Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-05
THE NORTHERN SEdBO1RD.


The States of the seaboard are popularity sup
posed to be SO densely populated as to
be no longer fair fields fer emf.
grafton OF enterprise. And for long time for.
eign emigration has passed through them like
water through sieve, and large surplus of then
own restless population has gone west. Yet il
may be doubted if any portion of TIE west has a
capacity equal to the region lying east Of the Ale
ghany Mountains. Experience proves that the
western States grow with extraordinary rapidity
until they reach certain point, when the incre.
ment falls below that of the Atlantic States. Blu,
on the seaboard, where the growth has been reg
ular and steady, grand and remarkable stage OF
of development has set in, characterized by pro-
dgious activity Of capital and an amazing increase
of metropolitanism. The western frontier is now
so remote that the fever Of emigration is ceasing
and the attractions of the seabosrd come into view
again. In the case of the leading States the be-
lief is that they surround life in their populous
districts with even greater graces and elegances
than are to be generally met with in Europe, and
the achievements of New York in that way are no
small account. The aim in view is to win back
the entire mass of our absentees, and to make the
peet as well as in reality, to anything that can be
! seen elsewhere.
The improvements already made in Boston
New York and Philpdelphia are only the begin
ings of this work. and will be followed up on even
| grander scale. These three cities having car
RED the finances of the republic on their shoulders
through the civil war, feel that their strength is
Sc ficent for the grandest ambitions OF peace, AND
they believe that nothing that has been achieved
in the cities of the Old World of an elevated, en-
Iii C. L-
beyond onr reach in view of the general intelli-
gence, enterprise and public spirit OF our people,
| the diffusion of wealth and the hberality of its
possessors.
If New York and Pennsylvania were each as ex-
tensively and thoroughly traversed in all parts by
railroads as are Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, the re-
| suits would be immediate and immense. For the
resources of these two great Commonw ealths are
far beyond those of any part Of the West. Indeed
considering the amount of their wealth, popula-
ton, industry, agriculture and commerce. New
York ought to have 10 900 miles of railroad, and
Pennsylvania 5000, and Pittsburg and Buffalo
should each be cities large st. Louis and Chi
cago, and doubtless will be in time.
There seems to be preparation in New England
for a great reaction, which may arrest the drain
Of IN: x alton, and afford her surplus population
better prospects at home. Boston has already
gathered in most of her outlaying suburbs, and
will soon present metropolitan aspect calculated
to fix the attention and centralize the interests and
enterprise Of all New England New and very ex-
ten,ive railway connections with New York, Penn
sylvana, Canada and the West and South are be-
ing matured. Shipbuilding has revived ON the
coast, and foreign immigration is pouring into the
old States so that this foreign element will find
chances of profit in places long since supposed to
have been worn out.
From the great cities this new spirit Of progress
has been rapidly working its way among the
population of rural districts and minor cities and
towns, carried by the inarence of colleges, acade
mics, public schools and the periodical press. and
the change wrought in these once somnolent re-
gious is so remarkable as TO be but imper-
fectly known to or appreciated by the people Of
the great cities. There is scarcely village, town
or hamlet that has not become infused with new
life and intelligence. The old leaven is working
out very fast And thus the future of the north
ern seaboard is rapidly Frightening -IH1ode'-
phi0 North american.