New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-03
The Village Of EImira-Tbe New-York ana
Erie RaiIroad-The Commerce of the West

49,
ELMiRA, N. Y. Saturday. March o.
A stranger making temporary sojourn at this
place, am impressed az all observers must be-
with its beauty, itg business, and its prospective
as well as present Importance, as one of the many
Jewels, with which the bosom Of our noble State is
embossed.
Few villages in any State have such an air Of
thrift and substantial prosperity a. this, and the
time is doubtless near when it will drop its petit
soubriquet, and stand forth the first CRY born on
the line Of the New.York and Erie Railroad. And
there can be as little doubt that it will long sus
tain its prominence, against any thing that may
arise to dispute it,
In everything but the name, city is already
here; busy streets, magnificent stores, shops and
hotels, and troops of goers and comers called to-
gether from every point Of the compass in pursuit
Of their ever varying ends and aims.
The agricultural region Of which this village is
the center, would have eventually made it point
Of much Importance. But the New York and Erie
Railroad anticipated the slow processes Of nature,
and by sort of Aladdin like magic, transported
a city to this beautiful valley in almost the FIRST
day of that roads existence and the end is not yet
Elmira must continue to prosper and beautify, un-
til she has few rivals in all our wide borders.
The Erie road will soon be finished to its uti
mate terminus on Lake Erie, thus greatly en-
largiDg the travel and commerce ofthat thorough
fare, and the business of the villages along its
line, while branch after branch Of the main
trunk will gradually taller out and suck up the
commerce and wealth of the noble region lying
North and West, as well as South Of this magnih-
cent enterprise.
Such branch your readers already know, is
being built from Hornelsville to Buffalo. Ano
ther is under way up the CONNECTION Valley, by
way of Bath, to the same point; while third,
and the most important Of all will soon be in run
ming order from this place to Canandaigua, and
from thence by an almost air line to Niagara
FAILS, as soon as may be after plans already
formed are sufficiently matured.
A Company having this enterprise In view 10
already organised, and hundred thousand dol.
lars ofthe stock subscribed, and Engineers are on
the route making the preliminary surveys
A single glance at the map will show the i'm.
portance of this undertaking. not only to the coun
try over hich the road will be built, but 70 the
New.York and Erie COrporation-to numerous in
terror villeges-s finally, to the great CONNER
cial center Of the Continent, New-York itself
The vast human csvalcsde which the West is
annually TO receive from the East, and which the
necessities Of trade will send back to the sea.
board + ali and Spring will soon DO steamed over
of Lake Erie, and find itself suspended over the
ceuldron below Niagara Falls, instead Of waiting
in suspense at Buffalo for favoring smiles from
weather gods andt the question will then be, how
is the multitude 70 End an exit And by what
means is the produce Of the West and the pur.
cbsses of the East 20 be transported from point TO
poiuti
No matter how many roads are built, they
must all be controlled by an irresistible Hat-a
law as imperious az that Of gravitstion- aud
cost The cheapest and first wins. Length and
grade determine both these items ofthe account
hence the importance of the road completed and
in contemplation from this point to Niagara f alls.
The line very direct. The grade is unobjection-
able all along the route; and from Csnendaigua
west Of no importance whatever. Since it must
be the quickest and cheapest and would there
fore necessarily receive the majority Of Western
trade and travel in competition with less favorite
routes. But 1t has still another advantage, Of IN
told magnitude. The country over which it passes
Is the very Eden The Continent It's soil IL bet.
ter than thousand gold mines-for it will yield
food for millions Of our race. This food must be
transported and these millions mutt be clothed.
and this is what makes Railroads necessary. And
this local business it it, that wo2i5 60 fac ia de-
terminirg the great track OF Western and East.
e.n commerce; il would diminish ultimate coat,
10 H. Il butiIess q tie Road, and thus SECURE