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Read Ebook: Pittsburgh in 1816 Compiled by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Granting of the City Charter by Carnegie Library Of Pittsburgh Compiler
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Ebook has 403 lines and 28861 words, and 9 pages
PITTSBURGH IN 1816
COMPILED BY THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH ON THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRANTING OF THE CITY CHARTER
PITTSBURGH CARNEGIE LIBRARY 1916
PREFACE This little book will interest the Pittsburgher of 1916 chiefly because the parts and pieces of which it is made were written by men who were living here or who passed this way in 1816.
The three newspapers of the day--the Gazette, the Mercury, and the Commonwealth--have furnished, though somewhat sparingly, the items of local news. They have also furnished advertisements--these in greater abundance and variety.
The men who were the tourists of the day in America, traveling by stage, wagon, boat, or on horseback, often made Pittsburgh a stopping place in their journey. Many of them wrote books, in which may be found two or three pages, or a chapter, on the city as it appeared at that time. It is from these books that the section "Impressions of early travelers" has been gathered. The date given with these extracts is the date of publication, but the period referred to in every case is between 1815 and 1817.
In addition to these gleanings from contemporaries, a number of paragraphs from various histories of the city have been included.
The sketches that have thus been bought together do not form a systematic or well proportioned description of the city; yet they may help, through their vivid pictures and first-hand impressions, to give some idea of life in Pittsburgh a century ago.
Table of Contents
Page
THE NEW CITY 7
IMPRESSIONS OF EARLY TRAVELERS 13
UNITED STATES CENSUS 20
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES 21
TRAVELING EASTWARD 26
TAVERNS 30
STEAMBOATS AND RIVER TRAFFIC 31
FERRIES AND BRIDGES 40
THE NEWSPAPERS 42
CHURCHES 44
SCHOOLS 48
LIBRARIES 50
THE NEW BOOKS OF 1816 51
THE THEATRE 52
THE MORALS EFFICIENCY SOCIETY OF 1816 55
FOURTH OF JULY, 1816 55
POLICE 55
EAGLE FIRE COMPANY 56
WATER-SUPPLY 56
BANKS 57
POST-OFFICE 59
THE SUBURBS 60
COURTS 61
COUNTY ELECTIONS 61
THE STATE LEGISLATURE 62
SLAVERY 63
ADVERTISEMENTS FROM THE NEWSPAPERS OF 1816 64
The New City
A MEETING OF THE DEMOCRATICK REPUBLICANS OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH,
City Election
A number of respectable citizens, desirous of preserving that harmony which has for several years past, so happily prevailed in the borough councils, and which is so essential to the prosperity of our infant city, have formed the following Ticket. They recommend it to the cool, dispassionate considerations of their fellow citizens; and they flatter themselves, that it will, on the day of the election, meet with a firm and honorable support. It is formed, as tickets of the kind ought to be, without respect to party. There can exist no possible ground for the absurdity, that party feuds and animosity should be called up on occasions like the present. Every consideration of public interest, and of the peace and good order of the city, forbids it.--Our city is as yet in its infancy.--Its government is to be organized, its ordinances framed, its police established, and its general policy devised.
SELECT COUNCIL
John Wrenshall, Benj. Bakewell, James Ross, Thomas Cromwell, John Hannen, E. Pentland, Dr. Geo. Stevenson, George Shiras, Robert Patterson.
COMMON COUNCIL
James Lea, Walter Forward, John Lyttle, Alex: Johnston, jr., Geo. Miltenberger, James Irwin, Richard Bowen, Mark Stackhouse, John W. Johnston, Paul Anderson, John P. Skelton, George Boggs, James R. Butler, John Caldwell, George Evans.
City Election
The first Election under the Act Incorporating the City of Pittsburgh, was held on Tuesday last, when the following gentlemen were elected:
SELECT COUNCIL
James Ross, Dr. Geo. Stevenson, William Hays, John Roseburgh, Samuel Douglas, James Irwin, Mark Stackhouse, William Leckey, Richard Geary.
COMMON COUNCIL
William Wilkins, James R. Butler, John P. Shelton, A. Johnston, Jr., James S. Stevenson, James Brown, Paul Anderson, John W. Johnston, George Evans, John Caldwell, Richard Robinson, Thomas M'Kee, Daniel Hunter, John Carson, John W. Trembly.
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