The
general pressure that prevailed for several years during and
succeeding the disasters that marked the unfortunate epoch of the
college and its attachees, as we have before shown, was sensibly
felt by the whole community, as all had partaken of the excitement
consequent on the hopes inspired by its advent, so all shared in the
loss which caused and attended its exit. The whole country had
participated in the wild schemes of adventurous speculation to which
it gave rise. The pressure, therefore, found almost every man
involved in debt, beyond his means of immediate liquidation. The
necessities of the times would admit of no parley or delay; hence
the court was the arbiter before whom that liquidation had to be
made. Forced sales of property, at a mere nominal price, had the
double effect of bringing ruin to its former owner, and of inducing
a general fall in the price of property of like description. In fact
a rapid decline in the price of property of every kind speedily
succeeded, and families supposed to be wealthy, became bankrupt, and
adversity drove its black chariot over the land: despondency,
pecuniary distress, and general desolation marching in its train. On
no place or part of the community did these calamities fall more
heavily than on the hitherto flourishing town of Palmyra. All
improvements ceased in the town, --mechanics thrown out of
employment, sought it elsewhere, and left the place; town property
became almost worthless, houses became vacant, nor could they be
sold for a fifth of their former value.
Necessity,
it is said, is the mother of invention. Those persons who desired a
town life, either for business or by inclination, turned their
attention to Hannibal, a town situated on the Mississippi River, in
the southeast part of Marion county, twelve miles distant from
Palmyra. Here, it was thought that, although its improvement might
be retarded during the continuance of the present adverse state of
things, that had crippled everything, yet, from the advantages of
its river location, its future prospective improvement would justify
the outlay of funds in the purchase of property. Hence that town,
which had never improved much previously, began to advance in
population and in buildings, and has continued steadily to grow from
that time to the present, with one temporary cessation. An
unfortunate rivalry between the two places had sprung up, at a very
early period, dating from the time of the first location of Palmyra,
which for some years far outstripped its rival in the race for
consideration and distinction. Situated more immediately in the
center of a fine body of rich land, then just beginning to settle,
the attention
Of
emigrants was naturally drawn thither, and as the rapid influx of
emigration afforded to the farmer an excellent market at home for
all the surplus they could raise on their newly opened and of course
limited farms. The advantage of a river location was at that time
not fully appreciated, and Hannibal was overlooked and forgotten.
But as the country became filled up, and the flood of immigration
ceased to flow with such rapid current, and as the farms became
enlarged, their owners naturally began to look for a mart for the
profitable disposal of their surplus products.
These
considerations, together with those to which we have adverted above,
gave an impetus to Hannibal, and she shot ahead of Palmyra with
great speed, in her turn indemnifying herself by way of retaliation,
and canceling the old score. Each place, however, still cherishing
the old rancorous enmity, which to the disgrace of both places was
suffered to foster and annoy each itself as well as its rival.
Palmyra,
it may be said, for about the period of ten years did not improve at
all. The few buildings erected not more than balancing the general
dilapidation of others; the business of the country gradually and
partially left it, and sought new channels of trade at Hannibal,
LaGrange, in Lewis county, and at Quincy, Illinois---while Hannibal,
during the same period of ten years, continued to advance with giant
strides in all the elements of prosperity, trade, population, and
improvement, and from a small village of a few houses, has grown so
as to become an incorporated city, with about four thousand
inhabitants. About four since, the scale again turned in favor of
Palmyra. Some lawyers raked up from the rubbish of old musty books
and papers a claim to a part of the Hannibal property, and
instituted suit for its recovery, and although the claim was
believed not to be founded in equity, yet, favored by the forms of
law, it had the effect of completely paralyzing the efforts of the
place in the way of improvement, during the several years of the
pendency of the suit---emigrants and others being afraid to risk
either purchases or the erections of buildings.
During
this time of stagnation and suspension, Palmyra, in her turn, again
took advantage of the defenceless attitude of her antagonist, and
made another bold start to overtake her, and for the last three or
four years has rapidly improved, having had erected within her
limits many splendid buildings, together with a magnificent new
Courthouse, which is now nearly completed, erected on the site of
the old one, at the cost of about eighteen thousand dollars.
Hannibal, in the meantime, has succeeded in shaking off the incubus
which for years has weighed down her energies, and held the young
giant in bondage. Her citizens, although they believed the claim to
the property sued for was unjust, yet, wisely deemed it the best
policy to buy up the claims, which they accordingly did at the price
of many thousand dollars, taking deeds, and relieving the city from
that obstacle to its improvement. The title to the property there is
now complete and undisputed, and she stands, so far as that is
concerned, “redeemed, regenerated and disenthralled,” and is
rejoicing as a strong man to run a race for eminence and renown
amongst here sister cities of the west, rapid strides, in which race
she is again making in improvements of various kinds, particularly
in those precautionary, preliminary and preparatory measures of
arrangement, which must ever be the precursors of future prosperity.
With a keen foresight and indominable energy her citizens have
wisely entered upon that system of preparation necessary to prepare
the way, and make her path straight for the race of emulation and
laudable rivalry, which lies before here, in the erection of plank
roads and other improvements, looking to, as they will inevitably
produce the future development of her resources and importance.
Already they have two plank roads leading into the city: one from
New London, the county seat of the adjoining county of Ralls, the
other from Paris, the county seat of the large, fertile, populous
and flourishing county of Monroe, Paris being distant from Hannibal
about fifty miles, thus they have timely, well adapted the means to
secure the end had in view.
The
situation of the two rival places is quite dissimilar, and yet, each
has its advantages adapted to its peculiar location. The situation
of Palmyra is generally admired as very beautiful, being mostly
level, and gently undulating with a beautiful rivulet running
through it, dividing it into two nearly equal parts, and being well
watered by seven never failing springs of pure cold water with its
limits. The natural beauty of its situation is set off to the best
advantage, and greatly increased and heightened by the large number
of shade and ornamental trees, mostly black locusts, that are set
out around and before most of the buildings throughout the entire
town, giving it the aspect of a city in the woods.
The
situation of Hannibal is broken or rolling, and agreeably
diversified by hills and dales, by lofty eminences, graceful slopes,
and pleasant valleys. The eminences, of which there are many,
consist of hills of considerable height, yet, of convenient ascent,
with regular and handsome, though some of them steep, sides, and
fine situations for building on top, from whence they command
beautiful and extensive views and prospects of the surrounding
country and of the river, both above, and below, for a great
distance. Their romantic and picturesque situation and scenery must
make them for building of private residences very desirable and
valuable. There is a creek, called Bear creek, running through the
city, and emptying in to the Mississippi, dividing Hannibal proper
from what is called “south Hannibal.”
The
business statistics of the city show that a large business is
annually transacted in the reception and shipment of tobacco, hemp
and all other staple commodities of commerce raised in the country.
There is also a very large business done in the slaughtering of beef
and pork; several large establishments for the purpose being crowded
during the whole of the packing season. Indeed, from the commercial
situation of the place, and the extensive, fertile back country,
this must necessarily be the case. Perhaps no place in America
enjoys a more extensive, extremely fertile country in its rear,
without any navigable stream to divert its trade in other
directions, than does the city of Hannibal. The whole country back
from the Mississippi to the Missouri river, a distance of two
hundred miles, may be said to be a rich country; what poor land may
be found not being in greater proportion than may be found in any
other country whatever. If we were to make Hannibal or Palmyra the
center, and describe a circle two hundred miles in extent, every way
from the center, or four hundred miles in diameter, the
circumference would perhaps include as much good land as can be
found within the same boundary on the face of the globe. It would
extend to the Missouri river, and take in a part of the best
portions of Illinois and Iowa. Again, were we to extend the
circumference, and describe a circle four hundred miles from the
center, every way, we have no doubt it would include a greater
proportion of good land, than can be found in the same greater
proportion of good land, than can be found in the same extent of
country in the world. It would, in addition, to much the best part
of Missouri, take in also the best portions of Kansas and Nebraska,
as well as of Iowa and Illinois. All this extent of country is now
being settled, and when densely populated, there is not calculation
to be made of the immense amount of commercial intercourse that must
flow through its different channels of trade, and it is not too much
to anticipate that, unless some unforeseen causes interpose as
barriers, both Palmyra and Hannibal will participate in their just
proportion in the benefits of the whole.
The
business of Palmyra has always been good, for an interior town,
though for a few years temporarily and comparatively lessened;
particularly has it been always found for the amount of goods sold
by its merchants, which is further demonstrated by the fact of their
general solvency—few ever having failed in business here. There is
likewise a considerable amount of packing done, particularly of
pork, together with a due proportion in all the departments of
mechanical labor and other industrial pursuits, as well as in the
artistical lines of business, besides several blacksmith shops,
several cabinet shops, tailors, bakers with many merchants and
grocers; we have three jewelry stores, and in the list of fine arts,
several excellent painters stand conspicuous to vindicate their
character. There are two good taverns; the Virginia Hotel,
kept by the gentlemanly landlords, McLeod & Kimsley,
opposite the Courthouse, may be emphatically denominated the
“Epicure’s Elysium” of the place for genius and taste.
The
unfortunate rivalry between the two places, however, is not yet
entirely extinct, but is gradually, we think, wearing itself out in
it unnatural and unwarrantable course; for there is in truth no
reason why it should exist at all; the interests of both are
inseparably connected by their natural and relative positions, and
ought not be severed by jealousies or fancied interests of ambitious
individuals—they ought rather to be assistants to each other,
blessing and being blessed.
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