The succeeding years, till 1800, however rich they may be in material for the historian of Kentucky, afford little that bears directly upon the subject before us. The Indians having ceased to be an aggressive foe, it was thought necessary that the Whites should, in their turn, provoke hostility, and accordingly, several expeditions were made against them. The Indian fights of Scott, St. Clair, Wayne, and others, belong to this period. In 1796 the first paper-mill was built in Kentucky. It was situated near Georgetown, and is said to have been a very productive investment. It is here alluded to as a promising mark of social progress. With the next year, 1797, we get the first clearly established estimate of the town of Louisville. In the records of the Trustees, the first list of taxes occurs. These were assessed on the 3d day of July, "on all who reside within the limits of the half-acre lots," and one Dr. Hall, was appointed to fill the double office of assessor and collector. The following is his list of assessments: "50 Horses at 6d per head, is £1 5s 0d. 65 Negroes at 1s per head, is 3 5 0 2 Billiard Tables at 20s each 2 0 0 5 Tavern licenses at 6s each 1 10 0 5 retail Stores at 10s each 2 10 0 Carriages: 6 wheels at 2s per wheel 12 0 Town Lots at 6d per £100 is 8 13 6 80 Tithables at 3s each 12 0 0 -------- Making the startling total of £31 15s 6d." And even this sum Hall found it very difficult to collect, for, nearly two years afterward he reports a list of delinquents amounting to £12. That the progress of the town was rapid and healthy from the first year of Kentucky Independence, is everywhere demonstrated. And no greater proof of this is needed than the fact that while the assessment of 1797 amounted to scarcely more than $150, that of 1809, 12 years later, reached the sum of $991. The town was now clearly and firmly established, it had within itself the elements of prosperity and it was seen that it must one day become great. Its history is less identified with that of the State, and it comes now to claim consideration on its own merit. It was during this year that the office of Falls Pilot was created by law, in consonance with the following preamble to the act: "Whereas great inconveniences have been experienced and many boats lost in attempting to pass the rapids of the Ohio for want of a Pilot, and from persons offering their services to strangers to act as Pilots, by no means qualified for this business," &c. The office was appointed by the Jefferson County Court, and the rate of pilotage fixed by the act was two dollars for each boat, while all other persons were forbidden to attempt to perform this service under a penalty of ten dollars.