722 Agricultural Manual 



For about ten years after the first settlement the little hamlet 

 on the fiats increased but little in population, although the country 

 about was filling up more rapidly. During the succeeding decade, 

 however, the hamlet became a village. 



As early as 1797 the salt trade was begun at Ithaca. In the 

 same year a road was commenced from Catskill to the head of 

 Cayuga Lake. The Owego and Ithaca turnpike was built a 

 short time afterward, which was important in the development 

 of both towns. By 1822, Ithaca, with its 859 inhabitants, had 

 become the largest town in the central and western part of the 

 state with the excej^tion of Geneva, Canandaigua, and Buffalo. 



When the supply of Nova Scotia plaster was cut off during 

 the War of 1S12, the demand for Cayuga Lake plaster opened up 

 a brisk business throughout this section and led to a rapid growth 

 of the town. Great quantities of plaster were transported from 

 Ithaca by teams to Owego and from thence by way of the river 

 the lower markets were supplied. It is said that as many as 800 

 teams have passed over the Ithaca and Owego turnpike laden with 

 this commodity in a single day. 



The surrounding country was actively engaged in agriculture. 

 Large numbers of cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs were driven 

 from Tompkins County to the eastern markets, and salt, plaster, 

 fruit, and whisky were sent down the Susquehanna to Baltimore 

 and other points. 



The favorable location of Ithaca, at the head of Cayuga Lake, 

 became still more apparent with the opening of the Erie Canal, 

 and from 1825 to 1840 no settlement in the central part of the 

 state gave greater promise for future importance than did Ithaca. 

 It was expected that when the proposed plans for the Sodus Bay 

 Canal were carried out Ithaca would become the great central 

 city of the state. However, since the railroads that were built 

 across the state did not bring so great advantages to Ithaca as 

 to other localities, these expectations were never realized. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 

 The first settlers produced corn, wheat, beef, and pork. The 

 completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, and its connection with 

 Cayuga Lake by means of a feeder, offered excellent facilities 



