The entire line of Lake coast extends about 5,000 miles, 2,000 of which are the coast of a foreign power. The following table gives the dimensions of the Lakes.

16,674

These Lakes may be considered as connected throughout their whole extent. Lake Champlain connects with Lake Ontario by means of the River Richelieu, the lock and dam navigation of St. Lawrence River, the Ottawa River, the Rideau Canal through Canada, and the Champlain and Erie Canals of New York. Lake Ontario is connected with Lake Erie by means of the Welland Canal through Canada, and by means of the Oswego and Erie Canals through the State of New York. Lake Erie is connected with Lake St. Clair by the deep and navigable Strait of Detroit, 25 miles long, Lake St. Clair is connected with Lake Huron by the deep and navigable Strait of St. Clair, 32 miles long. Lake Huron is connected with Lake Michigan by the deep and wide Strait of Mackinaw, and with Lake Superior by the Strait of St. Mary's, 46 miles long. This strait is navigable throughout, except for about one mile of its length, immediately adjacent to Lake Superior, where, from rocks and the extreme rapidity of the current, navigation ceases. These difficulties can, however, be easily surmounted by a canal of not more than a mile long, with locks to overcome a fall of about 21 feet. The only additional obstruction to this immense extent of inland navigation is in St. Clair Lake, on approaching the St. Clair Strait. This obstruction consists of an extensive bar, but not of great width, over which not more than seven feet water, in depressed conditions of the Lakes, can be counted upon. This shoal consists of an indurated marl, and there is but little doubt, that, if a channel were once dredged through, it would remain a durable improvement.

The tributaries of the Mississippi are connected with the Lakes by various continuous lines of canal or railroad. There are likewise, by canals and railroads, means of communication between the Lakes and the seaboard. The different lines of canals and railroads are given in detail by Colonel Abert, in his interesting and able report.

The amount expended for the improvement of Lake harbours and Western rivers from 1806, (when the first appropriation was made,) to the last appropriation of 1845, inclusive, is,

For the Lake harbours,

For the Western rivers,

$2,790,500

2,758,800

$5,549,300

XXXIV. TABLE OF SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES IN

THE UNITED STATES. JULY, 1848.

[The following table has been compiled from statistics furnished, in most cases, by the mayors of the respective cities. The editor of the Almanac takes this opportunity to present his thanks to these gentlemen for their kindness; and hopes in the next volume to give similar information concerning a larger number of cities.]

*The number qualified in 1845 was 63,927.

! This includes the white children between the ages of 5 and 14.
§ Average attendance.

1 114,366 13,353

8,524

1,323,550

1 16,762 2,274

2,548

73,175

1

1 31,753 3,974 8,644 6,177
50,200 8,300 10,000 $3,127

185,304

877,896

1653 W. F. Havemeyer, 1 371,223 43,496*

t12,211,876

1

25,265 2 33,000 13,573

6,796

5,984

117,000

830,000

11,304 870

16,000 62,000

100,000

1,036,121

In Boston, New York, Albany, and New Orleans, the number of paupers and of deaths the last year was materially increased by European immigrants. In New Orleans the number of deaths was also increased by the passage of unacclimated persons through that city to Mexico.

Albany has 6 breweries and 50 malting-kilns.

Washington lays no tax on the real estate of the United States government therein, valued at $7,622,879.

The number of names on the list of voters at Salem is 2,850.

The percentage of tax affords little information concerning the rate of taxation, as the valuation of property varies in the different cities. In Boston real estate is taxed at its actual value; in Detroit, at about one half its value.

The number of paupers given for Boston is the total relieved during the year. The average number supported in the almshouse was 661.

St. Louis was settled in 1764, and incorporated as a town in 1810.

In Boston, in 1845, the number of children under 16 years of age was 37,268.

The terms of office of the mayors of the several cities commence as follows: - Boston, 1st Monday of January; Salem, 4th Monday of March; Detroit, 1st Monday of March; Providence, 1st Monday of June; Albany, April; New York, 2d Tuesday of May; New Orleans, 2d Monday of May; St. Louis, April; Savannah, 1st Monday of December.

* $ 13,731 is to be added to this sum for the local tax for improvement of streets. † Probably not entirely accurate.

* In 1846,

INDIVIDUAL STATES.

I. MAINE.

GOVERNMENT

For the Year ending on the second Wednesday in June, 1849.

the second Wednesday in May, 1849),