The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-08-12
THE GREAT WEST!
Extracts from Mr.. Evsretl's Speech, at q P''l

My first distinct impressions reiasive to
this state were formed, some thirteen years
ago, in the interior of the coBtinsnt of Ea- |
rope, from q work which had then just been
published by your distinguished fellow clti- |
zen, DR.. Drake,-Ths picture Of Cincinnati. |
Having that time an opportunity, through
sae pages Of one Of the literary journals Of
Germany, to call ehe attention of the read
ing public in that quarter, to the wonderful
progress you had at that time made and
were making, as set forth in the work allud-
ed 10, found the account TO be received al
most with iusredulity Nor was this wen-
derful. / remember to have passed sigh-
teen months in that country, traversing it
to considerable extent, in several dree-
tons before had seen more than one new
house, in progress of erection. With such
q state of things about them, {ths conse-
quence Of the disastrous political condition
of Europe,) you can easily conceive that
they found it difficult TO credit the state
nent (; in 1890, three thousand inhabitants 4
in 1900, forty-two thousand in $50, two
hundred and thirty thousand; and in 1915,
at least four hundred thousand; and that
this was not merely the overpouring of the
whole redundant population of the old
States. into one favolite resort Of emigra-
ton; but that a half dozen Of other new
States had been growing up, with nearly
equal rapidly, at the same time, while the
old States also had been STEADILY ~., tho ia
crease. 1t is not surprising that such facts,
told to a community whose population is
nearly stationary, should scarcely gain ere
dence.
Such was the impression produced by the
condition Of your state in 1915. The next
time my attention was more particularly
called to the subject was about two years
since, by another interesting work, the well
known pamphlet entitled Cincinnati in 1926,
in which some general views are given of
the progress Of Ohio. From this II appear
ed that in the interval between the tive
publications, new wonders of advancement
had been made, and farther strides had
been taken, astonishing even to the eye,
famlharlzed to the improvements by which
yoa are surrounded. In this short period,
regular communications by stage coaches
had been established the National road
had entered your limits your rivers had
become thronged with steamboats,; and
your population had doubled, But your
progress did net step at this period. On
the contrary it now received perhaps it's
most powerful impulse. Your canal policy,
the glory and prosperity Of tho state-had
been determined uPoa, and commence
H1ant made in its vigorous execution. In
the latest publications relative to your state,
particularly IN the Geography and History
Of Hs sGley Of he .Mssissippi, the still
farther and still more rapid progress pro-
dHsed by this new stimulus is Indicated
But even this does not bring it down to the
present hour. On the points, where the sys-
tera of communication is complete, the effect
has been magical. The population Of Gin
ciunati, by accurate estimate has risen
since 1926, from sixteen to twenty-five thou
sand; and as have been Informed On the
hest authority an increase in the value Of
its real property has taken place equal to
the whole expense of the Miami esnal.-
But nc book an describe yeur state, farther
down than the moment it is written. Its
condition changes while the geographer is
casting up the figures that represent it,
AS we'll might you, by the theoretic rules
of navigation, attempt to designate the
position of q steamboat en- the Ohio, when
It is swollen by the floods of spring. While
you are fixing your quadrant the boat is
gwept downwarlLs for miles on the bosom Of
of the rapid stream.
This and similar facts, Sir, would the
less merit frequent repetition were the rap-
id progress of the country occasioned mere
Os
ing as a temptation to the advehturer in
search of fortune. But whom we cent rast
the progress of the Western States of our
Union, with that of the British possessions
il their immediate neighborhssd we see
that other causes have been at work, TO
produce this unparalleled state of things.
1t is well known that the British govern
ment had held ost very strong temptations
to persons disposed to emigrate to its North
American possessions. The expense of
crossing the ocean has been betrayed, grants
of land have been made, freedom from tax
es guaranteed, and implements of husband
ry furnished, (lf we are not b1isinformed)
at the public expense. Some portion Of the
land itself, in those possessions, FOR natural
fertility, climate, and geographical position,
ls equa! to any part Of the Western States.
But while some Of those States have been
adding to their numbers from thirty to ono
hundred thousand inhabitants yearly, il has
been publicly stated, of late, by an inha
ant of Upper Canada, that the increase of
that province, emigration included, has not.
for ten years, exceeded four thousand 1--WE
hundred per annum.
We learn from this contrast, that the
growth of yeur western country is not mere.
iy the progress Of its citizens, in nuneri-
cal multiplication. 1t lie civilization person
lied and embodied, going forth to take pos
session of the land. Il is the principle of
our institutions, advancing not SO much with
the toilsone movement of human agency.
but rather like the grand operations Of sove-
reign Providence. 1t seems urged along
its stupenduons course, as the earth itself Is
propelled in its orbit, silent and calm like
the moving planet, with speed that il can
not measure; yet net like that, without a
monument to mark its way through the va.
cant regions OF space, but scattering ham
lets and villages and cities on its path-ths
abodes of civilized and prosperous miliions
The ties Of interest which connect all