The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1846-02-11
Rooms OF TIE BOARD OF TRADE, !
Pittsburgh, Dec. 18th, l845.
LEWIS TRoosT, Esq, Mobile, Ala;

Plttsburgh, Dec. l0th, lS40.1
LEWIS TRoosT, Esq, Mobile, Ala:
Sir AT the request of Hon George Darsie,
delegate to the late Memphis Convention, |
was instructed by the Board of Trade of this city
to obtain from an officer of the Government, en-
inently qualified TO prepare the same, Report
showing the Military and Naval resources of the
West, 10 be forwarded to your address. Unior-
tunately that gentleman is absent from the city,
and am thus prevented from carrying out the
wishes of the Board.
As it may be OF some importance to you 10
have statistics relative TO the Military and Naval
resources of this region Of the Great West, with
The approval of the Board, | take the liberty of
furnishing you the following data, though some
what local in It's character, coming only within
my immediate range of observation.
Pittsburgh and its adjacent country, can fur
nish almost any required amount ofmaterials and
labor, for land and naval armamcnts and equip
ments.
Upwards of one hundred Furnaces send Their
iron to this city for manufacture, from which can
be selected at any time the most suitable metal
for cannon perhaps in the United States; and the
Rolling Mills of Pittsburgh, eleven in number, are
now turning out two hundred tons daily of the
various kinds and sizes of rolled iron, from which
is manufactured the very best chain cables, an
chors, boilers, wrought iron shafts and cnnks,
iron ships, etc There arc also twenty Iron
Foundres, and fourteen Engine Shops in opera
ton, three of which are, or lately were, engaged
in building Iron Steam Ships for our Govern
ment; one of these Steam Ships, of twelve hun
drcd tons burhcn, is now being constructed in
the yard of Joseph Tomlinson.
The foundry, boring mill, engine shop and iron
ship yard of Knapp g. Totten, "Fort Pitt Works. y
may be particularly alluded to,as they are the most
extensive in the West, and will favorably COM
pare with any in the United States. This estab-
Iishment is at present casting one heavy Ga pound
er cannon every day, and boring eight at the
same time besides manufacturing other ordnance,
heavy iron work and machinery, among which
may be mentioned two Iron Steamers lately com
pleted for the Government. The heavy seacoast
guns, which are now being made in the "Fort
Pitt Works. for the various Notifications on the
Atlantic, Gulf, and Lake coasts, will be mounted
and supplied with carriages at the Allegheny Ar
senal in this vicinity; and il was found, on COM
paring bids from various parts Of the country,
that suitable oak timber, with other materials and
labor, for mounting these heavy howitzers, could
be furnished cheaper here than in any other Sec
ton of the Union.
There are also in Pittsburgh number of Fac
tories for making drought iron Shafts and
Cranks, of the largest dimensions, AnviIs, Vices,
Anchors, Chain Gables, ETC.; as we'll as Steel
Factories, File Factories, Brass Foundries, and
Copper.smith shops. Also extensive Rope
Walks. The principal one of these John IT.
win's) supplied most of the rigging for Perry's
fleet during the last War, and has now furnished
TO the large Iron Frigate constructing here, the
entire rigging complete to the satisfaction of the
Naval officer experimenting the same. From
the alluson to Perry's feet, am reminded that
in one of the above named foundries was cast
some of the cannon which aided that brave COM
mander in obtaining his glorious victory on the
Lake. An extensive Powder Mill is in opera
ton here, capable of furnishing thirty-six hun
drcd pounds of gun powder daily, and whicn now
supplies most of the Western States with that
article. And am informed by Government
officer, that Cavalry and Infantry accoutrements
have been made better and cheaper here than at
any other point in the United States.
The Coal Fields of this region are too we'll
known TO need description. ANY quantity Of
coal required can be furnished TO our work shops
at from three TO three and half cents per bushe,
or from eighty cents to one dollar per ton; and
in boats, for expectation 10 ports below, as am
informed, at two cents per bushel or about fifty
six cents per ton-and thus Pittsburgh, in ma
tionaI sense, and particularly in reference to her
Military and Naval resources, with truth may
boast, that ''she has plenty of coal 10 lDdrm her
friends, and plenty of iron 10 cool her cnemies"
Abundance Of timber is supplied to Pittsburgh
| from the tributaries 10 the Ohio. The Mononga-
hela furnishes oak of n fine quality from the
mountains Of Virginia-the Allegheny supplies
us with Pine-and by the Pennsylvania Canal,
Cherry, Ash, and Locust, is brought TO our mar
| ket.
AT almost all seasons our citizens can have
cheap and ready transportation for their various
articles of manufacture TO the Atlantic cities, TO
the Lakes, and 10 the Gulf of Mexico. The
Iron Steam Ships built at this place for the Lakes
were transported hithcr by water communca-
ton; aud thus in time of war Iron vessels may
be constructed at point beyond the reach Of an
enemy and conveyed 10 the frontier with arma-
ments and equipments almost ready for the SER
vice of our country.
Pittsburgh, being al the head Of the Ohio Val
ley, has access 10 the teeming agricultural pro-
ducts Of region of country as rich as any in
the world; which, with the abundance of fuel,
makes subsistence as cheap if not cheaper here
than any other city in the United States.
The above imperfect data, written in haste, 10
supply what would have been far better and more
satisfactory 10 you, could il have boon obtained,
submit for your use.
Most respectfully,
JOHN HARPER,
Clerk OF tue Board Of Trade