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Growth Of New York, 1825-1860

        New York's growth between the years 1825 and 1860 can be
attributed to a number of factors. These include but cannot be limited
to the construction of the Erie Canal, the invention of the telegraph,
the developed of the railroads, the establishment of Wall Street and
banking, the textile, shipping, agriculture and newpaper industries,
the development of steam power and the use of iron products. On
October 26, 1825 the Erie Canal was opened. The canal immediately
became an important commercial route connecting the East with the Ohio
and Mississippi Valleys. With tht time of travel cut to one-third and
the cost of shipping freight cut to one-tenthof the previous figures,
commerce via the canal soon made New York City the chief port of the
Atlantic. The growing urban population and the contruction of canals,
railroads and factories stimulated the demand for raw materials and
food stuffs. In 1836 four-fifths of the tonnage over the Erie Canal
came from western New York (North, 105). Much of this cargo was in the
form of agriculture goods.

        The farmer become a shrewed businessman of sorts as he tended
to produce whatever products would leave him the greatest profit
margin. The rise of the dairy industry was by far the most significant
development in the agricultural history of the state between 1825 and
1860. Farmers discovered that cows were their most relliable
money-makers, since both the domestic and foreign market kept
demanding more dairy products (Ellis, 273). Price flucuations became
increasingly important for the farming population between 1825 and
1860. Prices rose from the low level of the early 1820's until the
middle 1830's and the farmer's shared in the general prosperity (271).
Although the rapid industrialization and urbanization of New York had
a great deal to do with the success of agricultural markets sporadic
demand from aboard as a result of the Irish famine, the Crimean War
and the...