Materials for the study of Detroit fifty years ago do not abound, except in the memories of a few living men. The directory system had yet reached scarcely any of the infant cities west of the Alleghanies; and the paucity and brevity of local sketches in the newspapers of those days afford but narrow

STATISTICAL

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fields for investigation. Happily about the time when the first tentative efforts were made to transform Michigan from a territory to a full fledged state, it entered the intelligent brain of Mr. John T. Blois, teacher of the Detroit Latin and English school, to compile a gazetteer of the incoming commonwealth, as a source of accurate information at home and a guide to immigrants from abroad. The result appeared early in 1839, in a neat 16 mo. volume of 418 pages, apparently printed in New York, and published there by Robinson, Pratt & Co., in Detroit by Messrs. Sydney L. Rood & Co. A few copies of this, in the original covers of figured blue cloth, still exist and are unique and invaluable relics of the early days of Michigan as a separate state.

Mr. Blois brings his statistics and other data, so nearly as he can, down to October, 1838. The state had then provided for thirty nine counties, of which Arenac (but recently organized), Barry, Sanilac, Gratiot, Montcalm, Isabella, Clinton, Gladwin, Oceana and Midland were as yet unorganized. It was making rapid progress, however, and the legislature, which was then charged with such business, had provided at its last session for the erection of seventy two townships. The population, at the close of 1837, numbered 175,000 (besides 7,914 Indians), against 87,278 in 1834 and 32,538 in 1803. there were but two chartered cities,--Detroit and Monroe--and twenty three incorporated villages. Of the 56,451 square miles of territory only 25,636 had been surveyed, and the Indian title to at least two thirds of the upper peninsula had not yet been extinguished. The northern part of the regions was still sometimes called "the Siberia of Michigan." But in that and other portions of the state a geological survey under the lamented Dr. Douglass Houghton was progressing with excellent results, under an appropriation for three years of $12,000 per annum. The public lands were being sold at government offices in Detroit, Monroe, Kalamazoo, Flint and Ionia. The era of wild speculation was not yet over, and under the new banking law of the state forty five "wildest" banks had been started between Aug. 15, 1837, and April 3, 1838, when an alarmed legislature put a stop to inflation of this kind. Fifteen banks were already existing under older laws, and altogether had nominal capital of more than $10,000,000. Twenty four railroads, which a total length of 1,011 miles , had received special charters, and three or four others, aggregating 591 miles, were provided for under the internal improvement system of the state, which likewise contemplated several canals and sundry river improvements. Five state roads or turnpikes had been made, all pushing out from Detroit, and one of them, the Chicago, road, being 254 miles long. The whole state had put sixty eight mail routes, only three of these directly reaching Detroit. The larger lake steamers, of 250 to 472 tons, numbered

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but nineteen, and the largest yet launched upon these inland seas was the "Illinois," of 755 tons, built here. The entire tonnage owned in the Detroit district in 1837 was but 6,994, against 995 in 1830.

The industries of the State were as yet light and comparatively unimportant. The estimated value of the agricultural product of 1837, based in part upon the census of that year, gave $2,114,366 for 1,691,499 bushels of wheat; $1,163,446 for oats; $1,319,045 for corn, and $36,573 for rye; making a total of $4,633,430. Neat stock was estimated at $4,480,500; horses, $1,405,800; hogs, $1,636,425; sheep, $94,515; total, $7,617,240. Mining had hardly yet begun. The Clinton salt works were going; Mt. Clemens had a glass factory and was doing a little ship building. Incomplete census returns in November, 1837, exhibited 433 saw mills, 114 grist mills, 23 carding machines, 12 cloth dressing establishments and 16 distilleries. The vast industrial development of Michigan was yet mainly in the future.

Wayne county at this time had 23,400 people, being little more populous than Washtenaw with 21,817 and Oakland with 20,163; but apart from Lenawee, which had 14,540, it had more than twice as many as any other in the state. Its only villages were "Dearbornville," which had about sixty families and the United States arsenal, just completed; Plymouth (or "Plymouth Corners"), about 300 population; Northville and Flat Rock, about 250 each; Redford "small," and Gibraltar, fifteen to twenty families. Detroit had yet no suburb of Springwells, except as a farming settlement, and Hamtramck is set down as "three miles" from the city. The Central railroad was running across the country as far as Ypsilanti; the "Pontiac road" was in operation to Royal oak, and the "railroad to Shelby" was in course of construction. The depot was upon Campus Martius, where the opera house now stands. The country sent two senators and seven representatives to the state legislature.

Detroit was in 1838 not only "port of entry" and "seat of justice for Wayne country," but also "capital of the state of Michigan." The state house, otherwise the country court house, now built around by the high school building, is named as a "commodious edifice of brick, constructed in the ionic order, 90 feet by 60. The portico in front is supported by six columns and the entablature at the side by pilasters. The steeple, crowned with a dome, is 140 feet high." The view from this was thought to be exceeded by but two others in the country, those from the state house in Boston and from St. Michael’s church in Charleston. On the 1st of January of that year the place had a population of 9,278 against 4,968 in 1834, 2,222 in 1830, 1,517 in 1828, 1,442 in 1826, 1,110 in 1820, and 770 in 1810. Thus within a decade the population had once increased by 50 per cent, had once more than

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doubled, and again nearly doubled. With very few exceptions all lived below the Grand Circus, and along not more than a mile’s front upon the river, "more or less densely settled." Most of the business was done on Jefferson avenue, but Woodward avenue was "becoming of increased importance." Atwater, "upon the river," and Woodbridge, "running parallel with it upon the declivity," were "mostly occupied y stores and dealers in the heavier articles of merchandise." There were 4 banks with $2,250,000 capital, 27 dry goods, 25 grocery and provision, 14 hardware, 10 forwarding and commission, 8 drug, 7 clothing and 3 book stores, 8 silversmiths and jewelers, 27 lawyers, 22 physicians, 3 markets, 4 printing offices, issuing 4 weeklies (1 religious), 3 dailies, 1 tri-weekly and 1 educational monthly. The little city had also a Mechanics’ hall, a theater, museum, circus, public garden, and a number of federal and state offices. In manufacturing there were 3 iron foundries, 1 brass foundry, 2 breweries, an edge-tool and a sash factory, and "a large steam saw mill." Much wholesale trade was already done, one half to three fifths of all merchandise sold going to the interior. No great amount of any product was exported, except fish. The fur trade had declined, although the American Fur company still kept its agency here. Forty sever lake vessels of all kinds were owned in this city, with and aggregate tonnage of 5,1643. For their accommodation 5,900 feet of wharf had been made. About three steamers and as many sail vessels arrived and departed daily. The steam ferry to the Canada shore was running. Western emigration passing through afforded a large source of profit, especially in the season of navigation.

The town was quite well and modernly built, nearly all the huts and cottages of the French period having disappeared. Wooden buildings were much the more numerous; and as many of them occupied leased grounds, the sight of houses in process of removal was more common than now. The business quarter had several fine brick blocks and the city had "altogether a cheerful and comely appearance," with "not a few outward indications of high cultivated taste and refinement." The principal public buildings, besides the state house or capitol, included the city hall on the Campus, a $20,000 brick structure, 100 feet by 50, with two stories and a basement, the lower story occupied for a market; St. Paul’s church, brick, with a 115 foot tower; the Baptist church, a plain affair at the corner of Fort and Griswold; St. Anne’s still standing on Larned street, but then its two spires were "in front," and were backed by an octagonal dome 30 feet high; and the old Bank of Michigan building, costing $40,000. There were eight church societies, two Catholic, one colored, and one each of Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and German Lutherans. The Catholics had

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one and the Protestants another orphan asylum, the latter in "a handsome two story brick edifice," on the familiar site then "a mile and a half above the city." The public schools of the place were grouped in seven districts which together had 4,335 children of school age. A branch of the state university was located here. Three free schools were maintained by the ladies’ free school society (Protestant), specially for indigent children, who were furnished books and all needed suppled; and others were the St. Clare English and German (Catholic) and the French female charity schools. The chief private schools were the Detroit female seminary, in care of Prof. and Mrs. Wilson; the young ladies’ institutes, conducted by Mrs. Hector Scott and her daughters; St.Clare’s seminary and several school for boys, taught by Profs. Blois, Mitchell and Bacon. The state library, kept at the capitol, already numbered 1,900 volumes; the Detroit young men’s society had made a good beginning with 1,200; and there was also a circulating library of about 1,000. The society named had been in existence for six years, the historical society for about ten, the state literary institute was organized the same year, and several other organizations of the kind had been made here.

The system of water supply demands a passing notice in closing. Steam power, forcing water from the river, was giving but partial service, and a plan had been mooted to utilize the current of the stream in generating a power for further use. This had been superseded, however, by the works which stood until a quite recent day at the foot of Orleans street, where the tall chimney may still be seen. This was then "the upper part of the city," and a brick tower was here being erected, sixty four feet in diameter and going to a height of fifty feet above the river, supporting a cast iron reservoir twenty feet deep, with a capacity of 425,000 gallons. Water was to be taken 450 feet from the shore and 6 below the surface of the river, through a 12 inch pipe. A 25 horse power engine would do all the work. One hundred fire hydrants were to be connected, each capable of throwing a stream into the third story of any building in the city. The cost of this modest system was estimated at $100,000 and it was to be finished in 1839.

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DETROIT NEARLY FIVE DECADES AGO

There is possibly no greater pleasure reserved for old age than to take a retrospective view of a life well spent, to mark the stepping stones to success in the past, and to be able to enjoy the fruition of well directed effort. The every day occurrence of a business man receiving a telegram from Buffalo or Chicago, telephoning to his wife that he will not be at home that night, and in a few hours arriving in one or the other of these cities, would appear even more wonderful than the wildest story in the Arabian Nights to an inhabitant of Detroit fifty years ago, if it were possible that he could be resurrected and made witness of the uses of our modern improvements and discoveries. Strange as it would undoubtedly seem to him of a half a century ago, yet the people of the present time have become so accustomed to the new modes of living that there are already many young business men who do not possess the faintest idea of what the lives, manners and customs of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers were two generations ago.

Postmaster Codd has in his possession a work that reflects a great deal of the life of this city when its population was less than 10,000. It is a "Directory of the City of Detroit with its environs and register of Michigan for the year 1837." It is a book of about 200 pages, and professes to contain "a classification of the professions and principal trades in the city, every information relative to officers of the municipal government, to public offices and officers, to churches, associations and institutions, to shipping, steamboats, stages, &c. Also, a list of the State and County Officers, &c., &c., by Julius P. Bolivar Macabe." It is printed by William Harsha, father of Walter Harsha, present clerk of the United States circuit court.

The first thirty six pages are given up to advertising, thus showing that there were many shrewd business men here at that time. Among these advertisements may be found much to amuse. One page announces that: "The Detroit Evening Spectator and Literary Gazette is published on an imperial sheet, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at $4 per annum. It first page is devoted to belles letters and science; its second, to the current news of he day, and editorial matter, comprising comments on passing events, full reports on important public meetings, remarks on literary and moral subjects, etc., etc. The two remaining pages are devoted to advertisements." At that early date the city possessed a Detroit museum. It was situated on the corner of Jefferson avenue and Griswold street. By its advertisement "the public are respectfully informed that this establishment has lately been fitted

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up in a neat and elegant style, with many additions and improvements. An entire new cosmorama has been erected with new and splendid views. * * Phantasmagoria, and phantascopal illusions will be exhibited every evening at 8 o"clock."

"Capt. Charles Walsh would present his unfeigned thanks to the citizens of Detroit, and the public, who have so kindly extended to him the very liberal patronage he has been favored with at his establishment. he takes pleasure in stating that ‘The Shades’ has become a resort for gentlemen such as he is exceedingly happy to wait upon, and flatters himself that in time his unwearied endeavors to please will give his place the character he intends it shall bear." The "Capt." does not state where his place of resort was located.

H. Vaughan, keeper of the "Franklin retreat," begs leave to inform the public that he is now receiving his winter supply of oysters, together with other delicacies of the season." James G. Crane & Co., hatters, announce the receipt of goods, "all of which will be sold low for cash, and no growling."

At the time this directory was published there were three banks there: The Bank of Michigan, the oldest institution of the kind in the city, having a branch in Kalamazoo, capital $100,000, with the privilege of increasing it to $250,000, in the bank and branch; the Farmers and Mechanics’ bank of Michigan capital $100,000, and the Michigan State bank, capital $100,000. In 1834 Detroit possessed only four wards and a population of 4,973 persons. Three years later there were 9,763 persons in Detroit. There were seven churches, two of which were Catholic, one Episcopalian, one Presbyterian, one Methodist, one Baptist, and one German Lutheran.

Under the heading of charitable institutions appears the following: "Wayne county hospital and poorhouse--Fort Gratiot road, established in 1832, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Kundig. This establishment is supported by a county cess. The average number of its inmates ranges from 25 to 40. Three ladies of the order of St. Clair superintend the institution." Of the orphan asylum it says: "This benevolent institution is situate on the Fort Gratiot turnpike road, at a distance of two miles from the city. The number of children left destitute by the ravages of cholera in 1832, suggested to the Rev. Mr. Kundig, R. C. Clergyman, (who in the exercise of his ministry braved the danger of this pestilence as he walked through its ‘valley of death’) the necessity of then establishing this asylum."

There were three markets. The city market, on the first floor of the city hall; the Berthelet, at the corner of Randolph and Woddbridge streets, and the Washington, corner of Wayne and Larned streets. In 1837 seven rail-

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roads had been chartered to run into the city, and two of them were at that time n the course of construction. They were the Detroit & St. Joseph road, whose whole length was 196 miles, and the Pontiac and Detroit road.