Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-12-05
R REP0 r T
SURVEYS AND LOCATION
Shermans Valley and Broad Ton
Railroad.
B J L. D. I. 4 NJ PM IN.
Civil Engineer.
tCOnciude,! from last sessk.

tC0nciadeG from tasf aceek
There appears to be an opinion prevail
ing in many parts of the East, that the
greatest and most importan; roads are those
which reach the basin Of the Lakes. This
as undoubtedly mistake. 1t probably
arises fFom the fact, that the longer routes
by the Lakes were first completed, and as
long Railroad is better than short Turn
pike road, trade and travel sought the long
er roads, until many believe they are tie
great natural outlets.
But where ought a road to terminated
In the Lake basin or in the Ohio basin2-
Let facts answer. By an examination of
the map, it viii be seen that the Ohio Ba-
sin is very extensive, compared with he
Lake Basin, and has an area, according to
Prof. Darby, of 100000 So. miles, the
valley of the Mississippi proper 1so,oUo
Sc. miles; the valley Of the Missouri 50o,-
900 81. miles; and the valley of the lower
Mississippi, 100000 50. miles.
Let us now examine the commerce. In
1851 the commerce of Lake Erie, Lake
aud River St. Clair, Lake Huron and J. axe
Michigan amounted to S14l, ,593, ,567.-
Aggregate tonnage 1877 ,466.
ln 1910 the nett valua-
tion Of the western riy-
ers was. s256, POS, $40
Value of vessels, 1861 800
Number Of hands on craft, 35,047
The gross valuation OF all
the Lakes, 2ss. 7,ls4
The gross valuation of the
western rivers, 512,467 $40
On the Lakes. bose Niagara, there are.
126 steamers, with crews of about 2000
men; on the Mississippi al steamers, With
crews of about GALA men; and ON TIE
Ohio. 31T steamers, With crews of 1888
men.
This shows the steam marine of the Ohio
basin to be nearly equal TO that of the up
per Lakes and the Mississippi together.
In the year 1851, the domestic produce
received at tidewater By the three routes.
the St. Lawrence, the Hadson, aud the Mis-
sissiPpi, we're
BY st. Lawrence, S9,l535S0
By Hudson, 53,927 ,508
By Mississippi, 10s,05I, Jos
Number of miles of Steam Navigation oD
the Ohio and Missouri Rivers:
Ohio and branches, 1895 Miles.
Missouri and branches, 1856 Miles.
These figures clearly indicate the valley
of the Ohio, as the great producer, tue
great fountain of trade. Here commerce
IS eentraliziug; especially at Cincinnati
st. Louis, which frem its position and nat
nral advantages must ever be the great
Western mart, is in the same latitude due
West, aud they are connected by the Ohio
aud Mississippi Railroad. which is nearly
au air line. Hence, the object OF first i'm
portauce, in building great trunk lines from
the Atlantic seabnard to the West, is to
make the most direct connections with Gin
oinnati, and through her, with ST. Louis,
and the 100000 50. miles of the fertile
valley of the Missouri.
The Lake ports viii naturally do, what
ever trade may arise from the basin of the
lakes, but beyond that they can never ex-
tend, when the lines projected, and in pro-
gress further South, shall be completed.
Look at the population of Cincinnati, in
1900 1876 1890
$50 2.5so s.e44
1880 1910 1850
24.s3l 46,338 ll6,l0s
Here is an increase almost without rar-
alleI; if the ratio Of increase continues for
the next ten years the same as the last ten
she viii have population Of nearly Se0,-
600. In the last Ave years she has dou-
blcd her commerce, and at the present time
she increase is going on as rapidly as ever.
THE POPULATION OF LOUISVILLE.
1900 1910 1920
600 1900 1000
1880 1910 1850
10000 2l,2lo $4,000
Louisville il the largest and most enter
prisiug, place 90 the southern shore Of tht
0hio; aud while C.nciHuati is spreading he'
comrnercia.. arms abroad in every direction
North aud Vest. she, ty her lines 70 Lex
ington and Nashville, y ccntsalizing th'
trade Of the great Southwest. and pourinl
il into the same common reseryoir,
Eastern capitalists are beginning tp real
nsthis fact, and projects .aro already c