cheap in the states of New England, which comprise Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire; but the price of labour is not so high, and therefore more proportionate to the price of provisions. C. Unwholesome Dietary, 17971 Travelers in the United States during this period are almost unanimous in their descriptions of the bountiful yet heavy diet spread on the typical American table, especially of the hot breads and salt meats, to the consumption of which they attributed various ills, from whooping cough to premature loss of teeth. Volney was a Frenchman who traveled in this country between 1795 and 1798. I will venture to say that, if a prize were proposed for the scheme of a regimen most calculated to injure the stomach, the teeth, and the health in general, no better could be invented than that of the Americans. In the morning at breakfast, they deluge their stomach with a quart of hot water, impregnated with tea, or so slightly with coffee, that it is mere coloured water: and they swallow, almost without chewing, hot bread, half baked, toast soaked in butter, cheese of the fattest kind, slices of salt or hung beef, ham, &c., all which are nearly insoluble. At dinner they have boiled pastes under the name of puddings, and the fattest are esteemed the most delicious: all their sauces, even for roast beef, are melted butter: their turnips and potatoes swim in hog's lard, butter, or fat: under the name of pie, or pumpkin, their pastry is nothing but a greasy paste, never sufficiently baked: to digest these viscous substances, they take tea almost instantly after dinner, making it so strong, that it is absolutely bitter to the taste; in which state it affects the nerves so powerfully, that even the English find it brings on a more obstinate restlessness than coffee. Supper again introduces salt meats, or oysters: as Chatelux says, the whole day passes in heaping indigestions on one another: and to give tone to the poor relaxed and wearied stomach, they drink Madeira, rum, French brandy, gin, or malt spirits, which complete the ruin of the nervous system. D. Intemperance, 1802 2 The consumption of liquors was universal at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and even their intemperate use was regarded with a degree of tolerance that would strike us as strange today. Michaux was a very careful and trustworthy observer. 1 View of the Climate and Soil of the United States of America. By C. F. Volney (London, 1804), 323-5. 2 Travels to the Westward of the Allegany Mountains. By F. A. Michaux (London, 1805), 40. A passion for spirituous liquors is one of the features that characterise the country people belonging to the interior of the United States. This passion is so strong, that they desert their homes every now and then to get drunk in public houses; in fact, I do not conceive that there are ten out of a hundred who have resolution enough to desist from it a moment provided they had it by them, notwithstanding their usual beverage in summer is nothing but water, or sour milk. They care very little for cyder, which they find too weak. Their dislike to this wholesome and pleasant beverage is the more distressing as they might easily procure it at a very trifling expense, for apple trees of every kind grow to wonderful perfection in this country. E. Education, 18161 The grant of public lands in support of the common schools insured the development of educational opportunities for the mass of the people. Even at this early period, when the public-school system was as yet undeveloped, a firm foundation was being laid. Warden was at one time consul for the United States at Paris. The education of youth, which is so essential to the well-being of society, and to the development of national wealth, has always been a primary object of public attention, in the United States. Since the year 1800, especially, great additions have been made to the number of schools and academical institutions; to the funds for supporting them, and to all the means for providing instruction, and disseminating information. In 1809 the number of colleges had increased to twenty-five, that of academies to seventy-four. Those institutions are incorporated by the legislature of each state, and are subject to its inspection, though placed respectively under the direction of boards of trustees. . . . In the western states congress have reserved 640 acres of the public land in each township for the support of schools, besides seven entire townships of 23,040 acres each, two of which are situated in the state of Ohio, and one in each of the states and territories of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi, and Louisiana. In the state of New York in 1811, the fund for common schools, subject to the disposal of the legislature, amounted to half a million of dollars, giving an annual revenue of 36,000 dollars. . . . Throughout the New England states the schools are supported by a public tax, and are under the direction of a committee. In these seminaries the poor 1 A Statistical, Political, and Historical Account of the United States of North America. By D. B. Warden (Edinburgh, 1819), III, 453-8, passim. and the rich are educated together, and are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, and geography. In other parts of the Union also, schools are provided for the education of the poorer class. The system of Lancaster has been lately adopted in different places. Various societies have been lately established, for the advancement of knowledge; particularly of those branches which are connected with agriculture, arts, and manufactures. The newspaper press is the great organ of communication in America. In this description of literature, the United States are entitled to take precedence of all other countries, at least so far as relates to number. In the beginning of the year 1810 there were 364 newspapers in the United States, 25 of which were printed daily, 16 thrice a-week, 33 twice, and 262 weekly. Before the American revolution there were but nine newspapers in the United States. F. Post-offices and Rates, 1791-18162 The educational value of the post office was early recognized, and the postal system was inaugurated in 1775, and greatly extended after 1789. The principle of a flat rate for all letters irrespective of distance or weight was not introduced until 1850. By the Constitution, Congress have power to establish postoffices and post-roads: and soon after the commencement of the Government, laws were passed, to carry this power into effect. The benefits arising from the post-office establishment, to individuals are immense, and in some years, the public have derived no inconsiderable revenue from this source. ... From this will be seen the increase of the establishment at the following periods 1 There are 8 in German, 5 in French, and 2 in Spanish. 2 Statistical Annals of the United States. By Adam Seybert (Philadel phia, 1818), 372-3. Rates of Postage established in 1816,1 viz.: For every letter composed of a single sheet of paper, conveyed not exceeding 30 miles... Do. over 30 and not exceeding 80 miles. 6 cents .18 do. 25 do. For every double letter, or letter composed of two pieces of paper, double those rates; and for every triple letter, or one composed of three pieces of paper, triple those rates; and for every packet composed of four or more pieces of paper, or one or more other articles, and weighing one ounce avoirdupois, quadruple those rates, and in that proportion for all greater weights; provided that no packet of letters conveyed by the water-mails, shall be charged with more than quadruple postage, unless the same shall contain more than four distinct letters. 1 Act 9th April, 1816. CHAPTER IX THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANUFACTURES, 1800-1860 I. GENERAL VIEW OF MANUFACTURES, 1810-1860 A. Gallatin's Report on Manufactures, 18101 In 1806 and 1807, both Great Britain and France had restricted American commerce, the former by Orders in Council, the latter by the Berlin and Milan Decrees. The United States had retaliated in 1807 with the Embargo Act, which prohibited the vessels of this country trading with either Great Britain or France. Naturally much of the capital previously invested in shipping found its way into manufactures. Pursuant to a request of Congress, Albert Gallatin, secretary of the treasury, reported in April, 1810, on the state of manufactures in the United States. The more important parts of this report are: The following manufactures are carried on to an extent which may be considered adequate to the consumption of the United States, the foreign articles annually imported being less in value than those of American manufacture belonging to the same general class, which are annually exported, viz.: Manufactures of wood, or of which Flaxseed oil. Refined sugar. Snuff, chocolate, hair powder, and The following branches are firmly established, supplying, in several instances, the greater, and, in all, a considerable, part of the consumption of the United States, viz.: Iron, and the manufactures of iron. Paper, printing types, printed books, Spirituous and malt liquors. Several manufactures of hemp. Gunpowder. Several manufactures of lead. 1 Gallatin's Report on Manufactures, 1810. American State Papers (Washing ton, 1834), Series Finance, II, 425-7. |