of fifty to the square mile, and where two hundred on equal surface could find support, with the enjoyment of every comfort of life, there must exist some great defect in modes of thinking, to superinduce extensive emigration. In the selection of element for the following comparative tables, I have not included either Maine or New York, as causes peculiar to both these states have influenced their political history. The sections adopted have been comparatively less influenced by external causes than most other parts of the United States, and, as to soil, have in themselves much in common. They have all, in a peculiar degree, the advantages of commercial facilities, but those southward of New York in a much greater extent than those to the northward. The period chosen of thirty years, from 1810 to 1840, was, perhaps, of any portion of time since the English colonies were originally formed in North America, the one best calculated to illustrate the philosophy of our statistical history. TABLE I. Table of the Progressive Population of the Five States named, from 1810 to 1840, as deduced from the respective Census Returns of those years. Table of the Progressive Population of the Lower or Maritime Counties of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the whole three Counties of Delaware, from 1810 to 1840. 33,326 52 1.31 TABLE II. With similar views which induced me to construct the foregoing tables, I drew up a rough table of that part of Virginia east of the Blue Ridge, and intended to copy it for your use; but, finding it divided into sixty-five counties, some of which had been, from 1810 to 1840, divided, I considered it more satisfactory to present the whole in one point of view. That part of Virginia has a rather remarkable approach to a triangle, having two hundred and sixty miles along the Blue Ridge, a very near equal distance on North Carolina-and, in direct distance, about two hundred and twenty from the southeastern angle on the Atlantic Ocean to the northern at the mouth of the Shenandoah: area, about 27,000 square miles. On this space, in 1810, by the census returns of that year, there existed a population of 705,196; which mass had, in the ensuing thirty years, augmented to 800,036, or increased by slow ratio of 1.134. Many of the counties remained nearly stationary, while some, similar to several in Table II., had diminished in population. 49 Ratio of increase in 30 years. 1.39 1.124 1.345 Amount,...... 1,517,515 2,041,471 41,523 TABLE IV.-Elements of Table Il. combined with those of Eastern Virginia. The two right-hand columns of these tables afford lessons which ought to excite serious reflections on our domestic policy. To stay the current of western emigration is a hopeless prospect, but many may be restrained from casting themselves on the current by timely warning. Let any person open a map of the United States, and scan the surface embraced by all the tabular views here presented, and then, with an Atlas of the World before him, find, if he can, a single other space on earth, all things considered, superior. I have not, for obvious reasons, included lower New York, and the more populous maritime counties of New Jersey; but may observe that no other principle in statistics is more sure in application than that great cities contribute to make great counties around them. That districts in their vicinity should not only remain, as to population, stationary, but some of them have a diminishing ratio, while were rising such cities as New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore, must arise from some sinister cause. Let us pause a moment, and examine the general progress of the entire population of the United States, during the thirty years' period, from 1810 to 1840. TABLE V.—Tabular View of the Progressive Population of the whole States and Territories of the United States, which were embraced by both enumerations. Amount,............ 7,239,814 16,837,285 827,264 The figures in table V. speak in strong language, the peculiar diffusion of population 201 2.32 -the immense void to fill up in the already organized states, and the highly important fact that while, in 1840, several of the central states nearly doubled the mean population of the Union, as many of the old Atlantic states fell short of the mean of the whole. In such estimates, we may premise that positive accuracy cannot be attained, and ought not to be expected. It is, however, of very minor consequence that minute details do not present mathematical precision, while the general results cannot be disputed. If no change takes place in the current of emigration, the centre of political power must correspond with the centre of force, and leave at long distance the Atlantic coast. RAILROAD STATISTICS. TARIFF OF RATES ON THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD. THE following is the tariff of rates of transportation on the main stem of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, between Baltimore and Cumberland. The rates are subject to some little modification when a whole car is engaged for a specific article. * Wheat is 23.15 cents per 100 lbs., and in the same proportion for intermediate distances as Flour. SPECIFIC RATES. Cumberland Coal-per ton, per mile,..... from Cumberland to Baltimore, per ton,... 46 66 Washington city,. IMPORTS OF FOREIGN MERCHANDISE INTO THE UNITED STATES. We gave in the May number of the Merchants' Magazine a very full view of the commerce of the United States, derived from the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Treasury, embracing summary statements of our domestic and foreign exports; imports from each foreign country; commerce and navigation of each state; the tonnage of our commercial marine, etc., etc. We now proceed to lay before our readers a summary statement of the quantity and value, as far as they can be ascertained from the official documents of the Treasury Department of the Government. A SUMMARY STATEMENT OF THE QUANTITY AND VALUE OF GOODS, WARES, AND MERCHANDISE, IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES DURING THE YEAR ENDING 30TH OF JUNE, 1845. Species of Merchandise. Bullion-gold,. Silver,.. Specie-gold,........ FREE OF DUTY. Quantity. 41,275 Value. $66,103 752,747 Species of merchandise. PAYING DUTIES AD VALOREM. Manufactures of wool, cloths, and cassimeres,.... merino shawls of wool,............ worsted stuffs,.. hosiery, gloves, mits, and bindings,.. other articles,.. Manufactures of cotton, dyed, printed, or colored,.......... white or uncolored,....... velvets, cords, moleskins, fustians, &c. hosiery, gloves, mits, caps & binding, Silk and worsted goods,......... Camlets, and other manufactures of goat's hair and mohair, Lace, thread and cotton,..... gold and silver, &c....... Flax, linens, bleached and other,........ other articles,..................... Hempen goods, sheetings, brown and white,........................ ticklenburgs, osnaburgs, and burlaps,. ............ 50,059 Paper hanging,.. 46,285 Slates of all kinds,.. 121,768 Black lead pencils,........... Copper bottoms, cut round, &c......... 3,455 |