The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-09-25
s1Lz-oN ?. CHASE AS AN EDITOR.
=sttf.f tu Che CtnciHtHUu Afuertc0n- 1880.
ENIEAJT FROM 'wARDEN's LIFE OF CHASE

sLLz-CS. 2. CHASE AS AN EDITOR.
Article tt sEc Cincinnati Arperiean. 1880.
ENIEAJT FROM 'wARDEN's LIFE OF CHAsE.1
''Thirty-iive years ago, over all that is
now Ohio. there stretched one vast will
derHesS. unbroken, except by the small
spots Of civilized culture, the one at
Marietta, and the other at Cincinnati.
At these little openings, hardly each a
pins point upon the map, the arm of
the Ontiersman had leveled the forest
and let in the sun.
These are the words of Daniel Web
~tr- in his first speech on 'FOot's ResOlu-
iutiOn.' They usher in q splendid de-
>criptiou OF the wonderful transfOrma-
tioa oGthe territory that now constitutes
the State Of Ohio, from a wilderness in
which dwelt savage men and savage
beasts, into a magnificent abode of civil
izgJion, Opulence, taste and power. 1t
las 2 merit rare in such gorgeous paint
iu@s It Is Il perfect breathing image of
what has been. The description was
nodded upon facts. and took their exact
shape.
IIirty-live years ago our city was, as
he said it was, a little opening in the
midst of a vast, unbrOken forest. And
what is it now. Let us look around us.
Let us walk around Cincinnati and take
note of what we see. First, there is
great landing, slOping down from Front
Street to the waters edge, a declivity of
between sixty and seventy feet in per-
pendicular elevation, and reaching along
the river more than two whole squares.
The noble stream is up now, and a part
of this immense work is hidden from
view. Yet enough is visible to show
that it would be IA difficult matter to find
a structure like it anywhere. If the rise
of water hides the landing, it shows the
steamboats,. for which the landing was
made There they are, of stately
structure. fitting the river ON whose bo-
som they rush along. and the mighty
territory whose productions they carry
to a distant market. As If Providence
had designed this spot for their use, the
river generally careering on with rapid
current, here sweeps round an eddy, and
thus forms a natural harbOr, as it were,
for them They are diseharging and re-
ceiviug their cargOes. Tomorrow almost
every one of them will be gone, and their
places will be filled by others.
Is we proceed eastward, coming up
into the city a little, our ears are greeted
with the sound Of busy occupation, and
our eyes with the sight of the numerous
factories There is the steam mill, and
the cotton factories and the saw-mi0
ruct0ri.a aad the engine factories, and
Others tii.,t we have not room to emu
uIerarr. Here Is the principal source Of
the v.li'h % and prosperity of our city.
u Is i0.3r hGt gjceS caiJte to ereTythiHg.
Tile raw material is worthless till it is
wrought What purpose serves the iron
in the earthI What good does the cot
ton sr- It be gatheredl Labor must be
applied before value be created. Ever
-ia-r the decree went forth, In tine sweat
-. tiny face shalt thou eat bread, little
isss been the worth of the earths spon-
JJieDu- productions, and so will it be
ever. Where the sweat of the face is,
there viii be bread; and where the la
bOriOus population is, there will be the
prosperous city and the fiOurishing ell
p.rr We do not mean to assert that our
vigorous growth and early maturity isdue
to mechanical labor alone. Commerce
has IL, share, and other causes have had
their share Of influence i'll operating the
grand result. We only intend to say
jHgJ Iiic mechanic has been the princi-
pal, not the sole agent, of the prosperity
OF the city.
We pass on eastward until we come to
the water works, and then climb up the
hi! that lies just down upon the river,
until we attain "a commanding position
for "a panoramic view Of the valley. The
first thought that strikes Us is that this
-r.lr 4..rr-r itsfv "a. boon ruarLal ont for
high destiny in the councils Of heaven.
That vide amphitheatre below must
surely have scCOped out ON purpose to
De- the seat Of "a great city. On all sides
.5 j. guarded by the everlasting hills,
which seem, from this point, to be ar
raged around the whole valley in the
form Of al eclipse. We see In Belle
Hiriere entering it from the northeast.
il sweeps round ia beautiful curve, and
we -ee IL again far of. and seeming like
q zone Of silver, binding natures YER
daut apparcling. gliding away TRANQUILITY
toward tine mighty Mississippi. From
-.ie north and the south several small
streams are seen pouring in their seanty
tribute. The canal comes in from the
NORTH and Is covered with boats. We
close our ewes for a moment and listen.
steam. from TIE Canal, the notes of the
DG-i-; and from the entire city, that
confused uJi-. Of the rattling of wheels,
a.lI the is- Of machines, and the clamor
ys yJ.cas. which always Indicate the
presence OF a muititudinOus population.
We open our eyes again, and We almost
iu.a -i-.e that We can see the city grow.
We 10 see all the symptoms Cf vigorous
-
g- -a" when ia the valley, and in every
part Of TN. city. There are many
cIurrhe=. some Of them grand in their
proportions. and splendid in their archi-
lecture. There are tie residences Of
some Of our private citizens that show
i.Ea palaces There are extending streets
and multiplying erecti1us Of every de-
--r.1fiJu. on the TWO levels that. with
rl- connecting decliyity between them.
form the area Of this vast amphitheater.
There are tine markets, not quite 50 neat
fabrics a. they might BE-. but filed to
overlooking with the abundance Of the
-IFrJGuIiHz country, and crowded by
the multitude whe live To eat. or eat to
live. There. too, Is nO,-alas, that we
must say -J-a city hall worthy of the
l--s-rue-s and Opuleuce Of our city.
Having now east a general and rapid
glance over tine scene before us. we de-
-c-lt the hill, and We meet with men
not yet past the prime Of life. who tell
Gs Cuat WHEN they were boys they used
% gather grapes, and hunt squirrels and
70 it turkeys. over the very spot where
these tiIick-crJwded ediiices now stand
Ii.is j. q faithful outline Of Cinein-
uari ~ i- 10" = We intended. when
w- J----l. 20 sketch, in the same brief
vs@y. ..er history, and character, and
urJ-5.--t-. 20 speak somewhat oi the IN
-ige-raa-- held out 70 eInigrants, and to
sav what cia-- Of men would, probably,
..r-F 4,vauraye- in coming here, but we
I.,.,-.. no room 70 do all this now. Per
hams We may resume the subject in our
u.-sr Or some future number. In the
mean time. we may observe that we do
NOT expect % edify our city friends with
o. d.-c-.paJu Of what they see every day,
1ur 20 crafty the natural curiosity of
hose who, living at some distance from
I-. have frequently expressed wish TO
snow something more about Cincinnati
han they could learn from geOgra-
1Jie-.'