PART V. 

 INDJJSTRIIL PROGRESS AND RESOURCES. 



The earliest business associations of northern New-York, were 

 connected with the markets of the St. Lawrence. The illimitable 

 forests of Essex county, presented the first field to the settler for 

 the efforts of industry, and has continued to their successors an 

 inexhaustible source of enterprise and wealth. The lumber 

 trade with Canada, commenced soon after the permanent occupa- 

 tion of the country, subsequent to the revolution.^ Those sur- 

 vive who were connected with it as early as 1790. li enlisted 

 for many years, almost the whole energies of the population. 



Tlie public lands yielded a rich and unquestioned harvest to 

 those who entered upon them, while the rights of private owners 

 of wild lands were regarded with exceeding laxity. Fictitious 

 sales for taxes and other legal pretences, were often unscrupu- 

 lously, used to palliate or disguise these depredations. The price 

 paid upon real sales of standing timber, was merely nominal. 

 Labor imparted to the material its value. 



Norway pine and oak were at thaf time principally esteemed 

 for the Canadian trade. White pine had little comparative value, 

 until the construction of the Champlain canal opened a new 

 channel to this commerce. The oak sticks, prepared for the 

 northern market, were hewn. The pines were designed for the 

 navy of England, and were transported to Quebec, round, and of 

 any length exceeding twenty feet. Spars of vast dimensions were 

 exported from the shores of Lake Champlain. and sold to the 

 agents of the British government, probably to form 



" The jsaet cf Bome tall Admiral." ' 



