The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-07-01

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tenn or concert, and necessarily imperfect
and these even are rarely set before the pub
lie eye. Cincinnati has had for years the
most skIlful trumpeters and gazetteers her
men oil influence and wealth have contribu
ted largely OF money and time, (more inn.
Portant than money not only to make that
city attractive but TO show Off those aitrac.
tons. Does anything agitate the public
mind, whether religious, political or 'fnan-
cial-whetheri il relates to the commerce Oh
the lakes, famine in Ireland, or an armory
or hospital on the western rivers. Cincinnati
IS the first to write, and the first to speak:
she raises one committee to gather and anoth-
err to publish every fact and argument which
will make the excitement enure 10 her ben.
eft. All this is understandable. Cincin-
natl has great attraction (perhaps more ar.i-
hcial than NATURALLY and there is no reason
why these should not be known; the gospel
itself requires publication; but in this dem.
ocratie country are We to allow the Queen
city to take higher position than that to
which she is entitled by her skill, strength,
and capacity; is it not high time to adver-
tse the chsapness and goodness Of our waresY
If she sent special agent to Germany with
the cards Of her lotholders and a map OF this
country, represented as a narrow strip with
New York at one terminus and Cincinnati
at the other, can we not extend the survey
to Louisville, andl add the name of this city
to the catalogue published in Europe.
Other cities and our rivalsfor western trade
taunt US with the low prices Of our real es-
tate and the low rates at which our stores
and dwelling houses rent; and the fact that
these have moi increased is given as proof
positive that our trade remains stationary.
and that our city offers no inducements to
foreign emigrants or TO eastern mechanics,
manufacturers, and factors. Yet, although
rents and lots have actually deprecated and
are not as high by 80 per cent. as they were
fifteen years ago, in that time we have near
ly or quite ,rebled our poputaton-within
that time no important city besides Saint
Louis shows larger ratio Of increase. How
is the paradox to be explained? What has
given US this impulse! certainly no artificial
cause.
When We have spoken Of the position Of
Louisville as near the centre Of our vast val.
ley-at the only obstruction in a continuous
line OF 1000 miles Of inland navigation,
and where the artificial must cross and meet
the natural lines OF commerce and travel.
we seem to have ''said our say" but there
are, in the construction and progress Of our
city. other points which are in the aggregate
Of immense Importance. Let US examine
three Of these:
1. An ample site and therefore cheap
lots.
2. Abundant, and therefore cheap build
ing materials; both resulting in cheap
rents.
3. A fertile suburban district, and there
lore cheap market.
These forces have been in constant OBJ
Grafton and the result shows in a remark
able manner the superiority Of natural over
fictitious operations. 80.
The natural site Of our city is elliptical,
the transverse axis being from the upper
mills to Fontaine's Ferry, making an area
OF about twenty square miles above the reach
Of the highest foods a surface nearly equal
to that covered by London, and its suburbs;
it is on the convex side Of river front Of
about seven miles, which gives about two
and half miles Of convenient Wharfage
What western city can compare with ours
in these respects! -
Capital invested in lots and buildings is
fixed and not productive when fairly defn-
ed; to be sure they are part of the necessary
instruments for changing cotton into cloth
and the ore into nails, and so are the loom
and the hammer; but these are instruments
nf which. if 1 may so express myself, the
quantity and quality are productive, a cor
tain amount and description is wanted, and
on the cost Of this depends the ability Of the
possessor to create more or less wealth,
compared with his capital, out Of the ele-
ments or by the Transformation OF matter.
Our cheap lots, then, should be matter
of congratulation to us; the low prices clear
ly showing that we have them in abundance;
that we have no need to encroach on arms
of sea as at Boston and New York, or to
rase hills in the rear as at Pittsburgh and
Cincinnati, and that we have not to make
entertainments and to reclaim swamps as at
New Orleans.
Rents depend on the cost Of what is rent
ed. Occasionally. and when the supply Of
buildings is not equal to the demand, the
rates advance, and the contrary; the equilib-
rum is soon restored. Our low rents may
clearly indicate (what the fact really is) that
we have not only sample scope and verge"
to build upon, but building materials Of the
best character and in tn; greatest abundance.
Stone for the walls and lime is all around
us the cellar furnishes clay for brick and
sand for mortar; heavy lumber is close at
hand. and the finer qualities are bone to us
on descending stream, and its price but
slightly affected by the distance it foaiss on
its voyage il requires no insurance; it is in
jured by no collision; it is guided by little
labor.
So Of our markets; the low prices of ouu
fruits, vegetables. hay. &C., indicate not thai
there is deficiency Of consumers, but thai
! there Is cheap production. The area o