Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-10-26
For the Vermont Phmnix.
LETTERS FROM THE WEsT.-No. 9.

BUFFALO, Oct. 8, 1885,
The State of New York is the fortunate
possessor Of almost every thing that constitutes
national greatness, or grand and beautiful
scenery. She has large extent of territory
salubrious climate-a soil that amply rewards
the husbandman for his Iabnur in cultivating il.
She has navigab.e waters, Rail Roads and Ca
nas-"Ciies proud p" Bays and broad arm
ed ports where laughing at the storm rich ma
vies ride, "-ayel and more, she has ''nlen,
high minded virtuous men, Nor can her
claims to beautiful, picturesque, grand and
sublime scenery ever be disputed SO long as her
Mohawk flats, her inland lakes, her High
lands, her Genesee falls, and the cataract of
Niagara, remain To her. Rich, prosperous
and great are towns that in their broadcast
sense are applicable to the empire state. There
are about GOO miles of Canal and at least $50 Of
Rail Road already completed in the state, and
much more chartered and in the process of
construction.-To form any thing like correct
idea Of the amount of business that is done
upon the canals and rail roads, a person must
travel upon them and be able to avail himself
Of statistical reports respecting il; at present,
suffice il for me to remark that upon The day |
came up, upon the rail road, from Albany to
Utica, there were about 400 passengers in the
morning train, and probably nearly many
more in that ofthe afternoon.-The e S3,75.
II is said, that upon the Erie Canal, which
is 364 miles in length-a most nob.e work of
internal Improvement, and an everlasting mon
ument Of fame TO the genius Of a Gil. ton and
the Iiberalty and enterprise of the citizens of
this state--there are about 5000 boats q differ
enl kinds constantly employed-these give en-
ployment to more than 5000 hands, and bors-
es almost innumerabe. The number of pas
sengers and amount of freight they carry may
be partly imagined from the facts that the
Packet boats frequently carry 100 and the line
boats 80 or more passengers, upon trip-that
for the third week in September, there was
SOS, SAT SO received for tolls on the canals of
the state. That in the same week 40, 1874 bbls
-four and 22,1S5 bushels Of wheat passed
down the Erie canal from the west-and that
during the same period there was shipped west
of Albany 9,S47 500 lbs. of merchandise, which
was more than double the amount shipped in
the same week in 1887. Business in this place
is very brisk, and one would suppose to remain
here for few days that the whole world was
going west.
You will probably have learned, before this
reaches you, that b. Rathbun has at last been
convicted of forgery and sentenced TO years
imprisonment. He was found guilty upon the
testimony of his nephew, Rathbun Allen, who
was caught in New Orleans and brought upon
the stand to testify under a promise that his
testimony should not be used against himself.
lie VIII pIODhUiy SUM Dc SCI dt IiDcIty. ucTc
is much talk here upon the subject, and though
none but the most skeptical can now doubt
Rathbun's guilt, yet such has heretofore been
his character that much sympathy is felt for
him. Oil what will not avarice and pride
lead man To do
And now word upon political matters. As
it respects the election in this state, repeat
what have before said, that struggle proba-
bly, unparalleled in the annals of political war
fare, Except it he in Pennsylvania to-morrow)
is at hand The Locos will do every thing
that can be done by intrigue and corruption;
yet, every days observation but tends TO con-
firm me in the opinion that Waterloo defeat
awaits them, Notwithstanding the systematic
endeavours of the tories to prejudice the settlers
upon the Holland purchase against Mr.. Sew
ard. He is, nevertheless, a strong man; and
you may rest assured that the Western part of
the State will give noble, aye glorious ac-
count of herself.
have seen sufficient returns from the Ter
ritory of Wisconsin to render il very certain
that Judge Doty has been elected delegate TO
Congress. He is conservative wing, am
informed, by gentleman from Green Bay,
where the Judge resides. His principal oppo-
nent was Gen. Jones, who acted as second for
Cilley last winter. This is glorious and, to
me, unexpected triumph. e. f. b.