There
were few good roads, sometimes none at all save bridle paths and
trails. The settlers along the river valleys used boats almost
entirely. Stage-coaches made the journey from New York to Boston
in four days in summer and in six in winter. Two days were
required to go between New York and Philadelphia. Forty to fifty
miles a day was the speed of the best coaches, provided always
that they did not tumble into the ditch. In many parts of the
country one must needs travel on horseback or on foot.
Even the wealthiest Americans of those days had few or none of
the articles which we regard today as necessities of life. The
houses were provided with open--which, however cheerful, did not
keep them warm--or else with Franklin's stoves. To strike a fire
one must have the flint and tinderbox, for matches were unknown
until about 1830. Candles made the darkness visible. There was
neither plumbing nor running water. Food was cooked in the ashes
or over an open fire.
The farmer's tools were no less crude than his wife's. His plough
had been little improved since the days of Rameses. He sowed his
wheat by hand, cut it with a sickle, flailed it out upon the
floor, and laboriously winnowed away the chaff.
In that same year, 1790, came a great boon and encouragement to
inventors, the first Federal Patent Act, passed by Congress on
the 10th of April.
Pages:
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45