Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-05
From the Republic of Wednesday.
THE BOSTON FESTIVAL.

From the Republic of Wednesday
THE BOSTON FESTIVAL.
Yesterday morning the committee of the mu-
ncipal authorities of Boston, Messrs. Brinley,
H Nj Holbrook, Ezra Lincoln, A Thompson, II
J Gardner, Otis Kimbal and A Il Minot, waited
upon the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary
of the Interior, the Secretary of War, and the
| Secretary of the Navy, and presented them invi-
tations from the Mayor and Aldermen of their city
to be present at the contemplated celebration of
the 18th, 18th, and 18th of September Each
of the Secretaries declared himself highly gratified
at the honor which had been conferred on him
by the invitation and expressed an anxious desire
to accept it; but all were compelled to withhold
an answer to the invitation until circumstances
should indicate whether or not they could COM
ply with the wishes Of the citizens of Boston
consistently with the exigencies of The public SER
| vice.
At 3 o'clock the committee waited upon the
President to receive his answer to the invitation
with which they were charged the communica
ton OF which we have previously noticed We
understand that the President informed the COM
mttee that, IT called upon to answer at once, be
should be compelled to decline the invitation:
but that, if he might be permitted to withhold
MS reply, and be governed by the demands OF
the public service, he might be able at some
future day previous to the celebration to accept
the invitation with which he had been honored
With this understanding, as we learn, the COM
mittee parted from the President, and left last
evening in the cars for Boston.
The following circular from the Mayor OF
Boston indicates the entertainment to which the
| President and the members of his Cabinet
| have been invited:
| RAILROAD CELEBRATION.
| To THE CITIZENS OF BosToN The city government,
| tn aoIo
ner, the final completion OF the great lines of railway
uniting the Underwater Boston with the Canadas and
the great w est and also the establishment of Anier.
| can lines OF steamers between Boston and Liverpool
The importance OF these events to the great social and
commercial interests Of our city hardly be exagge-
rated. We are now about TO realize, it is believed the
full benefit OF those great enterprises in the perecpp
OF which he has expended so much capital. There are
| now completed and in operation in Massachusetts
alone about l2oG miles OF railway, and in New Eng
land about 400 miles. Massachusetts has exnended
in the completion of these roads the enormous amount
OF So4 OOOOOO; and appears from the reports of the
several railroad corporations in this State made The
last atre that there were transported over the
Massachusetts roads alone, during the year 1850
100000 passengers, and 900 OF freight
This statement however, but mperiecty presents the
advantages which we are to derive from these works
The railways OF Massachusetts are but small link in
the great lines which us with remoter sections
OF our country.
The several lines connecting us with the Canadas,
northern New ork the great lakes and the far West,
are now completed, uniting us by railroad and steam
navigation with thirteen States OF the Union compi-
sing an area OF 42s 1876 square miles; the two Canadas
the lakes, with their 5000 miles of coast and bringing
within our commercial sphere population of ten mil
lions OF inhabitants. The business OF the lakes and the
Cahadas, and its rapid yearly increase, worthy of
especial consideration. 1t e: tmaed that the i'm
ports and exports ofte lake harbors exclusive OF the
Canadas, during the present year, will be $500 100000
The annual increase OF this business found be III
per cent, thus doubling itself in less than six years.
In addition to this, the imports and exports ofthe Ca
nadas will amount during the present year to $5000O-
600.
And now what are the advantages which Boston
possesses for doing this immense business These are
so manifest that their importance will readily be appre
claed. Her harbor is OF the finest in the ord.
Her wharves and storage accommodations equal if
not SUPERIOR 10 those OF any other city, and capable OF
Indefinite extension. Her local position is unrivalled
and the enterprise and integrity OF her merchants are
we'll known. The lines OF railway to which we have
alluded all centre in her and radiate from her. 1t is
ascertaned, rom the actual results OF this years. bust
ness, that under favorable circumstances all kinds of
provisions can be brought from the West through these
new lines OF communication, 10 Boston, speedily
and at lees expense than TO any other Atlantic port
In this connexion it may not be amiss remark that
the books OF the cusom-house show that the merchan-
disc transported to the Canadas, the district OF
Boston and Charestown, Tor the six months ending
June 30, 1851, was more than quadrupe that of the
six months next preceding January l, 1851.
Merchandise can be landed at Ogdensburg, on Lake
Ontario put on board the that place. to
Boston without transhpment, and4rom here exported
to England by means OF our steamships, much less
to u.s. them that Boston has every facility Tor becoming
great exporting as we'll as importing city. Cargoes
from Liverpool in steamships, Boston, may be de.
yeredln Mon;r 9al in twelve days.
This TACT taken In connection with the fact that the
St. Lawrence is closed by ice during five months OF
the year, and that the communication with Boston
uninterrupted during the whole year, make Boston,
asst seems to US, the port OF entry tor the Canadas
thus opening to US business the extent oil which we
have not begun TO realize The eligibility OF our 10
cation as shipping port for the Csnadas will be seen
following O rod
with New York:
From Liverpool, via Halifax to Boston, 1876 miles;
to New York, 3,093 miles.
From liverpool diiect to Boston, 1856; TO New
oTk 3073 miles
From Halifax 10 Boston, 1863 miles; TO New York $50
miles.
From Montreal 10 Boston 344 miles; to New York
1913 miles,
The distance from Liverpool to Montreal, via Bos-
ton, is 5000 miles
While via n ew ork it is 3 All miles.
The difference between Liverpool and Montreal in
favor OF Boston New York is 27l miles
In view OF the above facts, and in conformity with
The expressed wishes OF many of The citizens of
Boston, the city Government propose to celebrate
the completion OF these lines OF railwa avs by
festival in Faneuil Hall and other appropriate
ceremonies. 1t is proposed to invite to be pres
ent with us on thai occasion, the Governor Cen
srai OF Canada his staff and cabinet the leading
members OF the Canadian Parliament, the corporation
OF Montreal the leadng merchants in all the Canadian
cities and Ogdensburg the President of The United
States and his Cabinet the Governors of the New En-
gland States the Presidents OF all the Rawa vs. 10 New
England, The Mayors OF the cities OF New England
and others interested In railways and steam naviga-
ton.
We cordially invite the cooperation of our fellow
citizens OF Boston in order that This celebration NAV
be made In some degree commensurate with The great
Importance OF the events to be celebrated.
For the commtee of arrangements
JOHN 2. BGELOW Mavor
CRY HAIL. BosToN, Aug l. 1851.
DISTINGUISHED VISITERS
On Friday last about noon the Presden of the JTni