The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-04-26
S Il A L / S Z | C A l.
TIE MIGHTY MEsT.


eg STA TICAL.
THE MIGHTY WEST.
1t is truly pleasing to witness the rapid improve
ment of the mighty West And should our Wes-
tern States continue to increase in population as
rapidly for years to come as they have done,
the will out number in population the old Atlantic
States.
Here, in the beautiful West, may be seen flour
shing towns and magnificent cities, where but
short time ago the dense, but towering forest tree
covered the land with its branches. But business
men still complain of hard times; we hope, howev.
er' the worst over, and So the occupants ofour
rich lands still further west are destined to rear up
towns. and cities, and may we not add States, in
that now comparatively depopulated country, that
will be looked upon in few years with astonish.
ment
Mr.. Harden, member in Congress from Illinois
has lately given some valuable and intereseg sta
tistcs in reference to the West, which follows -
In 1910 the population of the Western
States was 6,376, ,972
In 1910 the population of the Atlantic
States%as 81 IO,6s6, 1881
The area of the Western States in
square miles is sS9, $3.50
The area of the Atlantic States in
| square miiess 449,650
The increase of the Atlantic States from 1880 to
1910 was at the rate of l6 per cent
| The increase of the Western States during the
same period was at the rate of 73per cent
The increase of the Atlantic States from 1910 to
1910 was as 100 to 1874.
The increase of the Western States from 1910 to
1910 was as 100 to 59l.4.
1t will thus be found that while the Atlantic
States have not doubled in thirty years, the Wes-
tern States have, in the same time, augmented near
ly six fold.
In some of the new States the increase far ex.
ceeds the general average, for instance the decen
nal increase of Mississippi was IT'S per cent, of
Missouri l73 per CENT Of Illinois 202 per cent, and
of Michigan 555 per cent.
In 1850 the population of the Atlantic and Wes-
tern States will be very nearly equal, if they pro-
gress in population in the ratio that they have
done for the last ten or twenty years. and at every
succeeding census the relativestrengh of the West
will increase on the Atlantic States The above
facts are taken from work recently published by
Professor Tucker, of the University of Virginia.
The extent of Steamboat navigation on the Wes-
tern waters has been variously computed at from
10000 to $4,000 miles, the latter estimate being,
ii my opnion the most correct as there are various
rivers in the West the extent of whose navigation
is not yet known, as there have been no sufficient
inducements offered to steamboats, to navigate
them.
There are on the Western waters $50 steamboats,
with an average tonnage of 200 tons, equal to
I10, COO tons.
Or these boats about 100 were built during last
year, and the average cost of each is ascertained to
be about 500 900, making the frs. cost of the
steamboats, in the West $ll ,OOO, 900.
About 900 flat boats annually descend the Wes-
tern rivers laden with every species of Western
produce, which are destroyedwhen they reach the
South, and which cost 100000
live add together the amounts paid for nsu-
rance, for boat hands, fuel, wear and tear OF boats
interest of per cent. on the amount invested, and
for flat boats, will show there is an annual expen
diture on the Western waters, for the cost of trans
portation Of passengers and freight of $l5 900 oOO
| These boats are engaged in transporting an a..
mount of freight which may surprise those who
have not examined the facts of the case
The downward trade to New Orleans
is estimatedat RsO, 1000, 900
The upward cargoes at the same go 900 900
The trade arising from the manufac-
lures of the cities on the Western
waters, and'of the produce which
does not descend to New Orleans,
and of the effects of emigrants, es- 8
tilnated at 10000, 900
The amount of goods brought by
way of Pittsburg and the Lakes
down the Western rivers, from the
East, maybe estimated at 10000 900
Total ofyalues transported annually
amounting to $250 900, 900
The amount not only Is enormous, but facts
show that the increase of this trade is 10 per ccnt
per annum. So ~