The next ten years of this history do not promise to be as rich in
incident for the historian, or as full of practical value to the city, as
were the few years just chronicled. A number of causes were operating at
this time to retard the prosperity of the town, and but for the vigor with
which it was endued, it must have sunk under the misfortunes which
surrounded it. Evil reports, prejudicial to its health; garbled accounts
from rival cities of the mortality here; a lamentably disordered state of
currency, a Board of Trustees whose inefficiency was constantly complained
of, were all opposing the growth of the town; and had it not, as has been
before said, inherently possessed the elements of its own progress, it
must have faded, and might have been entirely destroyed by the pressure of
these untoward circumstances. For about two years the western country had
been laboring under the operations of shaving and brokerage; there was not
at this time a single bank west of the mountains whose paper could be
passed at a fair value, except in the immediate neighborhood of the bank
itself, and there were not more than three or four that pretended to pay
their notes in money. The paper of the Bank of Kentucky was at a discount,
and there was no hope of its improving. Tennessee and Ohio were in a
similar, if not a worse condition. The paper of the United States Bank was
alone merchantable at its value, and upon Louisville, as the great
commercial mart of the western country, must these circumstances weigh
most heavily. Despite all these disadvantages, however, the town did
progress, not so rapidly as its past course would have promised, but with
a rational and steady improvement. One of the drawbacks mentioned above
was beginning to be removed. The new Trustees of the town began to
prosecute their measures of improvement with some degree of energy. Wells
were dug; pavements laid; streets graded; ponds drained; and a general
activity prevailed which showed some attention toward making the town more
desirable as a residence, both in point of comfort and of health. The
removal of the causes oL disease, however, could not be instantaneous, and
even if they had been it would have required time to convince those
disposed to emigrate hither of the fact.
The first act of the Trustees in the year 1820 was to order the purchase
of two or three fire-engines. Conflagrations had recently become of not
uncommon occurrence, and the means for combating them were so few in
number, and so incompetent in character, that this measure had become
entirely necessary to the safety of the town. Accordingly, Thomas Prather,
Cuthbert Bullitt and Peter B. Orsmby were appointed a committee to
purchase suitable fire-engines for the use of the city. This being done,
the town was laid off into three wards, and Coleman Daniel, Daniel
McAllister and Peter Wolford were appointed, one to each ward, to obtain
each 40 members to work these engines. These members were to elect each a
Captain of the engine and such other officers as might be necessary, and
to adopt rules for their own government. Public cisterns, or other like
conveniences for the use of firemen, were then unknown. Each citizen was
required to keep two or more leather fire-buckets on his premises, while a
larger number of the same were kept at the engine houses. These were taken
to the fire, and two lines of men formed from the engine, which was
stationed near the fire, to the nearest water. One of these lines was
occupied in passing buckets filled with water, which, when they arrived at
the engine, were poured into it; and the other in passing back the empty
buckets to be refilled, it was by this tedious process alone that they
were enabled successfully to combat a fire.
Although tables of various sorts, showing the progressive increase of the
town, have been from time laid before the reader, yet the events of
thirteen years have been passed over without offering to his inspection
that most conclusive of documentary evidence, the tax list. It may be
remembered that the assessment of 1807 amounted to $913 50. The following
list for 1821 will give a clear idea of the increased value of property
since that time.
VALUATION OF GROUND AND IMPROVEMENTS, $1,189,664 00.
Assessed Taxes on same $4,637 68
On 14 1st rate Retail Stores at $30 420 00
24 2d " " " $20 540 00
7 3d " " " $10 70 00
26 Tavern Licenses $10 260 00
70 Carriage Wheels 50c 35 00
2 Billiard Tables $17 34 00
--------
Total $5 996 68
The following is a census of the population, taken at this period:[12]
Free white males to 10 years of age 346
" " 10 to 16 152
" " 16 to 26 498
" " 26 to 45 707
" " 45 and upwards 121
----1324
Free white females to 10 years of age: 356
" " 10 to 16 132
" " 16 to 26 273
" " 26 to 45 232
" " 45 and upwards 69
----1062
----
Total White Population 1886
Blacks, including free persons of color 1126
----
Total 4012
Of whom there are engaged in Commerce 128
" " " Manufactures 591
Foreigners 94
On the 3d of March in this year Mr. Nicholas Clarke associated with him,
in the publication of the Western Courier, Messrs. S. H. Bullen and A. G.
Merriweather. After this period the name of the paper was changed to The
Emporium and Commercial Advertiser, and it was issued semi-weekly instead
of weekly. This connection, however, was not of long duration, for in
February '22, Messrs. Clarke & Merriweather left the establishment,
transferring their interest to Mr. Bullen and Mr. F. E. Goddard. The paper
finally came into the hands of this latter gentleman alone, and its
publication was stopped while under his management. Mr. Goddard will be
remembered by most of the citizens of Louisville. He was the preceptor of
a great many of the younger men now here, and was universally beloved and
respected. His genial humor, his extraordinary scholarship and his fine
qualities of heart made him the admiration of his friends, while his
faithful discharge of all his duties and his firm and unwaving efforts to
improve the minds and morals of his numerous pupils, cause them to respect
his memory, and call forth alike their gratitude and their veneration. No
man has ever occupied Mr. Goddard's position who enjoyed more universally
or more meritedly the regard of his fellow citizens.
In May, still of this year, a branch bank of the Commonwealth was located
here. From an article in the Emporium it would seem that this bank was
established without one dollar of specie capital and hence its notes were
sold at very large rates of discount. The paper of this bank and that of
the Bank of Kentucky formed almost the only currency at the time, and as
merchants, in order to pay their calls abroad, were obliged to buy specie
or Eastern funds at a great advance, they naturally enough refused these
bills at par value. This seems to have been a grievous trouble to the
management of the bank at Frankfort, and it was suggested by them that the
Legislature should remove the branch established here to "some other
situation where love of country, love of truth and love of general
prosperity might overcome the combinations of the weak and wicked." This
removal, however, was not effected.
It was also during this year that a night watch was established, who were
paid by a subscription of the citizens and not from the treasury of the
town. B. Morgan, C. Sly and M. Woolston were the first persons elected to
this office.
1822--The first event of the next year was the authorization by the
Trustees of the issue of town notes, varying in denomination from twelve
and a half cents to one dollar, the aggregate value of all of which was
not to exceed four thousand dollars. These notes, however, did not meet
with the usual fate of the shinplaster currency, for in about a year
afterward we find an order of the Trustees for counting and destroying
them, leaving the impression either that they were not put into
circulation or were redeemed and so withdrawn from a market already
glutted with such trash.
It was during the year 1822 that the town was visited by a dreadful
epidemic. Dr. John P. Harrison, late of Cincinnati and formerly of this
city, a physician of distinguished ability, has published a minute and
highly valuable account of this epidemic in the Philadelphia Medical
Journal, Vol. 8. The disease was a highly aggravated bilious fever, so
terrible as to deserve the dreaded name of yellow fever. The mortality was
very great and the alarm existing on account of it throughout the whole
interior of the neighboring States was of the most exciting character. The
season was an unhealthy one throughout the West, but the scourge fell most
heavily upon Louisville, probably on account of the miasma from her many
ponds. The scourge here, as Dr. Drake says in his valuable history of the
diseases of the Valley of North America, amounted almost to depopulation.
The Trustees were by it awakened from their lethargy. A Board of Health,
consisting of Drs. Gait, Smith, Harrison, Wilson and Tompkins, were
appointed to examine into the causes of disease and report the same to the
Trustees, together with the mode or practicability of removing the same.
This first Board of Health was appointed too late. Had they been ordered
to examine into this matter years before, much might have been effected,
but the time for such action was now passed, and this fearful malady, now
inevitable, became the most terrible blow ever given to the prosperity of
the rising town. The news spread far and wide, and the neighboring towns,
instead of seeking to publish only the truth, assisted largely in
circulating garbled intelligence and extravagant reports of a fact which
tended to their advantage by destroying the fair fame of their rival.
Emigrants from abroad as well as from this and neighboring States, for
years afterward, dreaded even to pass through the town, and of those who
had already determined to locate here, many were dissuaded from their
purpose by the assertion that it was but rushing upon death to make the
attempt. This occurred, too, just at a period when the resources of the
town, beginning to develop themselves, were attracting the attention of
capitalists. It was this alone which gave a temporary semblance of
superiority to the neighboring towns, and, for a time, retarded the usual
prosperity of this. Had the feeling of alarm ceased with the disease, it
would have been less of a blow, but for years after it was referred to as
a warning against emigration hither.
The next two years present nothing of interest to the reader, save the
building in the winter of 1824-5 of an Episcopalian Church on Second
Street, between Green and Walnut, the present Christ's Church, the first
rector of which was the Rev. Mr. Shaw.
On the 8th of May, in the year 1825, Lafayette visited Louisville. His
reception here, as everywhere else, was enthusiastic in the extreme. The
Trustees of the city paid into the hands of John Rowan, the chairman of
the committee of arrangements for the reception, a considerable sum of
money, to be expended in such manner as the committee might direct for
this purpose. The resolution authorizing this expenditure was passed with
a single dissenting voice, that of _Richard Hall_. The meeting of
Lafayette with some of the old officers of the revolution, particularly
that with Col. Anderson, is said to have been extremely affecting. The
whole city turned out to receive this distinguished patriot; processions
were formed, arches erected, bevies of young girls strewed his pathway
with flowers and the whole town was a scene of festivity and rejoicing.
Whether the dissenting Mr. Richard Hall was with those who were thus
showing their sense of gratitude to him who had left home, country and
friends, and faced the thundering cannon's mouth to aid them in their hour
of direst peril, history does not tell us.
The Legislature of these years made very considerable additions to the
power of the Trustees; allowing them to borrow money on the credit of the
town, to purchase and hold real estate for erecting market-houses, wharfs,
&c., to levy a tax on exchange brokers, to tax hacks, drays, &c., to
appoint harbor and wharf masters, and make rules governing the lading and
unlading of vessels, to collect wharfage fees, to appoint inspectors of
flour, &c. The first use made of this new power was the purchase of ground
for a wharf. Rowan owned a slip of ground lying north of Water Street,
commencing at Second and terminating at Seventh Street. A similar slip,
lying between Seventh and Eighth streets, was already the property of the
city. This slip the city agreed to add to Rowan's, and also to pave the
whole as a wharf, using the stone in Rowan's quarry, situated on the
premises, and for the wharf so constructed they agreed to give to Rowan
and to his heirs _forever_, in semi-annual payments, one-half the receipts
of this wharf. They also agreed that, if at any time Gray's wharf, lying
east of Second Street, should be bought, both parties might unite in the
purchase and Rowan should receive as before one half the profits of the
entire wharf. This contract; made with but a single dissenting voice on
the part of the Trustees, that of Jeremiah Diller, must have been the
result of either a very low state of finances or of very injudicious
precipitation. Rowan's heirs, it is understood, now get but one fourth of
the wharfage, but even this would have been a sum better gained to the
city than lost by a want of proper judgment or foresight.
On the 12th of January, in this year, the Louisville & Portland Canal
Company was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, with a capital of
$600,000, in shares of $100 each, with perpetual succession. 3665 of these
shares were in the hands of about 70 individuals, residing in different
States, and the remaining 2335 shares belonged to the government of the
United States. In December contracts were entered into to complete the
work of the canal within two years for about $375,000, and the work was
actually commenced in March 1826. Many unforeseen difficulties retarded it
until the close of the year 1828. At this time the contractors failed, new
contracts were made at advanced prices, and the canal was finally opened
for navigation, December 5th, 1830. When completed, it cost about
$750,000. It is about two miles in length and is intended to overcome a
fall of twenty-four feet, occasioned by an irregular ledge of lime-stone
rock, through which the entire bed of the canal is excavated, a part to
the depth of 12 feet, overlaid with earth. There is one guard and three
lift locks combined, all of which have their foundation on the rock. One
bridge of stone 240 feet long, with an elevation of 68 feet to the top of
the parapet wall, and three arches, the centre one of which is
semi-elliptical, with a transverse diameter of 66, and a semi-conjugate
diameter of 22 feet. The two arches are segments of 40 feet span. The
guard lock is 190 feet long in the clear, with semi-circular heads of 26
feet in diameter, 50 feet wide and 42 feet high, and contains 21,775
perches of mason work. The solid contents of this lock are equal to 15
common locks, such as are built on the Ohio and New York canals. The lift
locks are of the same width with the guard lock, 20 feet high and 183 feet
long in the clear, and contain 12,300 perches of mason work. The entire
length of the walls from the head of the guard lock to the end of the
outlet lock is 921 feet. In addition to the amount of mason work above,
there are three culverts to drain off the water from the adjacent lands,
the mason work of which, when added to the locks and bridge, gives the
whole amount of mason work 41,989 perches, equal to about 30 common canal
locks. The cross section of the canal is 200 feet at top of banks, 50 feet
at bottom and 42 feet high, having a capacity equal to that of 25 common
canals; and if we keep in view the unequal quantity of mason work,
compared to the length of the canal, the great difficulties of excavating
earth and rock from so great a depth and width, together with the
contingencies attending its construction from the fluctuations of the Ohio
river, it may not be considered as extravagant in drawing the comparison
between the work in this, and in that of 70 or 75 miles of common
canaling.
In the upper sections of the canal, the alluvial earth to the average
depth of 20 feet being removed, trunks of trees were found, more or less
decayed, and so imbedded as to indicate a powerful current towards the
present shore, some of which were cedar, which is not now found in this
region. Several _fire-places_ of a rude construction, with partially burnt
wood, were discovered near the rock, as well as the bones of a variety of
small animals, and several human skeletons; rude implements formed of bone
and stone were also frequently seen, as also several well wrought
specimens of hematite of iron, in the shape of plummets or sinkers
displaying a knowledge in the arts far in advance of the present race of
Indians.
The first stratum of rock was light, friable slate in close contact with
the limestone, and difficult to disengage from it; this slate did not
however extend over the whole surface of the rock, and was of various
thicknesses from three inches to four feet.
The stratum next to the slate was a close compact lime stone, in which
petrified sea shells, and an infinite variety of coraline formations were
embedded, and frequent cavities of crystaline encrustations were seen,
many of which still contained petroleum of a highly fetid smell, which
gives the name of this description of lime stone. This description of rock
is on an average of five feet, covering a substratum of a species of cias
limestone of a bluish color, embedding nodules of horn stone, and organic
remains. The fracture of this stone has in all instances been found to be
irregularly conchoidal, and on exposure to the atmosphere and subjection
to fire it crumbled to pieces. When burnt and ground, and mixed with a due
proportion of silicious sand, it has been found to make a most superior
kind of hydraulic cement or water lime.
The discovery of this valuable lime stone, has enabled the canal company
to construct their masonry more solidly than any other known in the United
States.
A manufactory of this hydraulic cement or water lime is now established on
the bank of the canal, on a scale capable of supplying the United States
with this much valued material for all works in contact with water or
exposed to moisture; the nature of this cement being to harden in the
water, the grout used on the locks of the canal is already _harder_ than
the _stone_ used in their construction.
After passing through the stratum which was commonly called the water
lime, about ten feet in thickness, the workmen came to a more compact mass
of primitive grey limestone, which however was not penetrated to any great
depth. In many parts of the excavation, masses of bluish white flint and
horn stone were found enclosed in, or encrusting the fetid limestone. And
from the large quantities of arrow heads and other rude formations of this
flint stone, it is evident that it was made much use of by the Indians in
forming their weapons of war and hunting; in one place a magazine of arrow
heads was discovered, containing many hundreds of those rude implements,
carefully packed together, and buried below the surface of the ground.
The existence of iron ore in considerable quantities was exhibited in the
progress of excavation of the canal by numerous highly charged chalybeate
springs, that gushed out and continued to flow during the time that the
rock was exposed, chiefly in the upper strata of limestone.[13] The canal
when built was intended for the largest class of boats, but the facilities
for navigation have so far improved and the size of vessels increased so
far beyond the expectations of the projectors of this enterprise that it
is now found much too small to answer the demands of navigation. The
consequence is that the canal is looked upon as, equally with the falls, a
barrier to navigation. The larger lower-river boats refuse to sign bills
of lading, compelling them to deliver their goods above the falls, and as
this class of boats is increasing, it promises soon to be as difficult to
pass this point as before this immense work was completed. As previous to
the undertaking of this canal, so there are now numerous plans proposed
for overcoming the impediment; and these do not differ materially from
those suggested and noticed in 1804. The only ground upon which all
parties agree is, that whatever is done should be effected by the general
government, and not left to be completed by individual enterprise.
The government, as has before been said, owns a very large part of the
stock in this canal, say three-fifths, and it is strongly urged by a part
of the community that nothing would better serve the interests of western
navigation than a movement on the part of the United States, making it
free. The question of internal improvement is not within the province of
this history to discuss, but certainly a deaf ear should not be turned by
the general government to the united voice of so many of its children, all
alike demanding to be relieved from their embarrassments, and the more
particularly so, as it has already heard and answered the supplications of
a part of its numerous family. Any semblance of favoritism in a government
is a sure means of alienating the trust and affection of a part of its
dependants. Whatever means may be most advisable to effect the removal of
the impediment to navigation here should at once be adopted. And if the
opening of the canal freely to all could tend to effect this object, the
government has already had from it revenue sufficient to warrant it in
taking off the tax from navigation. Up to the year 1843, there had passed
through this canal, 13,776 steamboats, and 4701 flats and keels, making in
all 2,425,567 tons, the tolls of which amounted to $1,227,625 50. It
would not be an unfair calculation to rate the expenses of keeping up the
canal at $30,000 per annum, or $390,000 for the thirteen years above
referred to. Supposing the government to possess three-fifths of this
profit, it would amount to $502,575, or nearly enough to build a new
canal. It is not to be wondered at, then, that western people should feel
disposed to murmur at having these large sums of money taken from their
waters and applied to improving the Balize or Sandy Hook, or any other
distant part of the Union. And the matter is the more grievous when it is
remembered that these tolls are not only not free but are enormously and
disproportionately high. Whether laden or not, each boat is obliged to pay
at the rate of 50 cts per ton, in proportion to her capacity, as a toll!
The whole subject is one deserving immediate and earnest attention, as
involving interests in which not only Louisville, but the whole South and
West is intimately concerned.
With the next year--1826--we come to the establishment of another
newspaper here. This was called the Focus, and was edited by Dr. Buchanan,
assisted by Mr. W. W. Worsley, and published weekly by Morton & Co. It
contained a very large amount of reading matter on literary, scientific,
political and commercial subjects. It was violently anti-Jackson in
politics, but still found room in its columns for an unusual quantity of
interesting literary matter. It was conducted with great ability by these
gentlemen for a period of about three years, when, after the death of Dr.
Buchanan, it was sold to Messrs. J. T. Cavins and G. S. Robinson. It was
afterwards merged into the Louisville Journal, and placed, under the name
of the Journal and Focus, in the hands of Mr. Geo. D. Prentice, as editor.
This was in the year 1832. Since that time its history is too well known
wherever the knowledge of American newspapers has penetrated to need any
furthur notice here. It has been the lot of the gentleman who is at the
head of it, and who is distinguished alike as a poet and a politician, as
a wit and a sage, to wield an influence such as few men in any station
have ever exercised; an influence which is not only political but also
literary and social, and which has been exerted alike at the birth of a
true poet and at the death of a false patriot or a foolish politician.
By the census of the next year--1827--we find the population of Louisville
to have reached 7063, showing an increase of nearly double since 1821. The
attention of the people began now to be turned toward effecting an
incorporation of the town and placing themselves in a condition for
self-government, and accordingly on the 3d of November, of this year, a
very large meeting of the citizens was held at the court house for this
purpose, Levi Tyler having been appointed chairman and Garnett Duncan
secretary, the following resolutions were adopted:
1st. Resolved, That public convenience renders it important that we ask
for the passage of an act incorporating Louisville with its enlargements,
and giving a city court for the speedy punishment of crimes and the speedy
trial of civil suits.
2d. Resolved, That a committee of five citizens be appointed to draft an
act of incorporation and to submit the same at an adjournment of this
meeting.
3d. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the
inhabitants of Shippingport and Portland, and the enlargements of
Louisville, and to request them to unite with us in this subject.
4th. Resolved, That we esteem the erection of a permanent bridge across
the Ohio river, at the most convenient point across the Falls, of the
greatest utility to the public, and calculated to enhance the commerce and
prosperity of our town, and that we respectfully solicit the legislature
of this State to incorporate a company with competent powers and capital
to effect the erection of such a bridge, and that the city of Louisville,
when incorporated, should be authorised to raise funds, by loan or
otherwise, and to subscribe for ---- dollars of stock in said company.
5th. Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to draft a charter
for that purpose, and that our representatives be requested to use their
best exertions to effect the passage of such charter.
Committee under the second resolution, Daniel Wurtz, Thos. Anderson, S. S.
Goodwin, S. S. Nicholas, Garnett Duncan.
Committee under the third resolution, J. H. Tyler, W. D. Payne, W. S.
Vernon.
Committee under the fifth resolution, J. H. Tyler, J. Guthrie, J. S.
Snead, J. I. Jacob, G. W. Merriweather, D. R. Poignard, Geo. Keats.
These committees having duly reported, their memorials were sent forward
to the legislature, and on the 13th day of February, 1828, the act of
incorporation passed and Louisville became a city. Portland had refused
to become annexed to the city as yet, but Shippingport had consented to
the compact. The act of incorporation defines the limits of the city as
follows: Beginning at the stone bridge over Bear Grass creek, near
Geiger's mills, thence on a straight line to the upper corner of Jacob
Geiger's land on the Ohio river, and thence by a straight line down the
Ohio river, so as to include Corn Island and the quarry adjacent thereto,
and thence to the upper boundary of Shippingport to the back line thereof,
and the same course continued until it intersects the back line of the
town of Louisville, when extended westwardly far enough to meet the said
line extending out from the river with the upper boundary of Shippingport,
thence from the said intersection to the south or back line of the present
town of Louisville, and with the said back line to the south fork of Bear
Grass creek, thence down the middle thereof to the beginning. The usual
powers of a municipal body were vested in a Mayor and City Council,
consisting of ten persons. The city was divided into five wards, each
entitled to two councilmen, who were to be elected annually. These
elections were to be held on the first Monday in every March. On election,
the Mayor and Councilmen were to take an oath of office and these oaths
were recorded. They were to choose a clerk annually, whose duty it should
be to keep a record of the proceedings of the board, sign all warrants
issued by them and to deliver over to his successor all books and papers
entrusted to him. Five Councilmen and the Mayor or six Councilmen should
constitute a quorum. The meetings of the board were to be public, and the
Mayor's salary should be fixed by the Councilmen. The Major was not
allowed any judicial authority in civil matters, but had the power of a
justice of the peace over slaves and free negroes, and similar powers to
require surety for good behavior and for the peace; and the power assigned
to two Justices of the Peace in committing criminal offenders and sending
them on for trial; he also had the casting vote in case of a tie in the
board over which he presided, but had no vote otherwise. The powers before
delegated to the Trustees were now vested in the Mayor and Council, and in
addition to these were granted power to prohibit the erection of wooden
buildings within certain limits, to erect suitable buildings for a poor
and work-house, to establish one or more free schools in each ward, to
elect all subordinate officers, and to pass by-laws with adequate
penalties for their infraction. The office of City Marshal was also
created by the act. He was to be chosen annually by the people, and, if
required by the Council, he was to have a resident deputy in each ward of
the city. His duties were to preserve order at all sessions of the Mayor
and Council, and to execute all processes emanating from the Mayor. He was
to be appointed City Collector and State Collector within the city. He was
to execute bond, with sufficient security, before the Mayor and Council,
to the State, for the performance of his duties, and a lien was retained
on all his lands and slaves, and on those of his sureties, for all sums of
money which came into his hands. He had the same powers and duties within
the city as a Sheriff and received the same fees. Not less than two
persons were to be voted for as Mayor, and the two having the highest vote
for this office were to be certified to the Governor, one of whom was by
him to be commissioned and submitted to the Senate for their advice and
consent. This charter was to be in force for five years from and after its
passage, and no longer, and upon the dissolution of the corporation, all
property was to revert to the Trustees of the town, to be chosen or
appointed as heretofore directed by law.
The first election under this charter was held on the fourth day of March,
1828. Mr. J. C. Bucklin was elected Mayor, by a small majority over Mr. W.
Tompkins, and W. A. Cocke was elected Marshal by a large majority. The
following gentlemen were elected Councilmen: Messrs. John M. Talbott, W.
D. Payne, G. W. Merriweather, Richard Hall, Jas. Harrison, J. McGilly
Cuddy, John Warren, Elisha Applegate, Daniel McAllister and Fred. Turner.
Samuel Dickinson was appointed Clerk.
A writer in the Focus, for January 20, 1829, gives an idea of the commerce
of Louisville in regard to certain leading articles at this period. He
says that "from 1st of January, 1828, to 1st of January, 1829, there were
received and sold in this place 4144 hogsheads of sugar and 8607 bags and
barrels of coffee, amounting in value to $584,681. He also fixes the
inspections of tobacco in Louisville at 2050 hhds. for 1826, 4354 hhds.
for 1827, and 4075 hhds. for 1828. The average price of these was, for
1826, $2 67, for 1827, $2 59, and for 1828, $1 98-1/3. The whole value of
these for the three years was $468,672 88. 1140 of these were shipped to
Pittsburg, 3048 to New Orleans, 320 manufactured here and 458 were
stemmed. In this article sugars are quoted at $7 04 to $7 02, by the
barrel, gunpowder tea at $1 20 to $1 25; and it also states that groceries
of all kinds can be had here at as cheap rates as they can be procured
either in New York or New Orleans. A writer in the Kentucky Reporter also
adds to this information the following statement: The store rooms of the
principal wholesale merchants are larger and better adapted to business
purposes than any to be found in the commercial cities of the East. Not a
few of them are from 100 to 130 feet in depth, by 30 feet wide, and from
three to four stories high, and furnished with fire proof vaults for the
preservation of books and papers in case of fire. The wholesale business
has increased very rapidly of late, perhaps doubled in the course of two
years. There has also been a proportionate increase in the shipping and
forwarding business. Mechanics of all sorts have full employment and good
wages."
An excellent criterion to judge of the commerce of a place and to show the
increase of its business, is its exchange operations. The following
statement of Domestic Bills of Exchange, derived from the official
documents of the bank of the U. S., being the amount on hand and unpaid on
the 1st January of each year, will give some idea of the amount and
increase of the business of Louisville:
Jan. 1, 1826--Bills of Exchange on hand $46,392
" 1827, " " " 108,287
" 1828, " " " 184,144
" 1829, " " " 350,354
The aggregate of business, as ascertained by a personal application and
inspection of the books of the principal houses, was ascertained to be
about $13,000,000.
On the 17th of September, in this year, the branch of the Commonwealth's
Bank was robbed of $25,000 in its own notes. The robbery took place before
9 o'clock in the evening. The door communicating with an entry was opened
by a false key, the iron chest quietly unlocked, the notes taken, and the
front door opened without any alarm being given. A reward of one thousand
dollars in specie was offered for the apprehension of the robber and also
a similar reward of $1500 for the recovery of the money. These rewards did
not, however, produce the desired result and neither the money nor the
robber was ever discovered.
During this year there was a secession of about fifty members from the
Methodist Episcopal church here, who formed and established the first
Methodist Reformed church. They constructed an edifice at the corner of
Green and Fourth Streets, of which Mr. N. Snethen was the pastor. This
church was afterwards used by the congregation of the First Presbyterian
church, was then sold to the negroes, and finally torn down to make room
for the immense Masonic Hall now being built on that spot.
The last event of this year which will be noticed here is the erection of
the first city school house. This building, still standing at the
south-west corner of Walnut and Fifth Streets, was then an extremely
creditable ornament to the city. It is capable of containing seven or
eight hundred pupils and is divided into a male and female department,
which are entirely distinct from each other. It was superintended by the
Mayor and six Trustees, annually chosen by the Council. The first board of
Trustees was composed of the following gentlemen: Jas. Guthrie, Jas. H.
Overstreet, Wm. Sale, Samuel Dickinson, F. Cosby and Dr. J. P. Harrison.
The standard of education pursued was as high as that of any private
school and the terms were only from one dollar to one dollar and a half
per quarter. The annual expense of this school to the city was $5,682.
Several equally large schools have been since erected and the system of
free-schools somewhat changed. These will be noticed at greater length in
another part of this history.