Southport Telegraph

THE TELEGRAPH
SOUTHPORT, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1844

The present number closes the 4th volume of the Telegraph. We trust that all who wish to continue their subscription, and can possibly make it convenient, will pay us before the issuing of the 1st number of Volume 5, in advance for the year. We wish to lay in a stock of paper, and can do it in no other way. The first number will be issued at the regular time—Tuesday of next week.

With regard to our sheet, we have no new designs, nor new promises to make for the coming year. We now publish the largest paper in the territory; and with perhaps one exception (the American Freeman) we give weekly the greatest amount of reading matter. We have labored in time past to fill our sheet to the best advantage, we shall do the same in time to come. To say that our paper has been all it should be, would perhaps savor somewhat of egotism, but that we have not been altogether unsuccessful, in making it acceptable, we have the gratifying assurance of a steadily increasing support. By the same exertion, we shall endeavor to deserve a continuance of such increase. Whilst we have reason to be highly gratified at the result of our exertions thus far, we cannot expect in all things to have done right, nor to have escaped more or less censure. But in all things, we have the self-gratification of knowing that our purposes have been strictly honest. We have desired the best interests of our town and territory, and for the party, our ardent desire has been to advance the pure and healthful democratic principles. We trust all who may be disposed to censure us, will judge us by our motives, and believe them honest; and if any thing like a personal hostility has at any time seemed to characterize our course, that they will believe it is not "that we love Caesar less, but Rome more." We need hardly say that the interests of our town and territory will still be our desire, nor that for our party and its principles we shall still labor with an ardent and honest zeal. On the last point we will say a word more. The great parties of the nation are now marshalling their forces for the battle of November next—the time intervening will be one of great excitement in the political world. We all of us have our settled views on the principles involved; and are all on one side or the other, and consequently feel a deep interest in the progress of the contest. Our sheet until the close of the contest will probably contain something more than the usual quantity of political matter. We shall endeavor to have it of that kind which will most interest our readers—rather a detail of transpiring events than elaborate arguments intended for those only who can exercise the privilege of voting. True we shall not forget that in our territory, we have in the present season an important election; and shall spare no reasonable and proper exertion for the success of the democratic principles, believing it is on that alone the mass can rely for permanent prosperity. The Telegraph cannot be an idle spectator in the existing contest, but we shall by no means, situated as we are, a territory, fill up our sheet with political, to the exclusion of other matter. We shall endeavor to make such selections as will be satisfactory to our readers.

To change the subject to one of universal interest, what a remarkable change has the four years which have passed, brought to our village and immediate country. To one not acquainted with the progress of the west, and familiar only with the steady and slow progress of an eastern village—the rapid strides which our town has made from its first settlement to its present size, would be truly astonishing. At the time the Telegraph was established our village scarcely numbered 400 inhabitants. South of the spot where our office now stands, but three or four buildings were erected. The first wheat was purchased in town for the purpose of export but little more than 3 years ago. Goods were then taken from the steamboats by means of lighters for that purpose, and to the country we had but one road which was passable. We now, after a lapse of four years, number 2,000 inhabitants. The town plot south of our office which was then a wilderness, has now at least 300 buildings; 30 of them stores and places of business, and the rest commodious and handsome dwellings. Among the stores is a three story brick block, which for size and finish is not surpassed in the territory. Other parts of the town have increased correspondingly. Of the last year's crop of wheat something over 100,000 bushels have been shipped from this port. Instead of lighters to take goods from boats which occasionally stopped, we have now two commodious piers to do the business of the boats which daily visit us from Buffalo, and instead of but one road to the country, several main roads now lead west. We need hardly say that this rapid growth has resulted only from the rapid settlement of the country back of it. This will be obvious and it will readily be conceived that where now one hundred thousand bushels of wheat are shipped where three years ago, the first bushel was brought to market, the country must be blooming under the hand of the agriculturist. But we have as yet just begun to grow. The causes for our growth are found in the developments of the resources of the country; these resources are just beginning to be developed: the tide of emigration seems to have but set in this direction. What may we not then hope and expect for the future. In view of the prospects in every department of business we enter upon our 5th volume with renewed hope, and with a renewed determination to go forward in the course we have hitherto pursued.