104 ^ CANAL. 



7. The trader always prefers to buy where he* 

 3eils. The reasons are obvious — he saves time 

 — he avoids expense. 



If the ascendi!]^ commodities conveyed from 

 New-Orleans, and descending commodities con- 

 veyed down the ^lississippi to that place, amount 

 at the present time to 150,000 tons annual'}, it 

 is not unreasonable to estimate those transported 

 on the Great Canal, as soon as it is finished, at 

 500,000 tons, Wlien we consider that the region 

 west of Buffalo will obtain all its foreign goods 

 through that medium, and also a considerable por- 

 tion of its salt ; and when we contemplate the 

 abundance and variety of its products, and take 

 into view the opulence, the population, the vast 

 resources and immense consumption of the terri- 

 tory in the line of the canal, we cannot withhold 

 our faith from Mr. Fulton's estimate. 



Our experience on the middle section of the 

 canal this year, cannot afford any fair standard of 

 calculation with respect to the future productive- 

 ness of its revenue. I should not be surprised, if 

 the remainder of the season is not uncommonly 

 cold, that 40 or 50.000 tons will be transported 

 on it. Every year will add to its amount, and 

 every advance to tiie east or to the west, will 

 extend its benefits and increase its usefulne??. 



