The New York herald., 1846-06-26

AMU0ktAn00 W0Dt0xn
Lake Commerce.
We have lately received q letter written by Mr.
Barton, Of Buffalo, and addressed to the Hon. Mr..
McClelland, relative to the commerce of the
greatlakes 1t is very interesting document.
1t is probable that no part Of the Uni
ted States commerce is so little understood by the
people, and so i'll provided for by our national Le-
gisature, as that carried on between the ports of
our great western lakes. A commerce CON-
menced but within few years, but keeping pace
with the roll Of emigration, and the richly develo-
ping resources ofthe West, its rapid increase finds
no parallel in the history of trade. Prior to the
year 1882, the whole business west of Detroit was
scanty trade carried on with the Indians, and
an occasional freighting up Of provisions and sup
Plies, Tor the few troops stationed at the different
American outposts on the northwestern frontier
but the breaking out ofthe war with Black Hawk,
IN lS2 first revealing the richness of the soil, and
the salubrty of climate, in the hitherto almost
unexplored regions of Illinois, Indiana, and Wis
consin-gave start to the ever swelling tide of emi-
grafton, which, filling our western praries with a
vigorous and enterpiising population, has given
rise, in short period, to an extent and value OF
commercial interdealing, almost incredible. In
1926, the waters of Lake Michigan, were, for the
first time, ploughed by steam and then, not for
the purposes of commerce, but for the gratifca-
ton VI party of pleasure-and, until 1882,
these excursions were annually repeated by two
or three boats; but the necessities of government
requiring additional aids, steamboats, chartered
tor the transportation of supplies and troops first
made their appearance at Chicago, then an open
road-stead; and now, through tthe negligence or
false economy of government, but very little bet
tered by partially completed Improvements. In
1883, the first association Of companies, for the
consolidation OF steamboat interests, was estab-
lished; the capital employed in eleven steam
boats, being about $3.50, 900. The trip from Buff
falo to Chicago, at that time, occupied nearly a
month-their amount Of receipts for this season,
amounted to about $500. Omitting the interve-
ming years, we find that in 1910, the number Of
steamboats, on the lakes were 4S, at cost for con-
structon Of 81, 200 900. The receipts were over
S2OO,OOO; showing an increase in seven years, Of
600 per cent in capital invested and an increase
in business of nearly 5000 per cent on the re-
cepts.
The number Of sail vessels had risen from five
or six schooners to- in the year lS4O 25O vessels OF
from 80 to $50 tons. The capital employed, or
rather invested, in sail vessels, about 81 ,25O,-
600, and doing business OF $750,000 The pre-
vious statements are made, without reference to
the business passing through the Welland Canal,
and owned on either side of Lake Ontario. In
lS45, there were engaged in trade above the Mia
gara Falls, 6S steamboats, and propellers, and $40
brigs and schooners, costing in their construction
nearly $5,0OOOOO and amounting in burthcn to
10000 tons. On Lake Ontario, there was employ
ed tonnage of Is 900 tons, and the cost of con-
no ,>l,v h>;e
weather on the lakes has been exceedingly dis
tructve to life and capital; for by wrecks and ves
sells foundered at sea- there have been, within the
last five years, 400 lives lost and capital OF more
than one million of dollars.
In 1895, Ohio, then the only exporting State on
these lakes, sent through the Erie Canal to tide
water
B1is. Bushels Pounds Barrels Barrels Pounds
@ sss c sssss siss; '''s:ss"' ss sshs' c Hsst ssl
In 1916, the exports Of Ohio, and other States,
by the same channel, were
daas SSis. Bushels % Pounds Barrels Barrels Pounds
ss $3.50 is ssss ssss s,sss ss .s sSs,
The great aggregate value of the commerce on
these great lakes, for the year 1885, is estimated to
be over $sl, 100000, not including the immense
sums of specie daily transported. This amount
probably is far below the mark, as there is no ac-
count Of the trade carried between ports within
the edistricts, of the amount of sustenance
for the 900 inhabitants of Buffalo, with all the
seamen, boatmen, emigrants and travellers, of
which no account is, or can be kept. The num-
Der Of passengers last year who passed over the
upper lakes, during the same year, was upwards
OF 10000; and what is. perhaps quite as remark
able as the unexamped increase Of business, is,
the fact that during the time of ftwentyeight years
since the first steamboat appeared on Lake Erie,
hut one serious accident has occurred from the
bursting of boilers or steam pipes.
The following tables show the amount OF pro-
perty received at, and shipped from, Buffalo, on
the Erie Canal, in the years lS43, 1874 and lS45
qr.r.s,. "nIIrhD MN no.,