The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-08-09
BOSTON AND NEW YORK.


The wonderful strides of Boston towards great
ness exhibit one of the most remarkable features
in the history of modern improvement For ma
nv years Boston remained almost stationary, and
considering her limited natural advantages and
the unfavorabe position she occupies for extend
ing her population, it seemed probable that she
had attained her growth. The commerce of New
York appeared to be absorbing that of Boston, and
such was for years the fact But the immense
wealth which had been accumulated in commerce,
now took new direction, and Boston rapidly
found investment in manufactures. In every
quarter Boston capital was employed in building
factories and at length these factories became so
numerous and important, that it was necessary to
make them more accessible to the Boston market.
This suggested the plan of Railroads-and few
experiments having been made, it at once be-
came manifest that every interest, commercial,
mechanical, and manufacturing, was immensely
advanced by rapid means of communication with
distant parts of the country. The policy became
settled and Boston is now linked with bands of
iron to the whole surrounding country, and is rap
idly extending her public works so to make
her greatness permanent and secure. Towards
the West she reaches Buffalo by continuous
chain of acknowledgements the South she touch
es the Sound, and by merely crossing that inland
sea, her rails terminate at New York, whence
she can reach the great South by steam land
carriage. Towards the East she grasps Maine
and towards the North she will very soon attain
Canada and Northern New York. In very few
years the traveller may leave Boston, and travel
by Railroad either to New Orleans, Montreal or
ST. Louis, at the rate offifty miles per hour.
New York is a larger city than Boston, but
whether it will remain so, with all its natural
superiority, is question which ten years will
decide. If the Bostonans owned New York,
they would make it the greatest city in Christen-
dom. As a seaport New York has greatly the
advantage of Boston-but what is New York,
even in a commercial view, compared with Bos-
ton What advantage has New York taken of
the steam engine Once in a great while
steamship plumbers into New York. but where is
there any regular communication like the Cunard
line The enterprise to build single steam
ship appears to be lacking in New York while
the Bostonians are building line of propelers to
run between-not Boston, but-New York and
Liverpool. The Bostonians touch every section
of Massachusetts, but the New Workers cannot
build railroad between their great city and AL
bany and probably will not in this generation
The Erie Raroad-perhaps the most feasible
and profitable project ever started in the way of
railroads-wil never be built unless the Boston-
ans build it. Still the stock of that road would be
very valuable, and its completion would make
New York the cheapest residence, in point OF
provisions, on the sea board, aud moreover would
ensure the greatness and prosperity Of the city
forever.
Yet they never will build that road unless the
Bostonians help them. 1t would open an almost
unbroken region of country, and make the desert
garden-yet the people along the line will not
helpit along, although in Vermont, they have
just subscribed a million of dollars for Railroad
The fact is, the city Of New York cannot hold
candle to the city of Boston, any more than the
State of New York can begin to shine with New
England They talk in New York about their
canal, but the days of Canals are numbered. In
England company owning 14O miles OF canal,
lately very profitable, have petttoned for leave
TO fill up their ditch and put rails on it. In Penn
sylvania, the Reading Railroad has ruined the
Schuylkill Navigation Company and that where
the article carried is coal Canals are growing
obsolete. There never will be another built, ex-
cept to connect two sheets of water lying nearly
together, or to get round rapids. Huzza then
for Boston-she has taken the right track, and
her day is rising in uncouded splendor In ten
years from this time we shall be able to say
whether she will eclipse New York-.Ne0 Bed
ford Mercury.