Sundry merch'dise, value. $2, 366, 200❘ $2, 482, 925 $2, 106, 450 $1, 162, 668 37 $426, 972 The above statistics clearly demonstrate that the opening of the railway has created a complete revolution in the trade of Ogdensburg, a large demand having suddenly sprung up for coastwise imports of produce, to be exported seaward by railroad, while the call for foreign merchandise, formerly imported coastwise for home consumption, has been entirely superseded, goods of that description being now largely introduced by railway from the seaboard, for distribution through Canada and all the lake regions. By this change, the mercantile prosperity and activity of this town and district has, it will appear, been increased fifty-fold, and the trade matured from a mere home-consumption business to an immense forwarding, foreign importing, and domestic exporting traffic; nor, in view of the incalculable hourly increase of western productiveness and consumption, can any one pretend to assign any limits to the future improvement of this branch of commerce. The coastwise exports during the same period, of a few leading articles, were as follows: The estimated value of the imports and exports for the years above named, is as follows: The report of inward and outward bound vessels is as below, for From the above figures it will be readily perceived, independent of the general increase of commerce in the district consequent on the opening of the railroads, that the returns for the years previous to 1850 are in round numbers, and are probably very far from accurate, while those for 1850 and 1851 are in detail, and the merchandise is valued at a very low rate; so much so, that if the valuation of assorted merchandise were made according to the rates adopted in other districts, it would raise the gross amount to a sum higher, by at least a million of dollars, than that exhibited above. The tonnage enrolled and licensed in the district is 1,985 tons of steam, 576 tons of sail-employing 125 men. The original cost of the above tonnage was $208,300. Abstract of the number of vessels, tonnage, and men employed upon the same, which entered and cleared from the port of Ogdensburg, district of Oswegatchie, New York, distinguishing American from British, during the years 1850 and 1851. COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, DISTRICT OF OSWEGATCHIE, N. Y., Ogdensburg, December 31, 1851. J. C. BARTER, Collector. Port of entry. Cape Vincent; latitude 44° 06', longitude 76° 21'; population in 1830, not defined; in 1840, not defined; in 1850, 3,044. This district, commencing at Alexandria, on the southwestern border of Oswegatchie, extends about eleven miles southwesterly up the St. Lawrence, to the outlet of Lake Ontario, and Black river bay, on which Sackett's Harbor is situated. Cape Vincent, owing to the sinuosities and irregularities of its shores, has a coast line of nearly thirty-eight miles, and embraces the shipping ports of Cape Vincent, Clayton, and Alexandria, which are for the most part mere stopping-places for the lake steamers plying between Montreal, Ogdensburg, and the ports of Lake Ontario, which touch at these landing-places to procure wood, vegetables, milk, and other necessaries. To this fact is owing the very considerable amount of tonnage entering and clearing from these little ports, though it is at once evident that no indication is thereby afforded of the actual business transacted in the district. It has some small trade with Canada, carried on principally in skiffs across the St. Lawrence and among the thousand islands; but, if there be any coasting traffic at all, it is so slender that no returns of it appear to have been, at any time, regularly kept. Cape Vincent, the port of entry, is some twelve to thirteen miles from Kingston, C. W.; the distance being about four miles over the main channel of the St. Lawrence from Kingston to Long Island, then between seven and eight miles across the island, and then a mile over the channel on the American side to Cape Vincent. The imports from Canada, 1851.... The exports to Canada, 1851.. $61,358 33,188 94,546 $50,756 69,284 120,040 94,546 25,494 The Canadian commerce of this district previous to these years was of the following values: Total Canadian commerce of 1849... $90,484 91,597 The enrolled tonnage of the district amounts to 2,496 tons, all sail. Port of entry, Sackett's Harbor; latitude 43° 55', longitude 75° 57'; population of township in 1850, 4,136. This district is composed of that portion of the coast of Lake Ontario which runs almost in a due southerly direction from Tibbits' Point, round Chaument bay, Black river, and Henderson's bay, terminating at Stony Point, and embracing a coast line estimated at one hundred miles, following the sinuosities of its very irregular and deeply indented |