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legitimately gained by the aid of nautical skill and of keen observation, united to a wise application of scientific principles, as those which have occurred along the greater extent of our national seaboard. A few short years have witnessed the bark canoe displaced by a fleet superior to the entire marine of many nations, and the same lapse of time will find the country fully developed — agriculture in its highest state of perfection, a region rich in treasures of iron, lead, copper, coal, and various other products of the mine, yielding rich rewards, and the broad expanse of water of the lake region whitened with the sails of a gigantic commerce ; for, as yet, we are but in our infancy. The influence of railroads upon the commerce of the lake region is marked. Already are the south and east shores of the chain of lakes lined with railroads which are fast drawing passenger travel from the lakes, and the day is not far distant when the locomotive will traverse each shore of all these inland seas. What such an event will accomplish it is difficult to conceive ; but thus far, the effect in working a change in the character of the lake commerce is perceptible. Except to fill fragments of railroad routes, first class steamers are of little account and are fast diminishing in number. In the meantime, steam vessels, built with reference to safety and capacity of tonnage and economy in working them, are rapidly multiplying. A fine fleet of propellers is now doing the great bulk of freighting business on the lakes, showing conclusively that steam is growing more rapidly into favor and trade so admirably adapted in its successful application as that of the western lakes. In 1843, we believe, the first freight propeller was built on the lakes, and was called the Hercules. In 1845, there were only eight, and ten new ones were added to the list during the following year. In 1849, there were 45 propellers on the lakes, and in 1854 the number was increased to 97.