The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-12

merchants such advantages for buying and selling
that we have only 70 remove the present restrictions
and we shall enlarge the trade to nearly the whole
extent Of colonial means for paying for their pur-
chases. Not only our own productions, but the re-
turns Of our transatlantic trade which have been pur
chased with the produce Of American labor, will flow
through great marts into the colonies The reason
for this is obvious. when we reflect upon the causes
which have changed the course OF trade from many
OF our smaller towns, which formerly transacted
considerable importing business. It is well known
that thirty forty years since most Of maritime
towns, with good harbors, carried direct trade
with Great Britain, France, Russia, and the West
India Islands. The merchants obtained their goods
by orders, and were exposed to long delays before
they were answered. They. were obliged, therefore
to have heavy stocks, which remained long time
upon their hands and were often unsaleable. These
inconvenience led gradually to an abandonment OF
the importing business by the smaller towns. This
whole business now centres in our few great CONNER
cia cities The merchant now purchases in the great
markets, which he visits himself He there finds
large assorments and selecting his goods by nspcc
ton to suit his customers, in few days has them or
sale on his own shelves He is enabled to do busi
ness small capital; for by this system he m lkes
frequent purchases and keeps on hand small stock
He makes quick sales with certain profits These are
the advantages which the colonial merchant needs
He also can purchase better by inspecting large as
sortments than by ordering his goods from Eng
land. Great facilities for communication are now
open to him. He only needs facilities for SELL
ing his goods to make it for his interest to pur-
chase almost wholly in our large cities. The Ca
madam merchant who sends his -four or lumber
to New York. Boston, Philadelphia, or Baltimore,
need not take in payment bill on London, to enable
him to purchase in the British market with the pro-
ceeds Of sales here. The natural course OF trade
s i .sS: effS s Nova s s p ase es1s
wood and gypsum to Boston, will not only
barter his cargo for articles Of American manu-
iacture, but will often purchase their British goods
notwithstanding our higher duties BY the opera
ttnn nf hovAa trad Ia oQid IA
colonies are largely supplied with goods from the
United States, Notwithstanding similar goods, i'm
ported from England can be furnished in the colo
MES at much lower prices
from the increased trade with the lower colonies.
This trade is already Of paramount Importance to
that city.
The total foreign tonnage entered at the port Of
Boston, in 1852, was $3.50 vessels, whose tonnage in
the aggregate amounted to 900, 75s tons. OF this
$40 vessels, with q tonnage in the aggregate Of
159 ,294 tons, were entered from the British North
American colonies. Thus 1t will be seen that the
large proportion of the revenue, labor truckage,
wharfage and storage, incident to tue commerce Of
that city.
The completion of the Portsmouth and Concord
Railroad, and Of the Atlantic and st. Lawrence
Railroad, will enable Portsmouth and POrtland-the
commercial capitals of New Hampshire and Maine
to share largely in the profits Of this trade.
The city Of New York will secure large share Of
the trade of the rich country Of Canada. Through
this port large supplies Of Western -four have been
carried to the lower colonies. The value Of wheat
and -four from Canada, received at New York In
bond in 1850 exceeded million and half Of dollars
The value Of the same articles exported by sea to
the colonies, was little short Of million Of dollar.
railroad communications will connect the cities Of
Philadelphia and Baltimore with the great lakes,
and portion Of the Canada trade will thus seek
these cities. In our great commercial cities there
can be but one sentiment as to the benefits Of
reciprocity.
INLAND NAVIGATION AND TRANSIT TRADE.
Intimately connected with the prosperity Of our
great commercial cities is that Of the lines Of trans
poraton through which the vast tide Of wealth Gibbs
and flows between the cities and the interior. No
less than five broad channels have been opened for
the transit Of the products Of Canada towards the
sea coast-the Erie Canal, the Champlain Canal, the
Ogdensburg and Boston, the Buffalo and Boston
railroads. and the Erie and New York railroad To
these sixth will soon be added, the Portland and
Montreal Railroad the shortest route from Canada to
the oceanan enterprise, for which reciprocal trade
with the British provinces is almost Indispensable
and aided by which this road will advance the city
of Portland into the first rank of our commercial
cities. To these may be added, now in process of
construction the Snnburya and Erie Railroad in Penn
sylvania, which, when completed, will unite with the
Beading Railroad, thus forming an unbroken line Of
railroad communication between Philadelphia and
the city Of Erie, on Lake Erie. And when The Balt
more and Susguehannah Railroad shall be extended
to this line, the city Of Baltimore will also be con
nected with Lake Erie at the same point In this
way, both Philadelphia and Baltimore will be en-
abled TO share in the Canadian trade. TAe total
value of our exports and imports to and from Cana
da. for the year ending the j0th II June, 1872 was
Sll ,307 ,029.
The greater part ofthis trade passed inland through
the United States, and large portion ofhe merchan-
disc which this value represents, paid tribute to the
canals, railroads, and steamboats,, of interior.
There can be but little doubt that reciprocity would
douhIn the rayp which iula nd of
transportation derive from Canadian trade. This
increased trade together with the rapidly swelling
stream from the Northwest, would overflow the pre-
sent channels and render practicable at least one
project which in the grandness Of its conception and
future results is second TO few only Of our great
works OF internal Improvement The committee re-
fer to the project Of uniting, by ship canal the
waters Of the st. Lawrence and the Hudson. II is
evident that this work cannot be safely commenced,
until we shall secure the future enjoyment Of the
privileges OF the Canadian canals, Oh the St.
Lawrence, nor urt shall be relieved from the
apprehension that discriminating duties will be
imposed by Canada upon American productions
These questions will be settled by the adoption Of the
proposed measure Of reciprocity and an increase OF
trade secured, which will demand the completion Of
this route. II has been proposed to construct canal
near Montreal, Of sufficient size to float a vessel OF
three hundred tons, to unite the waters of the St
Lawrence with Lake Champlan, and TO enlarge the
Champlain Canal its entire length to the head OF
navigation on the Hudson, to the same size so that
Ntssels OF lHt above named ulmcnNOn6 from any
Western lake port can without breaking cargo, dis
charge at the port Of New York at any other port
on the Atlantic coast and thence load with merchan-
die for the West. BY means of this ship canal, the
coal Of Pennsylvania will be borne to the inexhausti
BILE iron mines on Lake Cbampain, whose forest COM
bustible is nearly consumed and, by opening a
direct communication with the Western States and
the fertile region OF Canada West, this canal
viii furnish new market for the iron Of Northern
New York. Much the city Of New York would
uaD Inv n direct shin ton with the great
Mediterranean seas OF the Northwest, and particu.
larry by obtaining cheap supplies of lumber from
Canada, she would be compelled TO share with
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other Eastern
cities, the advantages of this enterprise While
Philadelphia and Baltimore would be reached by
water communication from Lake Chsmplain, the
railroads from Boston, which reach the lake after
crossing Vermont, must divert q considerable por
tion Of the trade and will gain from the completion
OF this canal . most important accession TO their
revenues.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
ApprehcnsioDs have been felt that the proposed