* Statistics. 235 
Comparative Flour and Grain Trade of Jfeio York and Bos- 
ton. — The Journal of Commerce has given a comparison of the 
receipts of flour at the ports of New York and Boston, from the 
New York canals from which we take the following summary, 
showing that less than one-fifth the amount of flour brought down 
the canals goes to Boston, by way of the western rail road, while 
about three-fourths comes down the North river to New York. 
It appears that from (1840) the yearnext preceding the open- 
ing of the western railroad to 1846 inclusive, the quantity of 
flour brought into Boston from all sources, increased but 128,862 
barrels, which probably was not greater than the increase of con- 
sumption at home. A larger proportion of it, however, than for- 
merly, was brought from the state of New York. From other 
sources there was an actual decrease of some 50,000 barrels. The 
extraordinary activity of the flour market last year, in consequence 
of the demand for exportation, swelled the aggregate arrivals at 
Boston to 1,020,497 barrels, of which 744,534 barrels came from 
the state ot New Y^ork, and of these 511,26H barrels came by 
rail road. The receipts from other sources than the state of New 
York were less than in 1840 or 1839, before the rail road was 
built. 
As to the last four years, we are able to state how much of the 
flour which comes down the canals to the Hudson reached New 
York city, and how much went to Boston. Thus: 
Of wliich to New York. Do. to Boston. 
1,499,512 bbls. 334,004 bbls. 
1,700,198 " 456,618 " 
3,280,638 " 500,236 " 
2,919,400 " 744,534 " 
In order to exhibit the comparison in its full strength, we should 
include also the wheat which comes down the canals to tide, and none 
of which, or next to none, is carried to Boston. The amount so 
reaching tide in 1847 was 4,143,830 bushels— equal to 800,000 
or 900,000 barrels of flour. jMost of this wheat Avas brought to 
New York city. Part of it was ground in this vicinity, and of 
the rest — including some, doubtless, from the south — 2,114,792 
bushels was exported. The following statement shows the quan- 
tity of grain exported from this city during the last three years: 
18-15. 1?4G. 1847. 
Year. 
RecM by Canals at Tide. 
1844, 
2,212,204 bbls. 
1845, 
2,517,250 " 
1846, 
3,063,441 " 
1847, 
3,952,972 " 
Wheat (bushels), 
304,654 
1,477,356 
2,114,792 
Corn, 
- 304,292 
1,489.459 
6,198,902 
Rye, - - - 
44,059 
932,628 
407,915 
Barley, 
- 45,747 
82,340 
372,689 
Oats/ - 
none. 
89,096 
406,865 
698,752 4,070,879 9,495,563 
