Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

The sale of lots commenced the same year, at from 58. 7 d. to 11s. 3d. an acre; at present, the price of wild lands is from four to twelve dollars, and of improved lands from twelve to twenty dollars, and upwards. The soil for the most part is a deep grey loam; the timber, beech, sugar maple, bass wood, elm, white ash, and black cherry; with about 500,000 acres of the finest white pine timber in America.

The flats bordering upon the Genessee river are amongst the richest lands that are to be met with in the United States, to the east of the Ohio. On the first settlement of this country, the soil was too strong to bear wheat; but at present it produces abundance of that essential grain. Indeed, the ground is so extremely rich and fertile, that it does not appear to be the least exhausted by the successive crops of Indian corn and hemp which are raised upon it year after year. The high lands in the neighbourhood of the Genessee are stony, and not remarkable for fertility; but the valleys are uncommonly fruitful, and abound with fine timber. The summers in this part of the country are by no means so hot as towards the Atlantic, and the winters are moderate; the snow seldom lying longer than six weeks.

In the western counties of the state of New York provisions are very reasonable, while labour of every description is well paid for. In that part of the country just described, (which may be taken as a standard for the whole,) the rates of the markets are as follow: flour 2 dollars per cwt.; beef, mutton, pork, and veal, from three to five cents, and poultry six cents per lb.; board two dollars a week; and house rent for mechanics, in villages, about fifty dollars per annum. Blacksmiths, masons, carpenters, and cabinet makers are in request, and meet with encouragement; the three former are paid a dollar and a half per day, the latter work by the piece; when smiths are employed in that manner, the charge is twenty-five cents per lb.; labourers receive one dollar a day.

All the western parts of this state are settled and settling principally by people from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the other New England states; few emigrants from Europe have as yet fixed their residence in this fruitful country. Most of the districts adjoining the Atlantic, including Long and Staten islands, the former of which comprises King's, Queen's, and Suffolk counties; and the latter constituting the county of Richmond, have been long, and, in many places, thickly settled. Long Island is situated at the southern extremity of the state, of which

it is a very interesting portion. Its length is about 140 miles, and its medium breadth from ten to fourteen miles; extending from Hudson's river, opposite to Staten Island, almost to the western boundaries of the coast of Rhode Island. The soil here is very well calculated for raising grain, hay, and fruit; and on the sea coast are extensive tracts of salt meadow, which are, however, well adapted to the culture of grain, particularly Indian corn. In Queen's county is Hampstead plain, sixteen miles long and about eight broad; it produces some rye, and large herds of cattle are fed upon it, as well as upon the salt marshes. On the south side of the island vast quantities of oysters are taken; forty or fifty vessels are often here at a time loading with them. The produce of the middle and western parts of this island is carried to New York, where a ready market is always to be found. The population of Long Island, by the last census, amounted to 48,752. Staten Island lies nine miles south-west of the city of New York, and is about eighteen miles in length, and at a medium six or seven in breadth; containing 5,347 inha-. bitants. On the south side is a considerable tract of level, good land; but the island in general is rough and the hills high. The inhabitants are chiefly descendants of the Dutch and French; and are noted for their hospitality to strangers.

The principal mineral productions of this state are iron and lead ore; copper and zinc have also been found in various places; and silver has likewise been discovered, but in no great quantity. Marble abounds, and is of an excellent quality; and freestone and slate are in great plenty. Plaster of Paris is raised in several parts of the state, and much used as a manure; sulphur is common in many places, and coal has been found, but in no great quantity. The salt springs at Onondago have been already noticed, and there are numerous air springs; which last are probably the gas arising from beds of pit coal on fire in the bowels of the earth. There is a medicinal spring at New Lebanon, twenty-nine miles from Albany, which affords a pleasant bath, at the temperature of 72°, and is much frequented; but the most remarkable springs in this state, or indeed in the United States, are those of Ballstown and Saratoga, the former thirty-two, and the latter thirty-six miles from Albany. The waters are highly medicinal, and are greatly resorted to in the summer season.

Civil divisions, towns, population, religion, character, &c. In the year 1731, the state of New York, then a

British province, contained ten counties and only 50,291 inhabitants; in 1771, same counties and 163,338 inhabitants, in 1786, (thirty-three years since,) twelve counties and 238,896 inhabitants; in 1791, sixteen counties and a population of 340,120 souls; in 1800, there were thirty counties, 305 towns (including three cities) and 586,000 inbabitants; at the last general census, in 1810, the num. ber of counties was forty-five; of towns (including four cities) 452; of villages, containing from thirty or forty to 600 houses, 300; with a population of 959,049 souls; giving an increase of fifteen counties, 147 towns, and 373,049 people in ten years! But at the commencement of 1818, the population amounted, by a state census, to no less than 1,486,739 persons; being about nineteen to the square mile, and an increase, in seven years, of 526,739 inhabitants; of whom 112,586 are regularly enrolled in the militia. The following table will exhibit the names of the counties and towns, and the number of inhabitants, as taken at the general census.

Counties.

Albany....

Allegany

Broome ....

*Cattaraugus

Townships. Population.

Chief Towns & Population,

8...... 34,661......Albany, 9,356
5...... 1,942......Angelica tp. 439
6...... 8,130......Chenango tp. 225
1......
Olean tp. 458

Cayuga ..........10...... 22,843...... Auburn tp. 500 *Chataughque 2......

[ocr errors]

Chataughque tp. 1,039

Chenango .......14...... 21,704...... Norwich, 225 Clinton ..... 5...... 1,002...... Plattsburgh tp. 3,112 Columbia ........11...... 32,390..............Hudson, 4,048 Courtlandt. 6...... 8,869...... Homer, 350 Delaware ........14...... 20,303......Delhi tp. 2,396 Dutchess........16..... 51,363......Poughkeepsie, 1,800 Essex ...... .11...... 9,477...... Elizabeth tp. 1,362 4...... 2,617...... Ezraville, 767 Genessee .......10 ..... .10..... 12,588...... Batavia, 200 7...... 19,536...... Catskill, 1,000 22,046.....Herkimer tp. 475 .12...... 15,140......Watertown, 250 6...... 8,303... ..Flatbush, tp. 1,159 7...... 6,433...... Martinsburgh, 150

Franklin

Greene....

...

Herkimer ........10...... 22,046..

Jefferson....

Kings.....

Lewis....

Madison.........11...... 25,144......Cazenovia, 500
Montgomery...15...... 41,214......Johnstown, 605
1...... 96,373......New York, 96,373

New York

Twenty-three. 192 461,978

Laid out since the census was taken,

[subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]
« AnteriorContinuar »