APPENDIX. Having described in previous portions of this report the various works which compose our system of artificial improvements, a brief notice of the internal and domestic commerce of the country, which may be said to be the result of these works in connexion with our unrivalled natural channels of trade-our navigable lakes and rivers; the general character and direction of this commerce; its progressive development, and present and prospective magnitude; the influence it has exerted in the advancement of the wealth and prosperity of the country; and the relation that some of our leading staples bear to our foreign and domestic trade-forms an appropriate sequel to be considered in this Appendix. The great facilities which are offered by the topographical features of the country for a vast and extended domestic commerce, were foreseen at an early period of its history. The wonderful sagacity of WASHINGTON discovered and predicted the result which the people have within a comparatively few years achieved. When, in 1783, he proceeded up the Mohawk valley to Fort Stanwix, the present site of Rome, N. Y., and from thence, over the route now occupied by the Erie canal, to the waters of Wood creek, which flow into Lake Ontario, and from thence to the sources of the Susquehanna, he gave the following expression to this glowing thought: "Taking a contemplative and extensive view of the vast inland navigation of the United States, I could not but be struck with the immense diffusion and importance of it, and with the power of that Providence who had dealt his favor to us with so profuse a hand. Would to God we may have wisdom to improve them." Our national progress has undoubtedly far transcended all that the "Father of his Country" dared ever to hope or desire. Our natural avenues have been improved, and artificial ones have been constructed, allowing the free, rapid, and cheap movement of the products of national industry in every direction, and the producer and consumer in every portion of the country are brought into convenient connexion with each other. By opening easy access to markets, the development of our resources has been stimulated to an extraordinary degree. The results obtained can hardly be better expressed than by copying the following paragraph from the celebrated Treasury Report of the Hon. Robert J. Walker, of 1847-'48, in which he says: "The value of our products exceeds three thousand millions of dollars. Our population doubles once in every 23 years, and our products quad ruple in the same period. Of this three thousand millions of dollars only about $150,000,000 are exported abroad, leaving $2,850,000,000 at home, of which at least $500,000,000 are annually interchanged between the several States of the Union. Under this system, the larger the area and the greater the variety of climate, soil and products, the more extensive is the commerce which must exist between the States, and the greater the value of the Union. We see then, here, under the system of free trade among the States of the Union, an interchange of products of the annual value of at least $500,000,000 among our twenty-one millions of people, whilst our total exchanges, including imports and exports, with all the world beside, containing a population of a thousand millions, were, last year, $305,194,260." The following tables will exhibit something of the productions and value of the country in 1850, and of its commerce with foreign nations in 1851. These tables have been compiled from various authentic and official sources, and may be relied upon as the nearest approximation to correctness that can be had under the present system of procuring statistics. The following statements show the trade and commerce, population, treasury receipts, &c., of the country, for several years: Average yearly imports, 1821 to 1826, inclusive, specie omitted.. $74,554,315 Average yearly imports, 1821 to 1826, inclusive, specie included 80,878,348 Average yearly imports, 1848 to 1852, inclusive, specie omitted 176,247,101 Average yearly imports, 1848 to 1852, inclusive, specie included.... Average yearly exports, 1821 to 1826, inclusive, specie omitted... 181,966,579 69,439,785 Average yearly exports, 1821 to 1826, inclusive, specie included.. 77,491,843 Average yearly exports, 1848 to 1852, inclusive, specie omitted.... 155,760,131 Average yearly exports, 1848 to 1852, inclusive, specie included 175,943,360 Tonnage in 1821... 1,298,958 tons. Tonnage in 1852.. 4,138,441 tons. |