252 
Variation in the Price and Supply of Wlieat. 
BUFFALO, ON LAKE ERIE, 1861.— Navigation on Lake Erie opened 13th 
April ; but the Erie Canal, which connects this port with New York, was not 
opened till May 1st, and continued open till December 11th. 
Principal import trade, grain and timber; and owing to the closing of the 
Mississippi river and the cutting off of the Southern market, the arrivals for 
shijiment by the Erie Canal have been unprecedented. 
Beceipts of Grain at the Port of Buffalo* 
1857. 
1858. ; 
1859. 
I860., 
1861. 
Indian corn .. 
Quarters. 
1,040,000 
730,000 
Quarters. 
1,334,000 
840,000 
Quarters. 
1,180,000 
390,000 
Quarters. 
2,310,000 
1,400,000 
Quarters. 
3,400,000 
2,630,000 
Indian corn ., 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
3,800,000 
3,036,000 
2,655,000 
2,512,000 
2,222,000 
1,360,000 
1,555,000 
2,480,000 
Grain and cattle chiefly derived from the prairies of the West. 
1862. — Imports of grain much increased ; traffic diverted from the usual 
routes to the seaboard, to the canals and railways of this State. The Western 
States are adding to the number of their mills. 
Movement of grain from Erie ports larger than in any year during the last 
ten years. 
Wheat supply chiefly from Chicago, Milwaukee, Toledo, Sandusky, Cleve- 
land, and Detroit. 
1865. — On flour, wheat, and oats, there was, it will be observed, a decrease 
of imports in 1865, which is, as nearly as possible, counterbalanced by the 
increase on Indian corn, barley, and rye. The deficient wheat crops of the 
last two seasons on this side of the Atlantic, and the abundant harvests on 
the other side — tending together to diminish at once both supply and demand 
— sufSciently account for the falling off of grain exports in 1865 as far as 
wheat and flour are concerned. The crop of Indian corn in 1865 was the most 
abundant on record, and the jirice of this cereal was further affected by the 
closing of many of the Western distilleries in consequence of the high excise 
tax upon whisky. The crop of barley was also rather above than under the 
average, and the duties on spirits have greatly increased the demand for this 
cereal by the brewers, who are profiting largely by the financial burdens 
thrown upon the distiller. 
1867. — The principal railways centering in Buffalo are the Lake Shore Line, 
which places the town in communication with the great railway system of 
the West; the Bufialo and Lake Huron Line, connecting with the Grand 
Trunk Railway of Canada ; and the New York Central and Erie Lines, both 
of which terminate in New York. 
The Lake Huron Railway crosses the Niagara river by means of a floating 
steam bridge, which is registered at the Custom-house as an ordinary steamer. 
The traffic of this line is, therefore, included under the head of " lake com- 
merce," as above given. 
* Quantities nearly corresponding are noted as " Exported by Canal." 
