The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-06

csuplsts ~ satirs liz sfralrsad ftsn CiasinAss
70 81. Louis Wa taken By company Of capital
ists In this city, and that tho work vas already
cenmsncsA near nlinoistown. This contract d on
Of the heaviest in magnitude and rssponhbilty ever
made IA this country. The parties, however. srs
men OF ability and character, and the terms made
are such ~ renders 1t easy to obtain the requats
capital.
In this enterprise, New York, ~ tho great COM
mercial mart of the Atlantic States, has no small
pour into steamers bargss aud canal boats. on the
Hudson, the untold wealth Of the west. The
statistics Of these works sbundantly prove that il
is frem the gransries Of the Central West we de-
rive that immense mass OF surplus produce which
load our wharves and crowd our warehouses
Everything, therefore. which tends to increase the
production and commerce of that region, aud to
carry its surplus eastwardly, tends, 50 far, to
Increase the trade and prosperity Of New York.
We have, therefore, obtained from authentic
sources, some Of the facts which illustrate the
utility and Importance Of the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad to this city ard the country.
First-lt must be observed that between Gin
onDati and st Louis, by steamboats, passing the
mouth of tho Ohio, is 40 miles, while, by the d.
reot line Of the railroad it is only 327. Much Of
this distance, especially in Illinois, is in q dreot
east ard west line. so that the greatest speed may
be made The passage by railroad cars may, there
tore be made in twelve or fourteen hours, while by
steamboats, it is usually four days The time will
thus be reduce d TO less than one sixth, as the
trip between Albany and New York by steamboats,
were reduced to one hour and Q half by railroad!
This GAIN itmust be remarked, is nota gain merely
to the Western man, but to all in New York, or on
the Atlantic, who have business in the lower valley
OF the Ohio, or the lower Mississippi, or ST Louis.
or the Southwest. We have already tive railrc ad
conneotions-by Ssndusky and Cleveland, between
the New York works and Cinoinnati-so that the
New York merchant, who Is at Dunkirk or Buffalo,
will, by the completion of the OHIO and Mississippi
railroad, be two days nearer to st Louis, the
lower Ohio, and the South west, than he could Do
without it, even when all The lake lines are com.
ploted.
Secondly-When We look to the productions OF
the Ohio Valley-aEd the merchandise ia return
must supply its wspts-the importance Of this
drfct central line rses to still greater magnitude
Of the traffic Of its own local region, 1t cannot, In
any event, be deprived; and what is that lit Ia
the trade in the surplus Of products and supply Of
goods tor the richest grain gro ying, and Of the
most populous districts of the United States With
out entering into minute details, We may mention
two or three general facts. The Ohio and Missis-
sppi rsiro I'd commences in Ohio, traverses Indiana
and Illinois, by an almost west line, to St Louis,
in Missouri, where IL will be continued by the Pa
cifc railroad (a!ready commcnoed), to the mouth
Of the haIxas Considering, however, St Louis
as ito terminus, it traverses in its way the valley
ofthe Great Miami, the White River. the Wabash,
and the kaskaskia intersecs the lines of the Masi
son and Indianapolis railroad, the Wabash canal,
and the Illinois Central railroad, thus connecting
lateray with the vast and fertile region from cen-
trail Ohio to the Missouri Valley. Let US glance
at two facts snly connected with the commerce Of
that region. The aggregate imports Of st. Louis
AID Cincinnati amount annually to at least seventy
five millions of dollars, and the aggregate of i'm
ports and exports to one hundred and fifty millions!
lDother words, the commerce of these two cities il
equal to half the foreign commerce Of the United
States! Otths amount large portion consists Of
M rchandise (drygoods and grooeries) imported
from the cities Of the Atlantis, and distributed for
consumption by these cities
Next, let us glance at the pre- iuctions which the
fine States Of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri
have to send TO the Atlanti, for market. In tho
States we're, in corn about 30 900 600 bushels Of
wheat, Sc GOO 600; OF WOOL IL 900 900 lbs and Of
bscco, OATS cheese, and other articles Of port in
proportion The Of these four States is equal
ore third of that produced in the entire Union, and
the wheat to nearly half How much Of this is
surpius, and how much may uleim ately be carried
on the Obi and Mississippi Railroad, it is not ne
cesssry now to inquire Every intelligent person
surplus is immense, and that ceotral line like
that nutt have its full proportion The tendency
Of all lateral lines of transportation, connecting
With very long central line say from New York
freight to that central line in order that they may,
as as possible get on an uninterrupted line to
TIE fiji al market.
In conclusion, We need only say TO our mercantile
Ie8ueIs, thAp tne census Iaoles now puOHsnlng
prove that il is in tho central States OF the Ohio
valley that the commerce OF the great Wet arises
and to which continually tends. One half Of all
that commerce and its materials lies south Of the
line of the Ohio AID Mississippi railroad, being
parts OF Is diana, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri, with
all Of Kentucky, and a large par: Of Tennessee
They who seek that trade must seek IL through
Cincinnati, Lousville ant ST. Louis. The New
York public works connect With lines Of railr Dad
runrins to Cihcinnati. Other Indirect communi
catione throug Pbiiadelphia and through Indiana,
may be found but they all tend finally to the con-
neetons ord commerce Of the interior cities of the
Ohio and Missouri valleys, We cannot, therefore,
overlook the terest of the Atlantic and the wAole
country, in works like this, of such magnitude, as
to rise into national Importance, and embrace all
the interests Of trade. We are gla, to find that
such work is placed in competent hands, and
likely 10 be early completed.