Buffalo, New York, USA
1854 - Buffalo

Buffalo, a city, port of entry, and seat of justice of Erie county, New York, is situated at the eastern extremity of Lake Erie, 2 or 8 miles S. from the commencement of Niagara river : W. from Albany 364 miles by the Erie canal, and 325 miles by the Central railroad, (both of which terminate in this city,) 470 miles N. W. from New York, 22 miles S. S. E. from Niagara Falls, 103 miles N. E. from Cleveland, 290 miles N. by E. from Detroit, and 697 miles E. by N. from Chicago. Lat. 42° 53' N. ; Lon. 78° 55' W. It is regularly, and for the most part, handsomely built, partly on an elevation, and partly on a marsh or low ground, intersected in the southern part by Buffalo creek. This latter portion is the seat of the principal business. The site rises gradually as it recedes from the water's edge, and at the distance of 2 miles becomes an extended plain, 60 feet above the level of the harbor, affording delightful views of the city, lake, Niagara river, and Canada shore. The streets are broad, straight, and usually intersect each other at right angles. Main street, more than 2 miles long, and 120 feet wide, is perhaps the finest in the city, being enclosed on either side with lofty buildings. There are three public squares, Niagara, Franklin, and Washington, all of which are planted with shade-trees, and otherwise ornamented. The harbor is formed by Buffalo creek, and is of sufficient depth one mile from its entrance into the lake, for vessels drawing from 12 to 14 feet of water. It is capacious, and well protected from storms, having a pier or breakwater which extends 1600 feet from the S. side of the month of the creek. By thus confining the channel, the bar that originally obstructed the entrance to the harbor has in great measure been washed away by the current. Upon the end of this pier is a light-house, 20 feet in diameter at its base, and 46 feet high. The principal obstruction to the harbor at present, is the ice which at the breaking up of winter is often driven into it by strong westerly winds, where it not unfrequently remains long after the lake 13 clear. Several hundred thousand dollars have been expended within a few years past, on this portion of Buffalo creek, in the construction of slips and ship canals to meet the growing wants of commerce. The public buildings are a court house, a jail, 2 market-houses, and about 40 churches, several of which have recently been erected. The Catholic cathedral, not yet completed, will be one of the finest structures of the kind in the United States. St. Paul's and St. John's, (Episcopal,) the North church, and the Central church are distinguished for their architectural elegance.

Among the literary, educational, and benevolent institutions may be mentioned the Buffalo University, chartered in 1846. Connected with it is a flourishing medical college. The Young Men's Association has a library of over 6000 volumes, and sustains an able course of lectures. A society recently organized, denominated the German Young Men's Association, possesses a valuable collection of about 2000 volumes, consisting for the most part of works in the German language. Both of these societies have reading-rooms well supplied with periodicals and newspapers. The female academy is delightfully situated, and endowed to the amount of about $50,000. Buffalo is distinguished for her public schools, and has the honor of being among the very first cities in the state in introducing and perfecting this system of popular education. The schools are under the direction of the city council, and open to the children of all classes free of charge. Buffalo has a murine hospital, founded in 1833, an orphan asylum, and an organization called the Sailors' and Boatmen's Friend Society.

The manufactures of Buffalo are import ant, especially in the article of iron, in the production of which several large establishments are engaged. The city is supplied with excellent water from Niagara river by a corporation having a capital of $400,000 : it is also lighted with gas.

Commerce. - The trade of Buffalo is immense. Its position is such as to render it a great entrepot, through which much of the commerce between the East and West must pass. The first impulse was given to it by the completion of the Erie canal in 1824. Since Attn lines of railways have been constructed, opening communication with nearly every section of New York, with the great cities on the Atlantic coast, and in Canada, and with the fertile valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi. These improvements, with her advantages for navigating the great inland waters, have secured to Buffalo the first rank among the great commercial cities on the north-western lakes. Another railroad is also projected, to connect with Pittsburg through the Sunbury railroad. This will communicate with the coal regions of Pennsylvania. During the year 1852, there were built at this port 6 steamers, 9 propellers, and 8 schooners, with an aggregate burthen of 8610 tons. There were also commenced in the fall of 1852, to be completed for the spring navigation, 6 steamers, 4 of 1800 tons each, 2 propellers, 4 schooners, one of 360 tons, 1 brig, and 1 steamtug. The aggregate burthen of the. vessels to be built during the winter of 1852 and '53 was 11,142 tons. From 1000 to 1200 mechanics arc constantly employed at the various ship yards on the creek. There were enrolled and licensed, December 31st, 1852, in the district of Buffalo Creek, 28 steamers, 31 propellers, 33 brigs, 1 barque, and 100 schooners, with an aggregate of 66,523 tons...

There are in Buffalo 10 banks, 2 savings institutions, and upwards of 40 fire, marine, and other insurance companies and agencies. About 15 newspapers are issued here.

Among the hotels, the American, the Clarendon, and the Mansion House, on Main street, and the Western Hotel, on the Terrace, near the Niagara Falls Depot, may be named as the most prominent.

Buffalo was originally laid out by the Holland company in 1801. In 1812 it became a military post. In December, 1813, it contained 200 houses, all of which, except two, were burned by a party of British and Indians. As a compensation for their losses by this disaster, Congress granted the inhabitants the sum of $80,000. An act, incorporating it a city, was passed by the legislature in April, 1832. It is divided into 6 wards, and governed by a mayor and common council, annually elected. Population, in 1810, 1608; 1820, 2095; 1830, 8653; 1840, 18,213 ; 1850, 42,261 ; 1853, estimated, 60,000.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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