherever it was found that individuals had sunk wells at their own expense they should be compensated therefor when they were assigned to public use. All this expense was to be sustained by a tax levied upon the borough. Three of the wells were ordered to be walled with stone, and two of them were dug on Market Street. For the year 1802 a borough tax of $497.96 was levied, of which, by December 17th, only $170 had been collected.

In August, 1802, the inhabitants were called to attend a meeting of the corporation at the Courthouse to consider a proposition "for the better supply- ing certain parts of the borough with water." It seems, then, that the question of water supply was early considered one of importance, and was investigated and the digging of the wells was ordered. In February, 1803, the citizens, in town meeting assembled, passed ordinances for the improvement of footways, and for the appointment of an inspector and measurer of boards, scantling and other lumber. The following sarcastic article appeared in the Gazette of June 3, 1803, and was subscribed by "One of the People:" "'Let the people man- age their own affairs in their own way, unembarrassed by too much regulation.' Thus saith our wise President, and he is right. Why should ordinances be passed for the regulation of a borough, or officers elected to enforce obedi- ence to them? and wherefore the greater absurdity of those officers being sworn to execute the trust reposed in them? To be sure, it is ordained that during a certain season of the year the streets and alleys shall be cleansed monthly, nuisances removed, slaughter-houses inspected, etc., but those things could not be done without money, money cannot be raised without taxes, and taxes are now, and ever have been, odious and unpopular. Besides, a little clean dirt, more or less, is neither here nor there-it is believed to be wholesome, and some folks have no objection to the smell of warm tripe and garbage, to wading through puddles of green, stagnant water, or to skating over dabs of human ordure. What if a few of the citizens should be carried off by fluxes or fevers? It would be of no great consequence, as our population is rapidly increasing. To be decent is troublesome and inconvenient; to be nasty, one of the improscriptable and inalienable rights of man in a state of nature, and verily of woman. Let us, I say in the language of the texts, manage our own affairs in our own way, unembarrassed by too many regulations."

In 1801 and 1802 many burglaries occurred in the borough, whereupon town meetings were held to take measures to prevent such outlawry. In July, 1803, William Cecil, high constable, complained that many persons obstructed his enforcement of the ordinances, particularly the one prohibiting horses from running at large. Such persons threw stones at his windows, and otherwise, in a violent way, testified their disapproval of his course. A meet- ing of the corporation was held approving his actions, and offering a reward of $20 for the discovery of the person or persons who had thrown the stones. In November, 1803, a town meeting was called by Presley Neville, burgess, for the purpose of establishing a night watch, or patrol, to prevent, as far as possible, the losses which the inhabitants might otherwise suffer "from a gang of thieves, who at present infest our town." On December 22, 1803, a town meeting was called for the purpose of petitioning the Legislature to change the Act of Incorporation of 1794. In January, 1804, the dogs of the borough having become so numerous as to be a nuisance, a tax of twenty- five cents on each animal was levied, and if more than one dog was kept by an individual he was required to pay one dollar for each, etc.

at at lic nes UT- ne, ng ed rs. t- of 1g to de m th t; m It t- of e

1 1

684

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

In May, 1804, Hugh Scott, postmaster, died, and John Johnston was appointed in his stead. On July 6, 1804, the Gazette said that no mail had arrived from the East since the 29th ult., and called it an "unaccountable cir- cumstance." In August, 1804, the burgess published a proclamation to the effect that he would certainly issue executions on Monday, the 3d of Sep- tember, against all persons, without exception, who should not, by that time, have paid the borough pump tax, which had been so long overdue.

Mr. Cuming, who visited Pittsburg late in 1807, and wrote somewhat critically and extensively of his observations, said that, "It is inhabited by people who have fixed here for the express purpose of making money." He further said that, apparently, Pittsburg was not celebrated for its hospitality, and concluded that the reason might be due to politics. He stated that the old settlers, who had obtained their property for a song and had seen it grow valuable, "overacted their part, and assumed airs of superiority even over the well-born and well-bred part of the community, who had been reduced from a more affluent situation by misfortune, or who had not been so fortunate as themselves in acquiring what stands the possessor in lieu of descent and all the virtues and accomplishments." The observations of Mr. Cuming throw a strong side-light upon the characteristics of Pittsburg in 1807. Everybody seemed bent upon making money. Even politics was espoused for the money or popularity it might bring. But what was true then is just as true now. There was the dividing line between the possessor of comparative wealth-the old resident with fixed reputation and the newcomer who was comparatively unknown and who possessed little property and an unknown reputation. Mr. Cuming stated in 1807 that no street in Pittsburg, except Market, was paved, but he afterward wrote that during the next three years the greater part of Wood and Front streets, Third Street from Market to Wood, and Chancery Lane from the river to Second Street, were paved, and that considerable grad- ing had been done, particularly on Diamond Alley. Mr. Cuming stated that Pittsburg, during the winter of 1807-8, was unprepossessing, owing to the bad condition of the streets and to the fact, due to the great use of coal, that the houses were black from soot and smoke. The coal was delivered in four-horse wagons of forty bushels to the load, such load costing $2, and the. quantity was sufficient to sustain two fires a month. At this time mail came from Philadelphia and Baltimore twice a week. Mccullough's Inn was one of the principal taverns for travelers. At this time old Fort Duquesne had entirely disappeared, but the dry ditch and the ramparts of Fort Pitt were still in existence, and beyond them were "a few straggling apple and pear trees, being all that remained of the King's artillery gardens, planted and cultivated by the first British garrison, and now laid out in streets and towns." Two miles up the Allegheny front the town stood Hill's tavern, while farther down the traveler first caught sight of the belfry of the Courthouse, the brick, octagonal Episcopal Church, a handsome Presbyterian brick meeting-house, and the roofs of the dwelling-houses, intermingled with Lombardy poplars and weeping-willows. At this time Grant's Hill, according to Mr. Cuming, was about one hundred feet in perpendicular height, and was covered with a delight- ful short green herbage. In fact, Grant's Hill was the resort for parades and outdoor public exercises. Speaking of Grant's Hill, Mr. Cuming said: "It lies within the bounds of the borough, but it is to be hoped that General O'Hara, who is the proprietor, will, with true patriotism, reserve it for its present use, and not permit one of the greatest ornaments of Pittsburg to be destroyed by having it cut down and leveled for building lots." He said: "Was General O'Hara to fence it in, terrace it, which could be done at small expense, ornament it with clumps of evergreens and flowering shrubs, and

687

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

erect a few banqueting-houses, in the form of small temples, according to the different orders of architecture, it would be one of the most beautiful spots of which not only America, but perhaps any town in the universe, could boast." Mr. Cuming further said: "The eye looks over a fine level of three thousand acres once intended as the site of a town to be called Allegheny, to be the capital of the county, but the situation of Pittsburg being very properly judged more convenient, it has eventually become the seat of justice of the county and the most flourishing inland town in the United States."

In 1807 Pittsburg contained about 400 houses. By 1810 the number had increased to 767. Mr. Cuming said, when here: "In seventeen streets and four lanes, or alleys, in March, 1808, there were 236 brick houses, of which forty-seven were built in the last twelve months, and 361 wooden ones, seventy of which were added last year. There are twenty-four taverns, four or five of which are excellent ones, and the rest of every grade." Birmingham, of which a portion was called Sidneyville, was laid out by Nathaniel Bedford and Isaac Craig in 1811, and from the start grew very rapidly. Even as early as 1810 it was celebrated for its Birmingham glass. A large grist mill and a lock factory were also there very early. Mr. Craig offered many lots for sale in Sidneyville in 1811-12. It was said that in 1812, 7,000,000 feet of boards and scantling were used in the construction of buildings in Pittsburg.

In 1813 a tax of four mills on the dollar was levied for borough pur- poses. It seems that the officers of the borough at this time were slack in their duties, because John Darragh and William Hays were appointed a special committee to secure official reports from them, as they had so far furnished for the year 1812 nothing but verbal reports. In March, 1813, Dr. George Stevenson was elected burgess, and James Ross, Oliver Ormsby, Thomas Cromwell, John Woods, Ebenezer Denny, James O'Hara, John Darragh, John Wilkins, John Scull, Anthony Beelen, Robert Magee, George Shiras and William Hays, Town Council. In December, 1813, George Evans issued the following notice: "Having been urged by many of our citizens to make pro- posals for watering Pittsburg by the power of steam, the subscriber takes this method of informing that he is now ready to furnish the requisite power. He will, at his own expense, raise water sufficiently high to run to any part of the town at three cents per barrel. A particular statement is not consid- ered necessary until some person or persons are appointed to confer with him" (b). In the spring of 1814 the Pittsburg Steam Engine Company adver- tised lots for sale at Front Street and Redoubt Alley, on the tract known as Mrs. Adam's gardens. Thomas Collins advertised many tracts for sale through- out the Western country, comprising more than 80,000 acres. About this time George A. Bayard offered many lots for sale in what was then called Bayardsville, where, a short time before, he had laid out a town. At this time Samuel Roberts offered for sale land here and elsewhere to the amount of about 25,000 acres. C. F. Bonnhorst a little later offered large quantities of land for sale. It was stated in the Mercury of August, 1814, that George A. Bayard, who had leased perpetually sixty elegant building lots on the Alle- gheny River, fronting on the new turnpike leading to Mr. Hill's, would sell the same at a satisfactory figure to actual residents. In the summer of 1814 stonemasons were advertised for, to assist in crecting the works at Fort Fayette. A. R. Woolley was superintendent of the public works there. In 1814 a bathhouse was located on the banks of the Monongahela, where both hot and cold water were served. It was open from 5 a. m. to Io p. m. and stood next door to the Pittsburg steam mill. William Wilkins, Isaac Craig

(b) Mercury, December 9, 1813.

688

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

and Oliver Evans offered a large quantity of land located here and elsewhere for sale. In 1814 many important changes were made in the ordinances of the borough. The Navigator said that Pittsburg at this time was celebrated for its coal, which was used in all the houses and manufactories. The mines, or pits, from which the coal was obtained, were from one to three miles distant, and that until a few years previous to 1817 little or no coal was brought across the Monongahela, but that in 1815 large mines were opened on that side. The coal sold at from six to twelve cents per bushel, and wages were very high; in fact, war prices prevailed. It was said that the factories located across the Monongahela River opposite Pittsburg were sup- plied with coal from Coal Hill, and that the mines were located about one- third of the distance from the top. There were in this vicinity at that time forty to fifty coal pits, open on both sides of the rivers, and the veins were from six to eight feet thick. Everything was black with coaldust, and not even the snow was white. The Courthouse steeple arose above all else, and appeared like a finger of charcoal pointing toward the sky.

In 1814 there were in Allegheny County 5,518 taxables, and in 1821 there were 6,969. In 1800 there were ten slaves in the county.

By the act of March 19, 1816, the Legislature assented to the purchase by the United States of a tract of land on the Allegheny River, two miles above Pittsburg, consisting of thirty acres, strict measure, from William B. Foster, to be used as a site for a military station and the establishment of an ordnance department.

On March 18, 1816, the municipality was changed to a city government and incorporated as the "mayor, aldermen and citizens of Pittsburg." It was provided that the voters should consist of persons who had resided within the borough one year, and had paid a borough tax; that they should meet on the first Tuesday in July, 1816, to elect fifteen persons for a Common Council and nine persons for a Select Council; that such persons should divide them- selves into three classes for one, two or three years' services; that the councils so chosen should make all laws, regulations and ordinances for the govern- ment of the city; that during their deliberations they should keep open doors to the inhabitants; that the Governor should appoint one recorder and twelve aldermen, each having the powers of a justice of the peace; that the borough aldermen should continue as such under the new city government until their official terms should expire; that the recorder should be compensated by the State with $600 per year: that both councils should meet on the second Tues- day in July, 1816, to elect viva voce one of the aldermen to the office of mayor; that the latter should have all the powers of an alderman, should preside over the Mayor's Court, should execute the city laws, and should continue until his successor was elected and qualified; that the Mayor's Court should consist of the mayor, recorder and city aldermen, or any four of them, who were specially empowered to try forgeries, burglaries, larcenies, assaults and bat- teries, riots, routs and unlawful assemblies, and other offenses cognizable in Court of Quarter Sessions of the county; should try also all offenses against the laws, ordinances, regulations and constitution made for the city govern- ment. and that such court should be entitled "the Mayor's Court for the City of Pittsburg." It was provided that the bororugh charter should remain in force until the city charter should take effect, and that all public affairs should continue from one government to the other without favor or prejudice.

By act of March 10, 1817, a supplement to this incorporating act was passed by the Legislature. It provided that the Mayor's Court should have full power and authority to issue process on all recognizances forfeited in such court, and to prosecute the same to final judgment and recovery to the

689

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

same extent as the Court of Common Pleas could do. The supplement also provided that the aldermen of the city should have the power of justices of the peace throughout the county, and that justices of the peace should have their jurisdiction extended to all parts of the county, including the city of Pittsburg. It was provided that costs in criminal cases, for which the county would be liable in the Court of Quarter Sessions, should be paid by the county when accruing in the Mayor's Court. The recorder was empowered to issue writs of habeas corpus and to give relief thereon in certain cases. The Governor objected to the passage of this supplement and returned it without his signature. It was thereafter passed by a constitutional majority. The Governor stated that the act was unconstitutional, owing to the extension of the aldermanic jurisdiction to all parts of the county, when the aldermen themselves were restricted to special duties and privileges and confined to cer- tain localities. He regarded the act as inexpedient and unnecessary. It was claimed that one of the principal reasons for the creation of Pittsburg as a city was to relieve the Court of Quarter Sessions by the formation of a Mayor's Court, which assumed much of its jurisdiction. In 1818 it was esti- mated that the increased cost to Pittsburgers, by reason of having become a city, was over $3,000 per year, and accordingly, there was much grumbling (c). The first Common Council elected under the city charter consisted of the following members: William Wilkins, James R. Butler, John P. Skelton, Alexander Johnston, Jr., James S. Stevenson, James Brown, Paul Anderson, John W. Johnston, George Evans, John Caldwell, Richard Robinson, Thomas McKee, Daniel Hunter, John Carson and John W. Trembly. They inet for the first time on Friday, July 5, 1816. The oath of office was administered to each of them by Charles Wilkins, who had been appointed by the Governor recorder of the new city. William Wilkins was unanimously elected president by a viva voce vote and Silas Engles clerk. The election for members of the first Select Council resulted in the selection of the following men: James Ross, James Irwin, William Leckey, Mark Stackhouse, John Roseberg, Richard Geary, William Hays, Dr. George Stevenson and Samuel Douglas. They likewise met for the first time for organization on July 5, 1816. They were sworn into office by Charles Wilkins, recorder. James Ross was elected presi- dent of the Select Council by a viva voce vote and James M. Riddle secretary.

Both the councils, upon organization, presented a request to the com- missioners of Allegheny County for the use of the Courthouse in which to hold their sittings. The following resolution was adopted by both councils: "Resolved, By the Select and Common councils of the city of Pittsburg, in council assembled, that the councils will meet at the Courthouse on Tues- day, the 9th instant, at 2 o'clock p. m., and proceed to elect by joint vote a mayor of the said city, agreeable to the act of incorporation, and that the presi- dents of the councils preside on the occasion and declare the result of the vote." The joint councils directed the recorder to procure, as speedily as pos- sible, "a seal with suitable devices, for the use of the city." Immediate steps were taken by both houses to pass the necessary ordinances and regulations for the government and improvement of the city.

On Tuesday, July 9, 1816, the councils held a joint session for the purpose of electing the first mayor. Of a total of twenty-three votes cast, fifteen were polled for Ebenezer Denny, six for Robert Johnston and two for John M. Snowden; whereupon the presiding officer declared that Ebenezer Denny had been duly elected to the office of mayor, and a committee was appointed to inform him of the action of the councils and to request his attendance. He

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 78

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