222 PROGRESS AND TRAFFIC OF BUFFALO. 



fact, in the nature of things. Its position at the 

 termination of the Erie Canal, the monopoly of the 

 carrying trade of the lakes, and the rapid peopling of 

 the Far West — these are the sources of its past progress, 

 and must be the causes of a great increase still to its 

 size, wealth, and importance. It bears, in fact, at one 

 end of the inland water communication of the State, the 

 same relation to the traffic of the wide north-western 

 country as New York at the other end bears to the 

 commerce with Europe. 



It is interesting to note the direct and immediate effect 

 which the peopling of a new country has, not only oit 

 the rise and prosperity of particular localities, but upon 

 the general wealth, economical value, and forms of 

 husbandry followed in countries which adjoin it. 



Thus, in 1838, wheaten flour was shipped at 

 Buffalo for the west ; and the wheat-region of New 

 York, with that of Upper Canada, were the main sources 

 of its supply. Now, after only twelve years, an enormous 

 supply of wheat and flour is brought from the west, 

 along Lake Erie, and shipped upon the Erie Canal for 

 the east, at Buffalo and the adjoining port of Blackrock. 

 Thus, of wheat and flour so shipped, independent of 

 what might be arrested by the way, at Rochester and 

 elsewhere, there arrived at the Hudson Biver, in — 



1846, . . . 264,000 tons. 



1847, . . . 398,000 ... 



1848, . . . 273,000 ... 



1849, . . . 250,000 ... 



The value of these articles at Buffalo, in each of these 

 last two years, averaging about 10,000,000 of dollars. 



The effect of these large arrivals from the Western 

 States — which were unnaturally stimulated during the 

 years of European famine, as the large number opposite 

 the year 1847 indicates — has been to render wheat less 

 valuable in western New York, to make the wheat 



