Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-06-01
Eternal Resources and Trade.

the statistics of the Great West. A report recent
ly presented to Congress by Colonel Albert, Chief
, of the Corps ofTopographicalEn Engineers, on The
Commerce of the Lakes and the Western Rivers,
contains the latest exposition of the state and pro-
gress of our internal trade. The facts set fourth
| in this document, drawn from authentic sources,
are as interesting as they are truly astonishing.
1t appears that the Lake tonnage in l94l was
5G,252, in which were employed $3.50 mariners.
$685. 49,, ,44l, and the exports at $32 ,34254l, ma
king the total amount of commerce $65, ,O22.
In the year ls46 the tonnage was lO6,S36. which
is estimated to have cost $6,OOO,OOO and the num-
ber of mariners employed was 1912. The i'm
ports and exports amounted to $l2S, 1929 900, and
the number of passengers was not less than $780,
OOO
Thus the tonnage, mariners, imports and ex-
ports of the Lakes were nearly all doubled in five
years-making the annual increase over II per
cent.
The eight States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana.
Tin fs, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont,
and the territory of Minnesota, are dependant upon
the navigation of Lakes Champlain, Ontario, Erie,
Huron, Michigan and SUPERIOR for a large portion
of their exports and imports. Those States, in 46,
had population of s,ss7,45O; but in consequence
of the facilities of intercourse between the Lakes
and the Mississippi River, which the Illinois and
Michigan Canal, and the projecting Railroads from
Chicago and other points on Lakes Michigan and
Erio ri tbo or III
will be included with those which have been
named and as Maine, N. Hampshire, Massachu-
setts, Rhode Island and Connecticut will partici-
pate in that immense commerce, the whole num-
Der of States interested therein will be fifteen or
half those in the Union. with population of near
ly 100000.
The first vessel that navigated the western
streams was the frail bark canoe; next came the
Mackinaw boat, carrying from fifteen hundred
pounds to three tons; and then came the keel-boat
or barge, Of from thirty to forty TONS With boat
of this description from three to four months were
consumed in making trip from New Orleans to
St. Louis. In 1919, soon after the introduction
of steam the voyage occupied steamboat 81 days.
Now it is accomplished in about four days.
In 1917, about the time when steam was first
introduced upon the Mississippi, the whole COM
merce from New Orleansto the upper country gave
employment to some 20 barges, Of an average Of
100 tons each, and making one trip in year. The
number of keel boats on the Ohio was about l69,
estimated at or 1000 tons.
Such was the condition of the trade on the West
ern waters 80 years ago. Let US come to more
recent times.
The steamboat tonnage on the Western rivers
in 1912 was l26, ,27s, land there were employed a.
900 other kinds of boats, making the whole tom
mage 426,27S.
The produce transported is estimated at 1862
7S0 tons. The exports to New Orleans were val
ued at $50,566, 1903, and the whole commerce a.
mounted to $7O,00o,oO9.
In 1916 the steamboat tonnage was 249,O55. and
the merchandise of all kinds transported was S.
4IO,336 tons, and was then valued at $lS5,
7I9.
The cost of the steam, and other tonnage, was
$l29&2,355, and there were employed 25,ll4
mariners.
The whole length of the steamboat navigation
of the Mississippi and its tributaries, has been
certained to be 1864 miles.
The increase ofpopulation throughout the whole
region, whose prolific resources give rise to this
vast growing trade, has been fully commensurate
with the increase of the trade itself. The next
census will give~Is the statistics on this point
A bill if we mistake not, has been offered in Con-
gress to make arrangements, at the present session,
for the taking of the census of 1s5O-so that the
report may be had by the close of the year.
IF we were to take, in infancy, look to the ftl-
ure, 80 years hence, as we have looked at the re-
ality Of 80 years ago, and contemplate the proba-
BILE development of the commerce and productive
capabilities of the West for the year 1878, the pic
ture drawn by the standard of the past, and upon
the basis of existing facts, would be too startling
for the imagination to become famliarized with.
The ratio of increase, however, must 90 beyond
that of former years, because it must include many
new Inventions new facilities Of intercourse, new
appliances to increase production and these adj
ditional agencies will be brought to- operate on a
scale far larger than any that the last 80 years
have witnessed. Besides, the progress onward
must acquire increased momentum as it accumu-
lates a larger and still larger aggregate of ele-
ments-lke mighty body put in motion and COLI
Stantlv enlarunU UhOSp rapdtu 10 Still mara nd