Many Industries Established.

Various industries were started, as the people began to demand not only the necessaries of life but the comforts, and even occasionally the luxuries.  There were plenty of blacksmith shops; and a goldsmith and jeweller set up his establishment.  In his advertisement he shows that he was prepared to do some work which would be alien to his modern representative, for he notifies the citizens that he makes “rifle guns in the neatest and most approved fashion.” [Footnote:  Knoxville Gazelle, Oct. 20, 1792.]

Ferries and Taverns.  Ferries were established at the important crossings, and taverns in the county-seats and small towns.  One of the Knoxville taverns advertises its rates, which were one shilling for breakfast, one shilling for supper, and one and sixpence for dinner; board and lodging for a week costing two dollars, and board only for the same space and of time nine shillings.  Ferriage was three pence for a man and horse and two shillings for a wagon and team.

    Trade.

Various stores were established in the towns, the merchants obtaining most of their goods in the great trade centres of Philadelphia and Baltimore, and thence hauling them by wagon to the frontier.  Most of the trade was carried on by barter.  There was very little coin in the country and but few bank-notes.  Often the advertisement specified the kind of goods that would be taken and the different values at which they would be received.  Thus, the salt works at Washington, Virginia, in advertising their salt, stated that they would sell it per bushel for seven shillings and sixpence if paid in cash or prime furs; at ten shillings if paid in bear or deer skins, beeswax, hemp, bacon, butter, or beef cattle; and at twelve shillings if in other trade and country produce, as was usual. [Footnote:  Knoxville Gazette, June 1, 1793.]

    Currency.

The prime furs were mink, coon, muskrat, wildcat, and beaver.  Besides this the stores advertised that they would take for their articles cash, beeswax, and country produce or tallow, hogs’ lard in white walnut kegs, butter, pork, new feathers, good horses, and also corn, rye, oats, flax, and “old Congress money,” the old Congress money being that issued by the Continental Congress, which had depreciated wonderfully in value.  They also took certificates of indebtedness either from the State or the nation because of services performed against the Indians, and certificates of land claimed under various rights.  The value of some of these commodities was evidently mainly speculative.  The storekeepers often felt that where they had to accept such dubious substitutes for cash they desired to give no credit, and some of the advertisements run:  “Cheap, ready money store, where no credit whatever will be given,” and then proceed to describe what ready money was,—­cash, furs, bacon, etc.  The stores sold salt, iron-mongery, pewterware, corduroys,