Names. Rising Sun, h Lawrenceburg, 1832 40 1833 Sunk, Tennessee River. h New Richmond 1833 40 Richmond, Rambler, Randolph, h New Albany, 1833 500 Reliance, Brownsville, 1833 95 Revenue, hLouisville, 1833 130 Reindeer, 3d. hBrownsville, 1834 104 Rob Roy, Robert Emmet, Saint Louis, h Pittsburgh, New Albany, h Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, *h Pittsburgh, h New Albany, St. John, h Cincinnati, St. Laquis, Sylph, Saratoga, do.. Stranger, h Pittsburgh, Shark, Tow B. Cincinnati, Superior, h Steubenville, 1823 70 Seiota, h Gallipolis, Swallow, 1830 50 Shoalwater, 1831 Sunk. Sangamon, h Brownsville, Star of the West,h St. Martin, St. Landry, St. Leon, Science, h Fred'kstown, h Cincinnati, h Warren, h Portland, h do. h Jeffersonville, 1831 136 1831 185 1835 Worn out. 1831 145 1833 Burnt, at Louisville. 1832 400 1830 150 1835 Worn out.. 1832 53 1833 Snagged, in Arkansas. 1832 160 1833 Burnt, near Donaldsonville. 1832 174 1833 40 1831 230 1832 Sunk, by S. B. Baltic. 1833 80 Fredericktown, 1834 70 Steubenville, 1834 149 Pittsburgh, 1835 128 Cincinnati, 1835 156 Pittsburgh, 1835 355 Elizabethtown, 1835 165 Cincinnati, 1835 320 Pittsburgh, do. New Orleans, 1818 307 1824 Worn out, 1818 250 1822 Worn out. 1818 296 1825 Burnt, below Natchez. Comparative view of the number of Steam Boats built at The proportions of the above to the several States in which Steamboats are built CHAPTER XIII. Trade and Commerce. After the view that we have given of the vast extent of the western plain, the great magnitude and variety of its resources, and the remarkable facilities for commercial intercourse afforded by its numerous rivers, it may be almost superfluous to remark that its business operations are valuable and widely ramified. Yet it is impossible to attempt any thing beyond general observations on this interesting subject, as the details would be too numerous to be crowded into a single volume. From the number of steam boats which we have shewn to be in the employ of the mercantile community, some inference may be drawn, in relation to the magnitude of the capital invested; but any calculation made from these data alone, would fall far short of the truth, and would afford an inadequate idea of the various resources of a country whose superficial limits are estimated by thousands of miles, whose population is counted by millions, and whose inhabitants are unsurpassed in industry, enterprise, and intelligence. The changes are so rapid as to mock any attempt to catch the features of the landscape, or to follow up the gigantic strides of moral and physical improvement. While this work has been passing through the press fifty steam boats have been launched into our waters, and already our list is defective to that amount. Eight years ago the ground on which Chicago stands could have been purchased, for a sum which is now demanded for a front of six feet on one of the streets of that town. About the same time the author was offered a lot in Alton, for five dollars, which is now probably worth two thousand dollars. In 1830 a consignment of goods for " Beardstown, Illinois," was landed by mistake at Shauneetown, in the same state, where they remained for some time, because it was not known where Beardstown was. They had heard of Beard's ferry, on the Illinois river, and knew its exact position, and were not a little surprised to hear that a town had suddenly started into existence, between which and St. Louis several steam boats were regularly plying, before even its name was known to the people residing on the shores of the Ohio. The important cities of the west are Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Detroit, and St. Louis-yet there are fifty other towns, in a prosperous condition, which are considered as rivals of those we have named, by their inhabitants, who would doubtless feel indignant, at the exclusion of their names from the above list. it is not our object to draw comparisons; and as we are not writing a gazetteer, we cannot enumerate the various commercial points of this region, nor speak of the advantages of each. But The cities above mentioned are those of the first class, but a large number of towns are rising rapidly into importance, and already enjoying a liberal share of the trade of the west. We shall not enumerate these, as we could not do justice to all, and would be unwilling to give offence by omitting any which might be deserving of notice. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are the most important manufacturing towns. At these places chiefly, steam-boats are built, and engines made for a variety of purposes. Some idea of the vast amount of machinery manufactured at those points, may be formed from the facts, that steam mills for grinding wheat are now becoming scattered over the whole west-that steam machinery is used very generally in the preparation of cotton and sugar-and that it is rapidly taking the place of water and horse power, in various branches of manufacture. At these places are |