The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-23


canals to connect the far Western States. the
great lakes, and the extensive valley Of
the interior, with the ports and cities
of the Atlantic seaboard, as the main cause Of
the vast Development Of the production and
commerce of the American republic, which has
recently taken place. It will be necessary that
we should now glance briefly of the progress Of
these important links in the chain Of internal
communication. In the first instance we shall
refer to the railroads. In an elaborate table in
Macgregor's United States, vol. q PIP. 100 and
791, there were estimated to be in operation, in
1840, 2290 miles of railway throughout the
various States of the Union. There were in
progress at the same period 2,S46h miles
making total Of 4,636s miles in operation
and constructing. These lines are described a
follows, in an article written at the time by Mr.
J. Fl. Lanman, an able authority
five survey the map Of the United States we
shall find the termini Of these lines, at both ends
rest at the principal commercial towns Of the coun-
try, both in the East and West. The principal
seaboard may be found in Boston. New
York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Wilmington, Charles
ton and Savannah. From these grand points of
shipment the railroad tracks run across the Interior
and, inteIsectibg in their course the most prom-
nent villages and cities, terminate at the grand
mars Of western commerce, and the shores Of their
navigabe rivers.
In 1918, a report by Mr.. Walker, an emil
nent statistician estimated the railroads Of the
United States at $500 miles, constructed at an
expense of one hundred and sixty-six millions
Of dollars and at the date of the communca-
ton of the Secretary of the Treasury, from
which we have already condensed very freely,
the length of railroads is set down at Ii, 800
miles, constructed at cost of 100000 900 dol
lars, in addition to about ten thousand more
miles in progress AS the resell, the writer
says:-
The imports and exports have increased from
three hundred to over four hundred millions; the
tonnage. inward and outward, from 6700,703
to 1851 ,O45A tons the tonnage owned, from
2 $4,000 to 100000 tons. The receipts into
the treasury exclusive Of loans have increased SEQ
iiorDian trade the whole OF which does not appear
in the published returns-the commercial phenome-
non Of commercial age-has also added hundred
any event Of the last forty years. has invigorated
the navigating interest OF the country, and to q
great degree had powerful Influence over the COM
mercial marine Of the world the whole contributing
to swell the internal trade, and enabling the United
States to own more than two fifths of the tonnage
of the world.
The passage in the above extract which we
have marked in italics reads rather like gascon-
ade, and will be so regarded by those who are
accustomed to be guided by the meagre details
given in the Board Of Trade returns of this
country. Such an impression may, perhaps, be
in some measure removed when we look at the
vast addition to the coasting trade OF America
which California must have 0ccasisned for
the transport Of goods and passengers from
the Atlantic ports round Cape Horn. It
will enable the reader better to estimate
the extent of this addition If we state
that the amazing increase, which we have
shown above to have taken place in the entries
and ciearances Of American shipping, refers ex-
clusively to vessels engaged in the foreign
trade. None of the licensed and enrolled"
vessels belonging to the Union are so engaged,
but confine themselves exclusively to the fish
cries. the lake and the coasting trades. When
it is considered that the two latter employed,
up to June, 1851, tonnage of 1,S54,3is TONS
upon which the Treasury returns of 1852 ex-
hibit an increase Of about ten per cent, it is not
difficult to conceive that the increased epmloy-
ment afforded by California to shipping, to-
gether With the movement Of produce, &c., from
the ports of the Atlantic to that scene of adven-
turous life and enormous consumption, may
have enlarged the general transactions of the
country to the extent of the hundred millions
Of dollars mentioned. We are not, nor was the
writer of the report which we have quoted,
speaking of California having added hundred
millions to the national imports or exports, but
to the national commerce.
1t will not be thought remarkable in the
present day that the cities and States of the
Union which first took steps to connect the
tains with tbs Atlantic, should have made the
greatest progress in Importance and prosperity.
1t was the fortune Of the State of New York to
take the earliest step to effect this great diside
ratum, although Washington had perhaps first
suggested its importance, in agitating move
ment for the purpose Of connecting the country
adjoining the great lakes with his own native
State of Virginia. The construction of the ca
nal from Lake Erie to the River Hudson gave
to the former State an impulse which has
placed her population in the first rank amongst
American communities. This canal, we have
already stated, was, although formally COM
menced on the 4th July, 1877 not opened I'M
til the 26th October, 1926. Previous to its con-
struetioD. the cost of transit from Lake Erie to
the tide water was such as to prohibit the ship
ment Of western produce aud mere handise
to New York; and it consequently came
only to Baltimore and Philadelphia. AS
soon as the lakes were reached =
we quote from the Secretary Of the Treasury
again:--"The line of navigable water was ex-
tended through them nearly one thousand miles
farther from the interior. The Western States
immediately commenced the construction Of
similar works. for the purpose Of opening com
uun:oation from the more remote regions Of
their territories with this great water line. All
these works took their direction and character
frCm the Erie canal which. in this manner be-
came the outlet for the greater part Of the pro-
duce of the West Without such work. the
West would have had no attractions for set
tier. and have probably remained a waste mp to
the present time; and New York itself could
not Mve progressed as it hes DONE In addition.
however to the formation of the Erie canal, New
York originated, in advance Of most other
States. lines of railway, throughout Its terri
tory in connection either with the canal or
between its various towns and settlements
1t also connected itself by railroad with
Lake Champlain, and succeeded in divert
ing considerable portion Of the transit trade
of Canada from the st. Lawrence through these
communications TO the port Of New York. The
effect Of this enterprise, displayed by the
people and by the State, may be estimated by
the fact that the population which was in 1880,
1,91s60s, had Increased in 1910 to 2,42s,921,
and In 1850 was 3,097 1874. In 1880, the value
of the imports at New York was 3s,656,064