EFFECT ON NATIONAL PROGRESS i6l 



and that wliich is favored b}' ready access to the open seas, 

 is better placed than an\- other of the continental areas. It 

 is therefore fit that our people should feel themselves inter- 

 ested in all questions which are connected with navigation. 



From the time of the settlement of this country from 

 England to the beginning of our civil war, the English part 

 of our population was intensel)' interested in seafaring. In 

 the middle of the present century our commercial marine, 

 including the coastwise traffic and that of great lakes and 

 rivers, was the most extensive in the world. The disturb- 

 ances of the civil war to a great extent broke up our foreign 

 commerce. Since the reunion of the country the d(;velop- 

 ment of the region beyond the Mississippi and of the Cordil- 

 leras has absorbed the energies and occupied the capital of 

 our people to such an extent that we have been little con- 

 cerned with the trade beyond our own borders. Now that 

 the important task of wanning our internal empire to use is 

 in good part accomplished, there is reason to believe that we 

 shall enter upon the peaceful conquests of trade with remote 

 lands in the manner of our ancestors, but with vastly greater 

 resources for the development of that form of commerce. 

 It is safe to say that, at the end of the next century, and 

 perhaps near its very beginning, all that relates to the condi- 

 tions of our coast line will appear to us much more important 

 than at present. Therefore, we may presume that such 

 studies as are here essayed concerning American marine ports 

 will be timely and will at least in some considerable measure 

 anticipate the interests and needs of our people. 



The conditions necessary to fit any part of the shore to 

 serve vessels as a shelter and landing place are in general as 

 follows, viz.: The haven must be protected from the incur- 



