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tlieir rich cargoes will pay tribute to our merchants and revenue 
to our government, while, the huge ships will obtain supplies of 
coal and provisions from our mines, farms, gardens and orchards. 
Routes. The following exhibits some striking facts, demon¬ 
strating the relative facilities for developing commerce w T ith 
eastern Asia ; as figures won’t lie, we commend this important 
statement to the careful attention of thinking minds : 
Distance from New York to Shanghai, via Chicago, 
San Francisco and Midway Island, 10,423 miles. 
Do., do., via North P. R. R. and Puget Sound, 8,75C “ 
Dist. from Philadelphia to Shanghai, via Chicago, 
San Francisco and Midway Island, 10,343 “ 
Do., do., via North P. R. R. and Puget Sound, 8,675 “ 
Distance from Baltimore to Shanghai, via St. Louis, 
San Francisco and Midway Island, 10,390 “ 
Do., via Chicago, N. P. R. R. and Puget Sound, 8,675 “ 
For nearly forty years on the sea we have observed the onward 
progress of ocean steam navigation, and we naturally look to 
the floating palaces as the common carriers of the most valuable 
articles of commerce. The coarse freight will, as heretofore, be 
transported in sailing vessels. The lumber and coal produced 
in our broad valley will entice the winged messengers to the 
Sound, the steady northwest winds will waft them safely into the 
Strait DeFuca and enable them to gain their destined havens in 
safety. Sailing vessels from India bound to San Francisco, are 
compelled to sight Vancouver’s Island, run down the coast of 
Oregon and California, enter the calm belt — the “ horse lati¬ 
tudes ”— about the Farallones, which are often aggravated by 
thick fogs, detaining vessels for days, and frequently ending in 
shipwreck. Prof. Maury says, “ The trade winds place Van¬ 
couver’s island on the wayside of the road from China and 
Japan to San Francisco so completely, that a trading vessel 
under canvas to the latter place, would take the same route as 
if she was bound for Vancouver’s island, so that all return 
cargoes would naturally come there in order to save two or three 
weeks, besides risk and expense.” 
Population. The great civil war in our country has operated 
adversely to our territorial development, — emigration and 
capital have been diverted from us. Peace being again restored 
a healthy reaction is visible; replenishing streams of hardy 
pioneers have, for several years past, rushed to our shores, and 
the cry is* “ still they come.” The recent census indicates near-; 
ly 30,000 inhabitants. 
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