Census--Occupations--Schools, Churches &c.--Business Houses
--Grain Trade--Ice Trade--Coal Field--Peru Coal Shaft--
Advantages for Manufacturing--City Debt--Review of the
Census--Bridge--The Future--Moral and Intellectual view--
List of Early Families--Character of the Inhabitants--
Unenviable Reputations.
We will now examine the present condition and resources of Peru.
The following is a table of a census taken 20th August, 1858.
Whole number of inhabitants, 3,652
Under ten years of age, 1,175
Under twenty-one years and over ten years, 561
Over twenty-one years, 1,916
Males, 1,876
Females, 1,776
Born in the United States, 1,841
Born in Germany, 1,118
" " Ireland, 489
" " England, 87
" " Scotland, 24
" " France, 27
" " Russian Poland, 27
" " Sweden, 17
" " British Provinces, 19
Negroes, 3
Born of foreign parents counted as Americans, 869
Number of deaths in 1857, 48
OCCUPATIONS.
Blacksmiths, 30 Farmers, 18
Laborers, 326 Brakemen, 8
Carpenters, 71 Shoemakers, 26
Livery keepers, 4 Constables, 2
Teamsters, 44 Merchants, 44
Machinists, 20 Millers, 5
Moulder 1 Justices of the Peace, 3
Pattern Makers, 2 Lawyers, 7
Clerks, 35 Porters, 5
Ice Merchants, 5 Barbers, 4
Printers, 9 Tobacconists, 2
Millwrights, 2 Tinners, 13
Masons, 36 Saloon Keepers, 41
Draymen, 5 Tailors, 9
Caulkers, 4 Physicians, 7
Butchers, 13 Lumber Merchants, 5
Grocers, 11 General Business, 15
Saddlers, 7 Civil Engineers, 2
Teachers, 3 Bakers, 4
Gardeners, 5 Jewelers, 3
Painters, 9 Clergymen, 4
Ticket Agent, 1 Coopers, 5
Brewers, 11 Peddlers, 2
Cap Maker, 1 Conductors, 5
Book Keepers, 4 Miners, 32
Lecturer, 1 Tavern Keepers, 7
Wheelwrights, 13 Ship Carpenters, 16
Cigar Makers, 6 Bankers, 2
Cabinet Makers, 6 Brick Makers, 6
Carpet Weaver, 1 Ferrymen, 2
Basket Maker, 1 Pilot, 1
Gun Smith, 1 Musicians, 3
Match Makers 2 Editors, 3
Boatmen, 8 Druggists, 4
Daguerreian, 1 Rope Maker, 1
Land Agents, 3
There are seven public schools, four of which are organized under the
Union School system. There are six Churches--one Catholic, one Dutch
Reformed, one Methodist, one German Methodist, one Congregationalist,
and one Episcopal. There are one Lodge of Good Templars, one of Odd
Fellows, and one of Masons. The City possesses a commodious Public Hall,
erected in a substantial manner of Milwaukie brick, at an expense of
over $12,000. It is divided into a Council Chamber, a Public Hall for
meetings, lectures, concerts, &c., a room for market stalls, and a
calaboose or jail. The warehouses, stores, hotels, and dwellings of the
citizens, for solidity of structure and architecture, taste and
adornment, are, as a whole, superior to most places of its size, east or
west. There are of houses and places of business and industrial
occupations as follows:
703 Dwellings and tenements occupied.
15 Dwellings and tenements unoccupied.
4 Dry Goods Stores.
7 Family Groceries and Provision Stores.
2 Wholesale Groceries and Provision Stores
(one selling $200,000 per year.)
4 General Merchandise Stores.
3 Stove and Tin Stores.
2 Hardware Stores.
2 Furniture Stores.
1 Leather and Finding Stores.
1 Flour and Feed Stores.
4 Drug and Book Stores.
2 Tobacco Stores.
7 Taverns (one a large and commodious Hotel.)
1 Gun Shop.
4 Bakeries.
3 Harness and Saddle Shops.
6 Shoe Maker Shops.
5 Tailor Shops.
5 Blacksmith and Wagon Maker Shops.
2 Cooper Shops.
4 Milliner Shops.
2 Banks.
3 Private Land Offices.
2 Livery Stables.
40 Lager Beer and Drinking Saloons.
1 Daguerreian.
5 Law Offices.
7 Physicians.
3 Grain and Merchandise Ware Houses, with
a united capacity of about 200,000 bushels,
besides room for general merchandise.
1 Plow Factory, (employing some 40 hands.)
1 Match Factory.
1 Fanning Mill Factory.
3 Breweries.
1 Flouring Mill.
5 Lumber Yards.
1 Boat Yard.
The central engine house of the Chicago and Rock Island Bail Road is
located here. As the engines, with their engineers and firemen, are
changed here, many of the employees are domesticated. The quantity of
grain purchased direct from the producers, and shipped--exclusive of
that purchased by the mill--was 582,641 bushels in 1857, against about
900,000 bushels in 1856. The falling off is attributable to the
reluctance of the farmers to market their grain in the fall of the
former year, as before mentioned.
A very important branch of business pursued here is the ice trade. About
13,000 tons are annually packed for the southern market, giving
employment to about three hundred men, during the Winter and Spring in
packing and shipping, and sixty men in Summer and Fall, in building
boats and other preparations for the next winter's business. Two
steamboats are owned and employed exclusively in the trade.
For some years, attention has been attracted to the Great Central Coal
Field of Illinois, the north eastern rim of which underlies the cities
of Peru and La Salle. From the earliest settlement of the country the
outcrops have been resorted to for fuel. More and more extensive
explorations and excavations have, from time to time, been made, excited
by the foresight, sagacity and scientific deductions of the pioneer of
that interest, Dixwell Lathrop, Esq. In 1855, a thorough examination was
made by J. G. Norwood, State Geologist, which demonstrated the existence
of three veins or strata, underlying an area of about 500 square miles.
These veins vary in thickness, from three and a half to seven feet, the
central being the thickest, but the value of the coal increasing with
the descent. The existence of another strata, still lower and still
better, is presumed, as the alluvial formation, or coal measures, has
not yet been passed by boring. A comparison of the analysis of these
coals with those of the best Pennsylvania and Ohio bituminous,
demonstrated that an open market could be successfully entered in
competition. Immediately afterwards, operations in mining were commenced
on a more extensive scale and more scientific principles.
Several shafts were sunk and powerful and improved machinery employed.
These shafts were sunk in and near La Salle, with one exception, which
was in the westerly part of Peru, immediately on the river bank, and on
the track of the Chicago and Rock Island Rail Road. The structures,
excavations, machinery and outfits of the company operating this shaft
are of the most perfect and approved kind. Their facilities for raising
are equal to three hundred tons per day. They are working the lower, or
best vein--four and a-half feet thick--exclusively, which they have
reached at probably its greatest depression, three hundred and forty-six
feet below the surface. Analysis and tests, made at many gas works and
manufactories, are conclusive in establishing the fact, that NO COAL HAS
YET BEEN RAISED, WEST OF OHIO AND NORTH OF THE OHIO RIVER, WHICH IS
EQUAL TO THE COAL FROM THIS SHAFT, FOR THE AMOUNT OF STEAM IT WILL
GENERATE, AND FOR ITS FREEDOM FROM SULPHUR AND TENDENCY TO CLINKER. What
is true of this shaft is true, in a degree, of the coal from the same
vein from the shafts at La Salle, the difference being due no doubt to
its greater depression.
The importance of this coal field to the interests of Peru and La Salle
can scarcely be over estimated. When it is recollected that this is the
extreme northern edge of the Illinois coal fields; that the country all
north, to the forrest's of northern Wisconsin, is but sparsely supplied
with timber, and that growing "small by degrees and beautifully less;"
that this country is already interlaced with Railroads, all having a
connexion With the Illinois Central, upon which the coal can be "dumped"
directly from the mines; that the iron mines of northern Wisconsin are
within easy and accessible distance; and that the locality itself
possesses extraordinary advantages for manufacturing; its importance can
be partially comprehended.
One word as to the advantages for manufacturing. One of the most
considerable of these is the cheapness, excellency and unlimited supply
of fuel. To this must be added the acknowledged healthiness of the
locality and salubrity of climate; and the facilities for drawing
supplies and distributing manufactures, by river, canal and rail road,
which diverge in every direction, and penetrate a country which, for
hundreds of miles, has a greater capacity for production, and
consequently for sustaining population, than any other country of the
same extent on the surface of the Globe. Laborers, mechanics and
artisans can purchase the same degree of comfort here as in Chicago or
other commercial and crowded centers, where of necessity rents and
provisions must be high, for one third less price. This, it will be
perceived, is a very important element to be taken into account. It
would seem as if these advantages, combined with other and important
ones not enumerated, would soon become so convincing, as to make
resistance to the establishment of manufactories much longer impossible.
The present debt of the City of Peru is as follows:
Chicago and Rock Island Rail Road bonds, 40,000
Market House bonds, 12,600
Current expense bonds of 1855, 5,000
Interest bonds voted for in June, 5,000
Outstanding Scrip (about,) 1,000
-------
Total. $63,600
There is enough uncollected, (or in the officers hands) revenue of the
year 1857, which is reliable, to pay all outstanding scrip. The revenue
of last year, from all sources, was $8,582,34. The whole amount of
taxable property, real and personal, as appears, by the assessment roll,
was $1,752,306. It will be seen that the financial condition of the city
is by no means desperate. When the rail road shall pay its dividends
regularly, if the issue of no more bonds be authorized, and prudence and
economy are observed in expenditures, no difficulty will be experienced
in meeting all engagements, and gradually reducing the debt.
On reviewing the census and other statistics, connected with the growth
and present and prospective condition of the city, there will be found
no cause for despondency and discouragement, but much for congratulation
and hope. It is true that no such rapid increase of population has taken
place as was anticipated, or as has been the case in some other western
towns. But there has been no decrease, even temporary. On the contrary,
there has been a steady and gradual increase in population, business and
wealth, from the recommencement of the work of building the canal in
1843, to the present time. That this increase has been no more rapid,
may be accounted for, partially by the influence which the sudden and
nearly simultaneous construction of such a net work of rail roads as
covers Illinois, exerts upon all interior towns. There are here no
mountain barriers to obstruct the construction of a rail road in any
direction. With the exception of the Central, they all cross the State
from east to west, connecting the Lakes with the Mississippi, and run
without much reference to the location of existing towns. The
consequence has been, that nearly all the towns upon the river have had
their trade temporarily diverted, to a greater or lesser extent; and
"prairie towns" have started up, to compete for the trade, at almost
every station. These have enjoyed an ephemeral advantage, from their
supposed superior healthiness. That this is a mistake, the mortality of
Peru, as exhibited by the census table, for one year, 1857,--which is a
fair average of every year except those when the cholera
prevailed--abundantly shows. That these towns, while they have in no
instance wholly stopped the increase of those on the river, but only
divided their natural accessions, will shortly react upon their older
sisters, and, in their turn, contributed to their advancement and
prosperity, is inevitable. This is already manifest in the relation
which Peru now occupies in reference to Amboy, Sublette, Mendota,
Arlington, Tonica, Wenona, and other towns on the Central, Chicago and
Burlington, and Rock Island Rail Roads, none of which had an existence
before the roads were projected. That this is, and must continue to be
the case, is obvious from the fact, that while she has all the
advantages of rail roads which any of them possess, she has in addition
the superior facilities which the river and canal afford. That
considerable accessions to her population have taken place the present
season is proved by the fact, that only fifteen tenements, little and
big, are vacant, while over fifty have been erected.--The foreign
element in the population, it will be perceived, is quite large. This is
the case with all western towns. If, from the number set down in the
census tables as "born in the United States," be subtracted the number
"born of foreign parents and counted as Americans," there will be left
only nine hundred and seventy-two who are Americans by birth and
ancestry. But the amalgamation of interest and feeling is so complete,
that society moves harmoniously, and the subject of nationality is but
little thought of.
It is believed that the mortality, as exhibited by the census table, is
unparalleled. It is about one and one third per cent. of the population.
This result has been obtained by enquiry in every family and can be
relied on as nearly correct. It includes infants and adults, and those
who have died by casualty, as well as by disease. It is true that we
have not as large a proportion of old persons, whose lives are
terminating in their natural order, as in older communities, but it is
also true that we have a larger proportion of newly arrived emigrants,
whose health is influenced by the fatigue and exposure of protracted
voyages and journeys, and by a change of climate and habits. By a
comparison with other towns and cities, and with the entire country, it
will be perceived that the aggregate mortality is remarkably low. In
Boston, according to the report of the Sanitary Commission, for a period
of nine years, the average annual mortality was 2,53 per cent; in New
York, according to the annual report of the City Inspector in 1853, it
was 4,4 per cent; in Philadelphia, according to the report of the Board
of Health in 1850, it was 2,29 per cent; in Baltimore, according to the
report of the Board of Health in 1850, it was 2,7 per cent; in
Charleston, according to the report of the Board of Health in 1850, it
was 1,99 per cent; and in the United States in 1850, according to the
census tables, it was 1,39. So it will be seen, that the mortality is
less, if the year selected be an average one, than it is in either of
the above cities, or in the entire country. This comparison, it is
honestly believed, presents a fair index to the sanitary condition of
the city.
Prominent among the objects which challenge the early and prompt
attention of the citizens of Peru, is the subject of a bridge across the
river, and a road across the bottom to the bluff, upon which passing
shall at all times be practicable. The trade from the north and west
which formerly centered here, has been cut off, to a great extent, by
the Central, and Chicago and Burlington roads. The most valuable trade
which remains is that from the south side of the river. This is
sometimes interrupted for months together, as has been the case the
present season, leaving merchants to look despondingly upon their
crowded shelves, and mechanics to stand idle in their shops. (Most
likely they console themselves at Kaiser's--but this is not to be
printed.) What means shall be adopted for the accomplishment of this
object, is not the present purpose of the writer to enquire. But that
some plan should be devised forthwith--always excepting running into
debt--is too apparent to admit of argument. There is every reason to
hope that the energy, perseverance and financial skill of the present
Mayor, John L. McCormick, Esq., who is the devoted and zealous champion
of the work, will triumph over all difficulties.
We have now looked at the past and present. What of the future? Will the
magnificent pretensions of the "Head of Navigation" dwindle into thin
air? Will the metropolitan airs which she assumed and flaunted before
the eyes of envious rivals degenerate into the abject cringing of the
vanquished and crest fallen braggart? Will the notes of arrogance and
defiance which rung out upon the tympanum of an admiring world subside
into the moanings and mutterings of imbecility and dotage? Will the hum
of trade and industry be hushed in her streets, and be superceded by the
fluttering of bats and the hootings of owls? Or will she decline into a
quiet suburban appendage of her more fortunate and energetic rival? Or
will both places languish in premature decay, while neighboring towns
stride onwards in their march to greatness? Will the manufacture of
inordinate quantities of gas continue to be necessary to remind the
world of their existence? These are questions that must be answered by
their own citizens. Certain it is, that if they properly appreciate and
energetically grasp the advantages which nature, and a rare combination
of external circumstances have placed within their reach, it will be a
long time before the antiquarian will have to grope through
superincumbent accumulations for evidence of their previous existence.
Not merely by the exchange and transhipment of merchandise; not merely
by hotels, lager beer saloons, banking and exchange offices, and houses
and places of refreshment and amusement, although they may be all
prefixed with the word "city," can the destiny which is their
inheritance and birthright be obtained. An intelligent and productive
aggregation of bones, sinews and brains must be domesticated upon the
spot, whose presence and influence will react, with beneficent results,
upon each and every laudable interest and enterprise. No folly or
madness can be more extreme, than that of those who think they can sit
down with folded arms, and realize dreams of fortunes to be made through
enhanced corner lots.
We have glanced at the material and political commencement, progress and
prospects of Peru. Let us look at the moral and intellectual phases of
her existence.
Among her early settlers were many families of high culture, refinement,
social condition, and moral standing. Of these were the families of
George B. Martin, H. L. Kinney, S. Lisle Smith, D. J. Townsend, Wm. H.
Davis, Fletcher Webster, George W. Holley, Lucius Pearl, H. P.
Woodworth, W. B. Burnett, Gen. Ransom &c. Seldom has a new, obscure,
western settlement, whose inhabitants were thrown together by chance,
gathered so brilliant specimens of eastern intelligence and
civilization. There was an under strata, however, which by no means
tends to brighten the reminiscence. The idlers, adventurers and
vagabonds, who follow public works in new countries, and who congregate
at the termination of navigation, made a rendezvous here. Peru, as ought
to have been mentioned before, is broken by a precipitous bluff nearly
an hundred and fifty feet high. On a narrow strip between this and the
river is a single street, upon which most of the stores, warehouses and
shops are situated, in the rear of which runs the rail road.--Most of
the dwellings are on the bluff, upon a plane inclining towards the river
and somewhat broken with ravines. Formerly, as now, the street under the
bluff was generally avoided as a residence by the more orderly and quiet
citizens. This became the rendezvous of all the congregated rowdies and
ruffians. In the night it was almost entirely given up to them. Orgies
and revelry were always in order. As this part of the town was, and has
continued to be the most visited by strangers, the steamboats landing in
front then, and the rail road running through the rear now, the fame of
its doings soon spread throughout all the land. The reputation, thus
acquired, clung to it; and while no place has had a larger proportion
of quiet, orderly, intelligent and refined citizens, no place has had a
more unenviable reputation, unless it be the sister town of La Salle. So
true is it that the fame of bad deeds travels further and faster than
good ones, the writer, when abroad, on informing a stranger that he was
from Peru, has observed that stranger involuntarily button up his
pockets and move out of the neighborhood. What reason exists for this
feeling may be seen from the fact, that during the whole period of the
town's history, no riots; no fights, resulting in death or severe bodily
injury with one exception, and that among a party none of which ever
lived in the town; no robbery; and but few cases of burglary or larceny
have occurred. No night police has ever been found necessary except at
brief and distant periods.--Schools and churches have received constant
attention and liberal encouragement. If the order and external sanctity
of an interior New England town do not prevail, the difference in our
circumstances, situation and history must be recollected; and that these
are not the tests of morality all over the world.
Few among the citizens have yet found leisure to devote themselves to
intellectual pursuits, yet it is believed that the clergymen, lawyers,
doctors, merchants &c., have exhibited ability and attainments equal to
those of their class in other localities.