The Register, of November 30, 1816, says, "Missouri and Illinois exhibit an interesting spectacle at this time. A stranger to witness the scene would imagine that Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carolinas had made an agreement to introduce them soon as possible to the bosom of the American family. Every ferry on the river is daily occupied in passing families, carriages, wagons, negroes, carts, etc."[499] Much of the surplus produce of the State of Ohio was consumed by the numerous emigrants, who came from New York, and the eastern States, but more especially from Pennsylvania.[500] Many of these travelers followed the route through New York and down the Allegheny River, "260 wagons have passed a certain house on this route in nine days, besides many persons on horseback and on foot. The editor of the Gennessee Farmer observes, that he himself met on the road to Hamilton, a cavalcade of upwards of 20 wagons, containing one company of 116 persons on their way to Indiana, and all from one town in the district of Maine. So great is the emigration to Illinois and Missouri, also, that it is apprehended that they must suffer for want of provisions the ensuing winter."[501] Alabama was also receiving vast numbers of emigrants, one traveler having met about 3800 persons in nine days.[502]
Birkbeck, writing in 1818, says, "Old America seems to be breaking up, and moving westward. We are seldom out of sight, as we travel on this grand track; towards the Ohio, of family groups, behind and before us, some with a view to a particular spot. A small wagon with two small horses; sometime a cow or two, compromises their all; excepting a little store of hard earned cash for the land office of the district; where they may obtain a title for as many acres, as they possess half dollars, being one fourth of the purchase money. The wagon has a tilt, or cover, made of a sheet, or perhaps a blanket. The family are seen before, behind, or within the vehicle according to the road or the weather, or the spirits of the party."[503] "Such is the influx of strangers into this State (Indiana), that the industry of the Settlers is severely taxed to provide food for themselves, and a superfluity for newcomers."[504] Birkbeck advised the emigrants coming from England to the West, to land at an eastern part, proceed from thence to Pittsburg,[505] and then down the Ohio, disembarking at Shawneetown if bound to Illinois. Emigrants are advised to bring with them, clothing, bedding, household linen, simple medicines of the best quality, and sundry small articles of cuttlery, and light tools.[506] The expense of the journey from an eastern part to Birkbeck's settlement was estimated at £5 sterling per head.[507] Travelers coming overland, on horseback, were advised to go by way of Wheeling Chilicothe, and Cincinnati, from thence through Indiana to Vincennes.[508] Traveling, across the mountains to Pittsburg, was entirely disproportionate to the price of provisions, and very expensive considering the accommodations afforded; storekeepers laying on a profit of at least 50 per cent.[509] Fordham says that the passage by stage and the expense of a journey from Philadelphia to Pittsburg was $50; the journey down the Ohio 900 miles from $10 to $15; to St. Louis by steamboat $20, on horseback $8.[510]
The route to the western country, by way of New Orleans, was attended with many disadvantages, being much longer and more dangerous, in consequence of a good deal of coasting, and the difficulties of the Gulf of Florida. The voyage from the Balize to New Orleans, a distance of 100 miles, was always tedious and vessels sometimes consumed three weeks in covering this distance. The steamboats, from New Orleans,[511] did not proceed at stated periods, and travelers were sometimes obliged to take up a long and expensive residence in that city. To attempt to engage a passage in a keel boat up the stream was an almost endless undertaking. For these reasons, emigrants were advised to cone overland to Pittsburg, and to float from there down the Ohio River to their destination.[512]
Fearon during his journey from Chambersburg to Pittsburg passed 63 wagons, with families from the several places following: 20 from Massachusetts, 10 from the district of Maine, 14 from Jersey, 13 from Connecticut, 2 from Maryland, 1 from Pennsylvania, 1 from England, one from Holland, 1 from Ireland; and about 200 persons on horseback and 20 on foot.[513] Fearon says that every emigrant whom he met on the Alleghanies, told hi m that he intended to settle in Ohio.[514] The population in Illinois, at this period, was to be found chiefly on the Wabash, below Vincennes, and on the banks of the Kaskaskia, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.[515]
In the latter part of the year 1818 Flint writes as follows: "... the current of emigration, being here (Chambersburg) united, strangers from the eastern country, and from Europe, are passing in an unceasing train. An intelligent gentleman at this place informed me, that this stream of emigration has flowed more copiously this year, than at any former period, and that the people now moving westward are ten times more numerous than they were ten years ago. His computation is founded on the comparative amount of the stage coach business and on careful observation."[516] Flint advises emigrants to go from Baltimore to Wheeling as that route is cheaper than the one from Philadelphia to Pittsburg.[517] In 1819 travelers were not so numerous as in 1818, owing to the decline in trade, and depression in the price of land. Flint says, "travelers however are still so numerous that a stranger not fully aware of the rapidity with which new settlements are forming, and of the great populace of the eastern States, might be apt to imagine that the Americans are a singularly volatile people."[518] Nuttall remarks that "A stranger who descends the Ohio at this season of emigration cannot but be struck with the jarring vortex of heterogenous population amidst which he is embarked, all searching for some better country, which ever lies to the west."[519]
The prohibition of slavery contributed greatly to the population of Ohio, and turned the current of European emigration from Kentucky and Tennessee, and spread it widely not only over this State, but also over Indiana and Illinois.[520] The fertility of the soil, the low price of lands, the security of titles, and the high price of labor also served to attract emigrants to this State.[521]
The 'Register' of May 14, 1825 says, "Emigration is powerful to the West."[522] Kentucky was at this time losing her citizens by hundreds and thousands, by removal to the west faster than she had acquired them from the east for some years.[523] The progress of population in Illinois had been greatly retarded by the violent and illegal efforts that were made to cause the introduction of slavery, year after year, and while the question was agitated, persons hesitated about locating themselves in Illinois, preferring to stop in Ohio or Indiana, or even to proceed to Missouri. When the matter was finally put at rest, the emigration to the State rapidly increased.[524] The annual increase of the population of Illinois from 1825-1829 was estimated at 12,000 persons.[525] Of Ohio, the 'Register' says, "the rapid and powerful population of this State would remind us of the days of Cadmus, except that men do not spring up armed to destroy one another."[526]
Travelers coming from the Atlantic States, with the intention of descending the Ohio and going into the western states, preferred the National Road to the one which came from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, and was made by the State of Pennsylvania. The traffic of the Pennsylvania "turnpike" was therefore much diminished, and the people of that State, as well as many of the other states, who derived no immediate benefit from this road, were opposed to any grants being made by Congress for keeping it in order.[527]
The conveyance of goods from the eastern ports to Pittsburg, to be sent from that place to the western country, created much business and contributed to the rapid growth of the city. In the year 1813, no less than 4055 wagons engaged in this trade, were calculated to have reached Pittsburg.[528] During the eight months from April to December, 1815, no less than $356,000 were paid at Pittsburg alone for the carriage of goods brought to and unladen at that town, by wagons, from the seaports of the Atlantic. The value of the goods so brought was supposed to be three and a half to four million dollars.[529] During the year 1817, about 12,000 wagons passed between Baltimore and Philadelphia, carrying from 35 to 40 cwt. The cost of carriage was about $7 from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, and the money paid for the conveyance of goods on this road, exceeded 300,000 pounds sterling.[530] Fearon says, "The articles sent from Philadelphia are hardware, and what are denominated "dry goods" This term includes all articles of woolen, linen, cotton, and silk. Those returned from Pittsburg are farming produce, chiefly flour."[531]