Pittsburg, the great gateway of the West, stood at the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers joined to form the Ohio River, and was the usual point of embarkation for emigrants bound down the river. As early as the year 1784 Pittsburg was inhabited almost entirely by the Scotch and Irish who lived in paltry log houses. A good deal of trade was carried on, the goods being brought from Baltimore and Philadelphia at the expense of 45 shillings per hundred, and exchanged by the merchants in the shops, for money, wheat, flour and skins.[172] Merchandise was sent from Pittsburg in Keels and flatboats down the Ohio to Limestone and Louisville. In the spring of the year 1784 the town was laid out and surveyed by Col. George Woods, by order of Teucle Francis, attorney for John Penn, and J. Penn, Junior.[173] John Pope in 1790 gives most anything but a pleasing account of the town. He says, "The town at present, is inhabited with only some few exceptions, by mortals who act as if possessed of a charter of exclusive privilege to filch from, annoy, and harass her fellow creatures, particularly the incautious and necessitous; many who have emigrated from various parts of Kentucky can verify the charge. Goods of every description are dearer in Pittsburg than in Kentucky, which I attribute to a combination of pensioned scoundrels who infest the place."[174] The increase of the town was not rapid until the year 1793, in consequence of the inroads of the savage tribes which impeded the growth of the neighboring settlements. The Western insurrection more generally known as the "Whiskey War," once more made this the scene of commotion, and is said to have given pittsburg a new and revising impulse, by throwing a considerable sum of money into circulation.[175] From that time it increased rapidly, and on April 22, 1794 was incorporated as a borough.[176] In 1795 Pittsburg contained about two hundred houses, fifty brick and frame, and the remainder log[177]. The surplus produce of the country about Pittsburg, was, during this time, consumed by the numerous emigrants who were continually passing down the Ohio.[178] Goods from Philadelphia and Baltimore were sent to Pittsburg, stored there in warehouses,[179] and later sent down the Ohio to Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Northwest Territory.[180] The gain on these goods sent to Kentucky was about 33 per cent.[181] Little effort had been made to establish manufactures, even for articles of the first necessity, these being obtained from Philadelphia and Baltimore at exorbitant prices.[182] The carriage from Philadelphia to Pittsburg was from $8 to $10, and from Baltimore $7 ot $8, two wagons, nevertheless, coming from Philadelphia against one from Baltimore.[183]