have appeared in the "New Orleans Price Current" for a series of years. There is no mode of ascertaining the value of property passing up the Mississippi river from New Orleans: it has, therefore, been estimated in the following tables to equal three times the amount of importations of foreign goods.

The want of correct statistical information relating to the trade, commerce, and navigation of this confederacy is a sufficient reason for commending, in a special manner, to the public, the volumes recently · published, by Professor DeBow, of the University of Louisiana, entitled "The Industrial Resources of the South and West," which can be profitably consulted by all desirous of obtaining commercial information minute in its details and philosophical in its arrangement.

ERIE CANAL ROUTE.

Statement showing the value of each class of property reaching tide-water on the Hudson during a series of years, ending December 31.

Years. Products of the Agriculture. Manufactures. Merchandise. Other articles. forest.

The following brief notices and accompanying tables will serve more fully to illustrate the character of the business of this route in detail, and also convey to the mind of the reader some idea of the influence which the commerce flowing through this channel has had in building up the towns and cities on the tide-waters of the Hudson river.

Albany. This city, one of the most ancient, and at one time of first commercial importance among the marts of America, has direct relation with colonial trade and lake commerce and navigation.

When it is considered that the extraordinary facilities furnished by the Hudson river toward reaching the great marts on the Atlantic coast called into existence, if they did not actually create a necessity for, those artificial channels through which the great lake commerce finds its way to tide-water, it will be seen that there is a most intimate commercial connexion between the great lakes and the ports on the tide-waters of the Hudson. The whole effect, therefore, of the vast trade under consideration, is not visible without a sketch of the business of those ports-especially as much of the Canada trade, indeed nearly the whole of it, with this country, reaches tide-water by way of Albany, and makes part of the commerce of the Hudson.

There are several cities on the banks of this noble river worthy of notice. Albany, Troy, Lansingburgh, and Waterford, are all places of thriving business.

Waterford is the most northerly, and lies on the west bank of the river, nearly opposite Lansingburgh, at the point where the Champlain and Erie canals form their junction. It is not a large town, but has some flourishing manufactories, among them several flouring mills, which add much to its canal commerce.

Lansingburgh, on the opposite side of the river, a little further south, is an old town, which was engaged in a flourishing river commerce, carried on by means of sloops and schooners, as early as 1770, with New York and the West Indies.

The introduction of steam has caused that trade to cease; and Lansingburgh, being off the line of the canal, has little use for her docks and warehouses at this day.

Troy, three miles south of Lansingburgh, is a large and enterprising modern city of about 30,000 inhabitants, having increased in population, from 1840 to 1850, 9,451. The city lies on both sides of the Hudson, six miles north of Albany, and one hundred and fifty-six from New York. The principal portion of the city is on the eastern bank of the river, over which communication is kept up by ferries and a bridge. Troy is at present, therefore, virtually at the head of steamboat navigation on the Hudson. On the west bank, the canal is connected with the river by a lock, through which boats may pass and thence tow by steam to Albany and New York, or, which is more frequently the case, discharge their cargoes on board barges, of great capacity, which are towed down the river to New York, while the canal craft receive another cargo and return northward or westward. It is this business

of transhipment and exchange which forms the principal commerce of Troy, and occasions its rapid growth. It is connected with Boston and New York, as well as Burlington, Rutland, Montreal, and all western cities, by railway, as will be observed by the accompanying railway

map.

Albany is the oldest and most important of all the river cities. It was first visited by Hendrick Hudson in 1609, and was settled a few years later, under the appellation of the manor of "Renssellaers-wyck," by a colony of Dutch, under the manorial superintendence of Jeremais Van Renssellaer. It has steadily increased in population, wealth, and enterprise since the date of its settlement, but has throughout adhered to many of its old Dutch customs and names. In 1754 it had attained a population of 1,500 to 2,000; in 1800, 5,349-since which time the number of inhabitants has been doubled, on the average, once in fifteen years, giving it, in 1840, a population of 33,721, and in 1850, 50,771. It is the capital of the great State of New York, and is now easily accessible from all parts of the commonwealth. The capitol is situated on the hill back from the river, commanding a fine view for many miles up and down the stream, as well as over the surrounding country. The elevated position of the city makes it a healthy and delightful residence. The country around is uneven, and in some parts mountainous, but mostly susceptible of a high state of cultivation.

The commerce of Albany is almost as ancient as its settlement, though it was first made a port of entry in 1833. No reliable records of its river commerce were kept previous to that date. As early as 1770, Albany sloops visited the West Indies in large numbers, and in 1785 the "Experiment," a sloop of 80 tons, was fitted out here for China, being the second adventure from this country to Canton. She created great interest in the China seas, returned in safety, and made several subsequent trips. The application of steam as a propelling power has nearly revolutionized the commerce of the ports on the Hudson; and the ancient foreign trade of Lansingburgh, Troy, and Albany is now extinct. In 1791, no less than forty-two sail were seen to arrive at or pass Albany, on their way to places above, in a single day. After Albany was erected into a port of entry, Congress made an appropriation for the removal of the obstructions to navigation, about six miles below the city, known as the Overslaugh. Although much was done to clear the channel and prevent future accumulations, yet the passage is still difficult at low water, and requires further and more efficient improvements. No detailed statements of the river commerce of Albany are at hand; but much may be learned from the excellent reports of the auditor of the canal department with regard to the quantity and value of articles arriving at and going from tidewater. This will give nearly all the commerce of the river at Albany and points above.

The number of vessels arriving and departing from Albany, consisting of schooners, sloops, brigs, steamers, propellers, and scows, was, in 1848, 788, and in 1849, 785. The tonnage entered and cleared

at this place, of the same class of vessels, for a series of years, was as

follows:

Much of this tonnage traded to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. The following table shows something of the value of the commerce of all the tide-water ports for a series of years, as given in the canal

The following table exhibits the proportion of each class of property coming to tide-water. That going west was chiefly merchandise:

Years.

The forest. Agriculture. Manufactures. Merchandise. Other articles.

The following table shows the character, quantity, and value of the property coming to tide-water on the State canals during the year 1851: