Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-11
pupJIsuED nAILY AND TRI-WEEKLS BY
EDGAR sNOWDEN.
what Makes Ci,ies Grow.

line IOlIOWluk obekVosooob "uiSh VIZ sohS
from the Baltimore Daily Exchange, will be
found to present views, which may be ap-
piled to our own prospects in connection with
the coal trade. That the rapid increase of
Baltimore and Philadelphia, has been main
IL dependant upon the opening of the coal
aud iron formations Of their respective States,
and thus stimulating the vast manufacturing
interests of those cities, cannot be questioned,
and gives us much encouragement as to the
developement of the more richly endowed coal
and iron fields, which lie within our reach,
and which the Alexandra, Loudouu, and
Hampshire road, will, as it we're, bring to our
own borders
"There are curious facts hidden away
among the macs of figures commonly known
as statistical tables, which, if properly un-
derstood, and correctly interpreted, are often
found to contain the solution of sone other
W Use inexplicable social, political, or com
mercial problem. Every thing in nature is
governed by laws, which it is possible to
make the basis of series Of calculations of
great value to the Statist or the Philosopher,
the Physician or the Aotuary. If We take
I'D, for instance, the lsst Treasury Report
on Commerce and Navigation, We are ena-
bled to institute comparisons between the
trade statistics Of one city, and those Of an
other; and to trace out the causes that retard
or facilitate commercial developement Let
us illustrate what we mean by few popu-
lar examples. If we compare the Census OF
1910 with that Of 1850, We shall be struck
with the remarkable growth, during the de-
csde, of Philadelphia and Baltimore, Of Chi
cago and Cincinnati. Ii we turn DOW to the
statistics of Con merce and Navigation, we
get, at once, the clew to the causes which
have produced results so extraordinary -
We zee that the rapid expansion OF the
trade of Philadelphia, and its consequent
increase in wealth and population, was ow-
ing the fact that after years of patient
LABOR, she had succeeded in penetrating, with
Railways, the coal fields of Penusy lvania,
and that the demand for this species of fuel,
built up almost as if by magic, populous
suburban district, and lucrative coastiug
trade. "The basis of England's prosperity
rests upon her coal mines" says Mccullough;
and the same may be said of any State where
in this valuable mineral exists in sufficient
quantities to justify the employment of CAPT
tai, and within easy distance of a market
First in the field, Philadelphia was the fire.
to reap the benefits OF her enterprising spirit
and the advance of her mos. prominent mar
ufactures was the pstursl consequence OF th'
introduction Of an ample supply Of cheap fuel
A similar impetus, from similar cause
has been given-tbough somewhat later II
the dsy-to Baltimore. The extension Of one
Railway to the Bitumipous coal fields Of tht
Cum berlapd mountains, and of another into
the Anthracite region Of PenDsy lvania, in
dependent Of the valuable agricultural pro
ducts brought over these roads to the near
est market, has added largely to the wealth
and population of our city, and has sensibly
expanded our commercial area. Railways
and coal-felds, are the two great stimuli Of
modern progress. 1t we connect with these
an enterprising people. aud port favorably
situated upon the sea board, or uTon one Of
our Great Iolapd Lakes, we have all the ele
ments Of present success and future great
ness. Railways benefit alike the merchan,
and the farmer. If the population of cities
like Chicago and Cincinnati, and of many
other towns in all sections of the Union. In
creases with rapidity that battles all our
calculations, it is owing to the ithueuce ez
erted upon them by the Railways that ter
miDatDg there, push out their main trunks
and their interesting branches, lar INTO the
interior, and connecting with other main
trunks, and other subsidiary lines, extend
their wonderful ramiications from Canada tc
the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Allan.
tic ocean 20 the headwaters ct the Missouri
river"