The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-02-02
THE GREAT WEST.

and as a matter for future reference they are of
great value for their authenticity and correctness
In 1910 the population of the West
ern States was 6,376, 972
In lS4O the population of the Allan
tic States was lU,0SO,JSl
The area of the Western States in
square miles is S39,93O
The area of the Atlantic States in
square miles is 44S,65O
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 70 per cent.
The increase of the Atlantic States from 1910
to 1910 was as 100 to 1884.
The increase of the Western States from 1910
to 1910 was as 100 to 59l4.
1t will be thus found that whilst the Atlantic
States have not doubled in thirty years. the West
ern States have, in the same time, augmented
nearly six fold
In some of the new States the increase far ex-
ceeded the general average; for instance, the de-
cennial increase of Mississippi was l75 per cent,
of Missouri 173 per cent? of Illinois 2O2 per cent,
and of Michigan sos per cent.
In 1850 the population of the Atlantic and
Western States will be very nearly equal, if they
progress in population in the same ratio that they
have done for the last ten or twenty years, and at
every succeeding census the relative strength 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
Western waters has been variously computed at
| from $4,000 to $4,000 miles, the latter estimate
being, in my opinion, 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 rivers $50 steam
boats, with an average tonnage OF 2OO tons, equal
to 10000 tons.
OF these boats about 100 were built during the
last year, and the average cost of each is ascer-
tanned to he about $4,000 making the first cost
of the steamboats, in the West at $ll,000,OOO.
About 1000 fiat boats annually descend the
Western rivers with every species of Western
produce, which are destroyed when they reach
the South, and which cost 100000.
If we add together the amounts paid for insur-
ance, for boat hands, fuel, and tear of boats,
interest at per cent. on the amount invested,
and for flat boats, it will show that there is
| nnal expenditure on the Western waters, for the
transportation of passengers and freight Of 3d.
100000.
These boats are engaged in transporting an
amount Of freight which may surprise those who
/ nave not examined Lnc IdCtS VI tu0 case.
The downward trade to New Or
leans is estimated At SeO0OO,oOo
The upward cargoes at the same 6O,OOO,OO0
! The trade arising from the manu-
features of the cities on the West
ern waters and of the produce
which does not descend to New
Orleans, and of the effects of EN-
igrants, is estimated at 100000
The amount Of goods brought by
way Of Pittsburg and the Lakes
down the Western rivers, from
the East, may be estimated at 60,O00,000
Making total of values transport
ed annually amounting to 100000
The amount not only is enormous, but facts
show that the increase of this trade is per cent
| per annum.
1t will appear by report submitted to the pre-
sent Congress, page Ids of Doc. No. /, that the
| trade of the Lakes in l041 amounted to $685.
0O0 This trade has increased beyond all calcu-
lation, and was estimated in lS43 at 100000 O0
The extent of the lake coast is about $500
miles, Of which 1000 belongs to Great Britain.
Without adverting to the trade on canals and
railroads of the Atlantic States which must amount
to $20O,O00,O0O it will be seen that the internal
commerce Of the United States on the Northern
lakes and Western rivers amounts annually to
| $350,000,000.
In reference to the losses incurred in conse-
quence Of accidents, Mr.. HARDIN said
Those who have examined the subject state
that one steamboat is lost by these accidents, on
the average, in every week in the year. Es-
timating the loss,of boat and cargo at but $4,000
which is very reasonable calculation, the annual
loss is $l,040,000.
In seventeen months preceding
December 1912, there were sew
enty-two steamboats, lost on the
Western waters, which were es-
timated by a committee of intel
gent gentlemen of Cincinnati to
be worth, without their cargoes, $1,200,O00
Add for the loss of cargoes, 100000
And we have loss in seventeen
months of $2,20O,OOO
Three fourths of these accidents occur from
snags and other similar obstacles. which might
be removed if sufficient funds were expended for