Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-08-01
EARLY RECOLLECTIoNs OF THE
WEST

WEST.
A correspondent Of the Buffalo Con
mercial Advertiser, is recOunting in a 8
ries of numbers, some of the inciden
connected with the first settlement G
our great Lake Territories. After tn
treaty of GTeenvilIe, in Ohio, which fol
lowed Wayne's defeat of the Indians
in August, 1894, and after the suIren
der Of the Western posts by the Bri tish
the country that way began to be settled
by the emigrants from the East VIII
poured in fast. The writer above refer
red to, gives the following interesting
account oft opening Of trade in tina
direction:
The occupation of these posts by th'
American army, opened new fields 0
enterprise. The garrisons were to be
supplied with provisions, ordnance art
military stores. These could only bt
transported by vessels on the lakes, which
had to be built. fitted out and manned
This gave profitable employ toa large
number of lAborers.
Among others, whose attention was
drawn to this new field of enterprise o
pened On the Lakes, was Gen. James
O'Harra, distinguished citizen Of Pitts
burgh. He entered into contract with
the government tO>supply Oswego witt
provisions, which could then be furnish
ed from Pittsburgh cheaper than from
The settlements on the Mohawk. Gen
O'Hara was far sighted calculator; ht
had gained correct information in reIa
ton to the manufacture of salt at Salina,
aud in his contract for provisioning the
garrison, he had in view the supplying ol
the western country with sal! from ON
onadago. This was project few men
would have thought Of, and fewer would
have undertaken. The means OF trans
porta:ion had to be created on the whole
line-boats and teams had 10 be provi'
ded to get the salt from the works to
Oswego, vessel built 10 transport it TO
the landing below the Falls, wagons pro-
cured TO carry it to SchlosSer--then boats
constructed to carry it to Black Rock
there another vessel was required to
transport it to Erie. The road to the
head Of French Creek had to be improv-
ed, and the salt carried in wagons a.
cross The portage, and finally boats pro-
vided to float it to Pittsburgh. II requir-
ed no ordinary sagacity and perseverance
to give success to this speculation =
Gen. O'Hara, however, could execute
as we'll as plan. He packed his -four
and provisions in barrels suitable for salt.
These we're reserved in the contract.
Arrangements were made with the
manufacturers, and The necessary advan
ces paid to secure supply Of salt. Two
vessels were built-one on Lake Erie
and one on Lake Ontario, and the
means Transportation on the various
sections of the line were secured. The
plan fully succeeded, and salt Of Eret-
ty fair quality was delivered at PittsS
burgh, and sold at four dollars per bush.
el; Just half the price ofthe sat obtain
ed by packing across the mountains -
The vocation Of packers was gone. The
trade opened by this man, whose suc'
cess was equal 10 his merits, and who
led the way in every great enterprise of
the day, was extensively prosecuted by
others. A large amount OF capital was
invested in the salt trade. and the means
of transportation so greatly increased,
that in few years the Pittsburgh market
was supplyed with Onondagoa salt at
twelve dollars per barrel Of FIVE bushels.
Much of the surplus produce of the
country bordering on the lower Ohio and
its branches, which rapidly increased af'
Ter the permanent peace with the Indi.
ans, could find no other market than
Pittsburgh. This rendered All ascending
navigation indispensable to the plosperI-
ty of the country, and led to The intro.
duction Of keel boats. These boats we're
long and narrow, sharp at the bow and
stern, and of light draft. They were pro-
vided with running boards extending
from bow to stern, and on each side of
the boat. The space between the run.
ming boards was enclosed and rooted with
boards or shingles. These boats would
carry from 20 to 40 t. Of freight, well pro.
tected from the weather, and required 6
or 10 men, besides the captain who stear.
ed the boat, to propel them up stream.
Each man was provided witha pole with
heavy socket. The crew divided equal
Iy on each side, set their poles near the
head of the boat, and bringing the end
Of the pole to their should eTs, with their
bodies bent, walked slowly down the run
ming board to the stern-returning at
quick pace TO the bow ofthe boat for q
new sett.
In ascending rapids, the greatest efOrt
Of the whole crew was required, so thai
only one at time could shift his pole
! This ascending Of rapids was attended