The foregoing view will give a faint general idea of the advantages which the town of Utica possesses from its situation. From the period of its incorporation until the completion of the mid dle section of the Erie canal, its augmentation, though substantial, was not remarkably rapid. In 1813 it numbered only 1700 inhabitants. It was, however, the centre of intercourse between the lakes and the cities of Schenectady and Albany; the Mohawk river affording a tolerable communi cation with the former place. The great western turnpike from Albany to Buffalo also offered great facilities for inland commerce, and Utica became the deposit of the products of the northern, south ern, and western back country. But when the great channel of intercourse between Lake Erie and the Hudson river approached its consum mation, the business, wealth, and population of the place rapidly increased, and it is now become one of the most flourishing and substantial towns in the state.
In the year 1793 the first mail west of Canajo harie was transported, by Simeon Pool, from that place to Whitestown, in pursuance of an arrange ment with the Post Office Department that the in habitants along the route should convey it at their own expense. The distance was fifty miles, and twenty-eight hours were allowed the post-rider to complete it. This contract soon passed into the hands of the late Jason Parker, Esq. a man of much enterprise, who was the founder of the great lines of stages which now traverse this country in every direction. To his activity Utica is largely in debted for her extraordinary facilities of intercourse with every part of the state. At the time of his decease, in 1830, there were eight regular daily lines of stages running east and west from Utica, in which he was, or had been, deeply interested. Besides these, there were twelve weekly, semi weekly, or daily lines running southerly and north erly. One hundred and eight regular stages left the place, and about sixty mails arrived and de parted weekly. In addition to these conveyances by land for the mails and travellers, there are two lines of packet-boats on the Erie canal, which leave Utica daily for Schenectady. and also one for Buffalo, and one for Syracuse. These boats are commodious and pleasant, accommodating com fortably from thirty-five to forty passengers.
Utica contains three banking institutions in ex cellent repute; the Bank of Utica, with a capital of six hundred thousand dollars; the Ontario Branch Bank, with a capital of half a million; and a branch of the Bank of the United States, this place having been selected by the latter institution from about thirty applications for the establishment of a branch.
There are in this town eleven places of public worship belonging to the presbyterians, baptists, episcopalians, methodists, Dutch reformed, ca tholics, Welsh congregationalists, Welsh baptists, friends, and universalists. There are also an academy and court house, two high schools, two female seminaries, two infant schools, an orphan asylum, and an excellent market. It supports seven weekly newspapers. There are established here one brass and two extensive iron foundries, a manufactory of steam engines, a manufactory of oil cloths for carpeting, a steam mill and distil lery, three breweries, two manufactories of cut stone, three extensive coach manufactories, three large potteries, two joiner's tool manufactories, and many others of less importance.
The United States District Court for the north ern district of New York, and the Supreme Court of the state, each hold a term yearly in this town, and have clerk's offices established here.
In 1813, the population was about 1700. In 1816, 2800; in 1820, 2972; in 1823, 4000; in 1825, 5040; in 1828, 7400; in 1830, about 8500.
The appearance of the town betokens the taste and substantial prosperity of its inhabitants. The streets are wide and straight, although they do not invariably intersect each other at right angles. They are mostly well paved and flagged. The dwellings and stores are constructed principally of brick, and the style of building is neat and tasteful.
Utica aspires to become, at no distant day, the seat of the state government. Its central position entitles it to demand this honour, and the growing population of the west will sustain its claims. It needs only this additional impulse to augment it to a second rate city, respectable for its wealth and prosperity, and an ornament to the rank it may assume.