Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1847-07-03

We have been deeply impressed by an article in
the June number of the American Review, on w est
crn Improvements, with inc immense resources Vi
that portion OF country which lies along the Mis-
sissippi and its tributary streams These streams
are the great highways Of vast country. They
furnish facilities for navigation TO the extent OF nearly
$4,000 miles, through country including an area OF
nearly n million and half Of square miles, or more
than 100000 900 Of acres of land, much Of which is
of uncQualed richness and favored with a climate
adapted, in different sections, to every variety OF pro-
duction; a country sustaining now 10 millions OF
people, and capable of sustaining more than thirty
times that number; which would be nearly equal to
third OF the present populaonoi the entire GLOBE
This section Of country fruitful enough TO supply all
the other portions of the t. S with many OF the most
important productions Of agriculture, and the world
itself with several articles OF trade and consumption
To illustrate this, take the following items from
the report of the Commissioner OF Patents for lS45,
showing of the staple productions Of those States
which border on the Mississippi and It's tributaries.
There were, in ls45 no less than 80 millions OF
bushels of wheat raised in that section OF the Union
nearly 66 millions of bushels of oats: 23l millions
bushels of corn of tobacco, there were l39 millions
pounds: Of cotton, nearly 500 millions; and OF sugar.
lS5 millions of pounds; and all this the product OF
about 5000 900 of inhabitants only; and what may
we not expect when these six millions shall have in
creased to hundred millions, and are furnished
with all the improy cmcnts Of advancing science:
The value of the products received at New Orleans
from the interior in the Of the single year Of
lS45 is set down at over Utg-Sercn millions Of dol
lars, and this too, during year peculiarly unfavor
able, by reason OF the low stage OF the rivers ne
number of steamboat arrivals at New Orleans during
that same wear was $3.50, and their united tonnage
was estimated to have been 632, 800 tonS--an amount
Of steamboat tonnage greater than that OF the whole
of Great Britain. The whole steamboat tonnage en-
poycd on the Mississippi in lSl5, over three and
Il qi,artcr Of millions Of ions, while the whole foreign
tonnage of the United States only 4Oo9 ,l63 tons
The very expense OF running these boats Is estimated
at nearly eighteen millions Of dollars year.
These details, mcagrc as they are, Will provide
few data which TO build important conclusions re-
speeding the present Importance of Western Com
Incrcc; while they will furnish some valuable hints
respecting the future. The history of the world fur
nishcs nothing like this exhibition OF vigabc wa
covered with vast fleets OF steam vessels pcne-
trating the Continent for thousands OF miles IN dill
fcrcnt directions, and bearing from remote parts, the
produce of a soil of uncqualcd fertility. And all this
too, but the beginning of developments, carried on
under numerous and serious disadvantages 18th
the smiles of Heaven the labor Of an industrious
population, what be cNtravagant, by way OF an
ticPaon, for the valley Of the Mississippi and It's
tributaries
The importance Of the proposed Convention at
Chicago, next month"; must be very apparent even
from this brief survey Of the commerce of the great
Western Rivers, 10 say nothing OF the Lakes them
selves The thousands OF boats, the scores OF thous-
ands of passengers, and the hundreds Of millions of
dollars which every year aoa on the Mlsslsslp-
p and its tributaries certainly demand the attention
of all who interested in the prosperity OF our com
country, and most especially OF cur national
government; whose attention TO these navgablc wa
tcrs and the vast interests which gather around them
has hitherto been altogether below their just claims.
And in consequence OF this neglect the yearly loss OF
life of boats and freight has been enormous. In con-
sequence of distractions in the channels OF the river
&c. which might be removed to a very considerable
extent, by expenditure OF from l3O,OJO dollars to
100000 dollars year, the loss Of life these waters
is estimated about Of 1876 year; Of pro
perry in boats, at s 100000, and of freight
and cargocs al nearly S20JO,O 900 more; making to-
tai loss Of more than three millions Of dollars annually
Such are the present hazards OF navigating these
waters, on whose bosom such immense quantity of
produce and property and many lives are trusted,
that owners and shippers are compelled TO pay from
II "a per the entire tonnage for insurance
The W estcrn River and Harbor bill, which pro-
posed the application of few hundred thousand dol
lars for the improvement Of these and shores,
was vetoed by President Polk. The
country however, needs but to be aroused TO the i'm
mcnsc interest involved in the navigation Of our
Western waters, to secure such appropriation from
Congress is as necdful; and we know of no means
more promising accomplish this desirable end than
the assembling of men from the East well as the
West, in convention, as is proposed by the gentlemen
whohavc called the Chicago Convention Traveller