Morning journal and courier., 1894-04-10
in the American Museum for that year, containa this item of current news:

SS~"~ n the American Museum for that year, contains this item of current news: ssOn the 7th instant arrived here from an Afri- | an sea voyage Cbut last from Havannah, where ! he slaves were soldJ bark belonging to this aid WoH and Caleb Gardiner. One that was on | board this vessel, during the voyage, informed e:s dsx ass sosy lnree days, then taken down, brought to the side of the weasel and thrown overheard by the cRp- tain himself. It is said the reason of his drown ing her was lest she should com mmuntcate the dis ease to those on board who had not had it.
 As the poorest currency always drives out better, so the poorest kind of labor always to be had for tho lowest wages is apt to supPlant what is more intelligent dourished in . slave state.
 But there was still stronger cause for the bsekwardness of Connecticut in that direction.
 Throughout the revolution the grand old commonwealth had been SO free in her re- sponses to the demands of tho Continental congress, both for men and supplies, that her people had no strength or money left for the establishment of new industries. At iss close we found that the war had involved us in Pablic debt of about two million dollars. The weight of this burden had been really beyond che strength of her people. As a result of heavy taxation, many of the active young men in the state emigrsted to Vermont, or through New York to the 'West of the bridge" as all the territory beyond Cayuga lake was then commonly named, and general feeling of gloom and dependency began to prevail.
 The imports during the first year or two after the treaty of peace were every where excsssive, and involved the country in new debt of several millions to meet the adverse balance of trade. In 1785 the commerce of this port was in SO unoer- tain condition that the totsl wharfage receipts for the year of the proprietors of Long Wharf were farmed out at auction sale for 21O2.
 The financial necessities of the state had no at this time driven 1t to impose speci 6e duties on many articles (mostly of for eign origin, imported from other states, and a five per cent ad valorum duty on all eth CT goods 90 imported which were not pro- dueed in tho United States, and collectors of such duties were appointed for all ports except the free ports of New Haven and Nsw London.
 Excise taxes were also imposed in 17e3, on spirits, wines, tea, coffee, chocolate, su gar and many other articles, mainly of luxury, sold or consumed in the state. These duties were soon extended so as to cover all articles not the produce or the manufacture of the United States. This excise system continued in forcs until 17eO.
 Its repeal followed closely the adoption of the constitution of the United States. which had now brought back prosperity to the people and credit to the government. The financial measures Of Hamilton soon put into the treasury of Connecti- cut in payment for her past advances, securities of the new government to the able time for marketing American loans on account of the wars in which Europe was yet involved, and on February l, 1792, the 6 per cent. bonds of the United States sold at 127}. Connecticut now proceeded to settle with her creditors (though scaling her currency bills, issued prior to 1790, down to 1 for 4W and good times at onoa made their appearance again. In May, 1702, the state also paid off those at New Haven, Norwalk and elsewhere on the sound, who had suffered from the British inoursions. Their losses amounted to over $750, ,O0O, and they were reeompensed by grants of 500,O0O acres of lands in Ohio from our "western reserve"
 A period of specialization in the social institutions of Connections now set in. The Connecticut Medical society was inoorpo. rated in 1792. A few months later the ven was set up = that of the "Meohanies' Library society,"" It main tained . useful existence until 1915, and | it's books ultimately passed to the Young Mems institute.
 The school fund of the state was estab
 lished in 1795, and year later the propri
 etors of the half million acre grant from
 the Western Reserve were incorporated Charters were freely granted for banks. in
 surancs companies. turnpikes, water com psnies and other business enterprises, i1 various parts of the state. It wss sn era | of activity and enterprise, and New Have1 pulse of the day.
 At this time an English traveller of dis l orimination described the city thus: New Haven is large town ! spacious, containing many handsome houses in the rural style, with garden,
 annexed to them. Many families resor l thither from various parts on account o, it's beauty and healtnfulness, preferrine | this place as their seat of retirement, anG | choosing to enjoy here the emoluments de rived from life of industry. 4
 number of packet boats, every suitable tide, sail from hence to New York. The population of Hartford was now | about three-quarters of that of New Haven. A chamber of commerce wal formed there by voluntary association z few years after ours, but soon died out In 1904 1t was in correspondspce with this chamber. Hartford, at that time, had nore wholesale houses than New Haven but her volume of trade was less. Middle. town was her port of entry.
 Lst us now briefly review some of the more important events in the history of the chamber.
 In 1794 standing committee of arbitra- tion. consisting of seven of the members, headed by Joseph Drake, was ap- pointed to settle all commercial dis putes which might be brought be fore them. The parties to the mat ter in difference We're to choose three out of the committee to arbitrate between them, and the hearing was to be conducted without any attornsys, and the decision rendered "without fee or reward"
 Ever since the Revolutionary war there has been more or less embarrassment of trade on account of the scarcity of small change. Copper cents were minted in this city in considerable quantities soon after the war, under contract with the state and the Continental congress, the mint being situated on East Water street. The general depreciation of all forms of paper currency drove email change out of sight so effeotuslly during the last days of the confederation that debts, large and small, were usually paid in producs.if paid at all.
 What silver found its way into circula- tion was of foreign coinage and unadapted to the decimal system, which was formally adopted in 1891, when the first national mint was established. The change from @ reckoning by pounds, shillings and pence to that by dollars, dimes and cents was rendered much more difficult and unintel- ligible to the people generally, from the scarcity of the new coins, and in Novem Der, 1794, the chamber appointed a con- mittee to frame plan for issuing due bills or currency. Upon their report, this ehort form was adopted: "Due the bearer, silver money, by the Chamber of Com mercs, New Haven. December Sd, 1794 :" The treasurer was to sign and issue them, when engraved, ''receiving other moneys therefor" There were to be 1000 bills of one penny, and l, 800 each of penny and half, two pence, three pence and four pence. A few mora were afterwards au- thorized, making the total emission little over Gl40.
 The chamber interested itself early in occurring changes in the acts of congress re. lating to drawbacks on imported goods; and as ono traces it's history down time