Buffalo, a mere wooden village, burnt during the war of 1812, is now a large and flourishing city, containing 30,000 inhabitants; and, if it had a good harbour, would soon rival New York. To prove this, I beg the reader to take the trouble to peruse the accompanying statement of the present commerce of that city, from the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser of January 10, 1846, by which it will be seen that in the year 1845 the increase of vessels trading with it was enormous, and that by the Welland Canal, or an American ship canal, round the Falls of Niagara, they already contemplate a direct trade with Europe in British bottoms.
"There has been a prodigious accession to the Lake marine during the past season--no less than sixty vessels, whose aggregate tonnage is over 13,000 tons, and at an outlay of 825,000 dollars. Had we not the evidence before us, the assertion would stagger belief.
"More than usual pains were taken by us, during the past season, to procure information on this head and others touching thereto, the result of which we now present in our annual list of new vessels. This season we have ventured beyond the immediate margin of Lake Erie, and those other broad lakes beyond, to Lake Ontario, a knowledge of whose marine is now deemed essential to a thorough understanding of our lake matters.
NUMBER, TONNAGE, AND ESTIMATED COST OF NEW VESSELS BUILT IN 1845, FROM THIS CITY WESTWARD TO CHICAGO.
Name. Class. Tons. Where built. Dollars. Niagara steamer 1,075 Buffalo 95,000 Oregon ... 781 Newport, Michigan 55,000 Boston ... 775 Detroit 55,000 Superior ... 567 Perrysburg, O. 45,000 Troy ... 547 Maumee City, O. 40,000 London ... 456 Chippewa, C. W. 46,000 Helen Strong ... 253 Monroe, Michigan 22,000 John Owen ... 205 Truago, do. 20,000 Romeo ... 180 Detroit, do. 12,000 Enterprise ... 100 Green Bay, W. T. 8,000 Empire, 2nd steamer 100 Grand Rapids, Mic. 8,000 Algomah ... 100 St. Joseph River, do. 8,000 Pilot ... 80 Union City, do. 5,000 Princeton propeller 456 Perrysburg, O. 40,000 Oregon ... 313 Cleveland, O. 18,000 Phoenix ... 305 ditto 22,000 Detroit ... 290 Detroit, Michigan 15,000 Odd Fellow brig 225 Cleveland, O. 9,000 Enterprise ... 267 Grand Rapids, Mich. 8,000 Wing-and-wing schooner 228 Cleveland, O. 9,000 Magnolia ... 200 Charlestown, O. 2,000 Scotland ... 300 Perrysburg, O. 8,000 J. Y. Seammon ... 134 Chicago, Ill. 8,000 Napoleon ... 250 Sault Ste Marie 8,000 Freeman ... 190 Charleston, O. 7,500 Eagle ... 180 Sandusky, O. 7,000 Bonesteel ... 150 Milwaukie, W. T. 6,000 Sheppardson ... 130 ditto 5,000 Rockwell ... 120 ditto 5,000 E. Henderson ... 110 ditto 4,500 Rainbow ... 117 Sheboygan 4,000 C. Howard ... 103 Huron, O. 4,000 J. Irwin ... 101 Cleveland, O. 4,000 Avenger ... 78 Cottesville, Michigan 3,000 Flying Dutchman ... 74 Madison, O. 4,000 Cadet ... 72 Cleveland, O. 3,500 W. A. Adair ... 61 ditto 3,000 Elbe ... 57 ditto 3,000 Planet ... 24 ditto 3,000 Albany ... 148 Raised and re-rigged 2,503 Pilot ... 50 Milwaukie, W. T. 2,500 Mary Anne schooner 60 Milwaukie, W. T. 1,000 Marinda ... 60 Lexington, Michigan 3,000 Sparrow ... 50 Chora, ditto 2,500 Big B. ... 60 18 mile creek, 2,500 Hard Times ... 45 ditto 1,500 Friendship sloop 45 Sheboygan, W. T. 2,000 Buffalo ... 30 New Buffalo, Mich. 1,000 ------ ------- Total, 48 vessels 10,207 659,000