The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-17
PILOT & TRANSCRIPT.
THURSDAY, DECTMBER II.
81. LOUIS AND BOSTON.

ST. LOUIS AND BOSTON.
The st. Louis Gazette has the following in
teresting article on the present relations which
Boston and st. Louis bear to each other, and Of
their future prospects. There is no questioning
the fact, that Boston, by the energy with which
she is prosecuting the line of rail road to Alba
ny, is securing to herself measure Of prosperi-
ty unprecedented in the history of Atlantic cities
0Two cities in the United States which are
progressing most rapidly in population and
wealth, at the present time in proportion to their
size, are undoubtedly Boston and st. Louis, one
IN the Eastern, the other in the Western section
of the Union. For many years-from 1909 to
1S30-Boston was losing ground in the race Of
greatness with New York, Philadelphia and Bal
timore; but about the year 1880, new era
dawned on that city, through the instrumentality
IF its enterprizing capitalists, which has turned
the tide strongly in its favor. At that time, the
first rail road was constructed on one side IF the
city, and the first steam powerloom establish.
ment erected on the other. From that time to
the present, Lowell has increased in population
from 1000 to 10000, and in wealth from $780,
coo to $40, 100000. The cotton manufactures of
Lowell, and the hundred other manufacturing
villages in New England, have given stability
70 the trade of Boston unknown to any other
city in the Union.
Massachusetts, formerly exporting, it was said,
nothing but granite and ice, now produces manu-
features valued at ninety millions of dollars per
annum, large part of which centres at Boston,
as a place Of distribution to all parts of the
Union.
At a later period than that first mentioned,
her far seeing citizens became convinced that,
although she had no river like the Hudson, the
Delaware, or the Susquehanna, to bring TO her
Wharves the products Of the boundless and fer
tile West, yet that an iron pathway might be
laid along her mountain gsrges, over which
steam-engine with train of cars could move
at the rate of thirty miles per hour, taking the
produce of the Lakes at the outlet of the New
York Canal, and landing it to Boston in less
time than it can be delivered at New York
About one half of this read is completed, and
the whole will be finished within twelve months
from this time.
This road will cost not far from seven mil
lions OF dollars. II is calculated to support an
engine of fourteen tons weight, and TO carry
1000 bbls. of flour in a single train ofcsrs ten
miles an hour. 1t is estimated that when fin
ished, flour can be transported from Albany
to Boston, pol miles for 80 cts per barrel.
Two thousand men are now at work on this
xOad, in some sections, both night and day.
The capitalists of Boston have also contribut-
ed largely to funds required for laying down
railways from Albany to Buffalo, between
which places there will soon be continuous
line completed. The same enterprise and cap
ital will ere many years shall have elapsed, con-
tinue the same line across Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, to st. Louis, in case the funds requir-
ed for the work are not furnished by the States
on the route
st. Louis owes its present prosperity to nei-
Their manufactures nor railroads, for it has
scarce dollar expended either.
lis progress has been accelerated mainly by
the hundreds of thousands of emigrants who
have oyerspread the prairies of Missouri, ILL
nois, Wisconsin and sIowa-who have come
here for the sale of their agricultural and min
ing productions, and for the purchase of mer-
chandize. The increase ofthis city in wealth
and population within the last ten years is
scarcely paralleled. In 1881, the population
of the city and suburbs was estimated at 5000
1t is now not far from 80, 900, and rapidly in
creasing. The number Of buildings recently
commenced is very great, and the value Of
those in course of completion will exceed
million aud half of dollars.
The trade between this city and Boston is
greater, and the connextion more intimate
than is generally imagined. The various sta
ple articles of export from Boston, including
domestic goods, boots, and shoes, oil, candles,
&c. required for the market, and which are
forwarded from here for the upper country,
can not fall short of two millions of dollars.
We shall close these remarks with CON-
narrative statement of the value of Western
productions shipped from New York and
Boston.