The Blackstone Canal, uniting Providence with Worcester in Massachusetts, is the only canal which in part belongs to this Mate : about 16 miles of it is in Rhode Island, the chief part, 47 miles, being in Massachusetts. Only one railway, the Providence and Stouiugton, 50 miles long, is exclusively a Rhode Island line, but portions of lines belonging to other states lie within the boundaries of this state.
Geology, Soil, Climate.—That portion of the state which lies west of Narragansett Bay is occupied almost exclusively by eruptive and metamorphic rocks. The part east of the bay belongs to the Carboni ferous system. The state is not rich in minerals. Iron-ore is found in various placer, but it is not much worked. Coal is found, but it is an anthracite of secondary quality, and it is likewise little worked. Some copper-ore is said to have been found. Serpentine is abundant. Limestone is obtained in groat quantities in the north-eastern part of the state; also marble of good quality. Freestone is extensively quarried.
The soil is generally thin. On the mainland it is mostly a gravelly loam, which with careful culture is tolerably fertile : on the islands it is slaty, but productive. The climate is temperate but changeable. On the whole it is said very much to resemble that of England, and it is generally very healthy. In places, as at Newport, which is a favourite resort of invalids, it is milder in the winter and cooler in the summer than in any other part of New England.
Productions, Manufactures, Commerce—Grain is grown in consider able quantities, but the soil is for the most part better fitted for pasturage than for the plough. The cereals chiefly cultivated are maize and oats ; • good deal of rye and barley is also grown ; wheat and buckwheat are little cultivated. Potatoes and other vegetables are grown very largely, and of excellent quality. A considerable quantity of fruit is also grown. In the low districts extensive pine lands occur, and there are large quantities of oak, chestnut, and walnut trees, but there are no extensive forests.
Cattle and sheep are raised in great numbers on the islands and on the coasts of Narragansett Bay. Horses are numerous, and there are a great many swine. Butter and cheese are largely made; and a good deal of wool is sent to market The rivers, Narragansett Bay, and the coasts supply plenty of fish.
The manufactures of the state are extensive. Providence is the centre of both the manufacturing and commercial industry. Th,e cotton is the principal manufacture. In 1850 there were in the state 158 cotton factories employing 4959 males and 5916 females. The woollen manufacture employed 1758 persona ; the iron about 1100 persons. There are also numerous tanneries, breweries, distilleries, paper-mills and Bourquills, manufactories of machinery, hardware, cutlery, saddlery, bats, glass, jewellery, &c.
The direct foreign commerce of Rhoda Island is now very small, little more, in fact, than one-tenth of what it was fifty years back :— in 180.5 the exports of the state amounted to 2,572,049 dollars, while in 1853 they were only 310,485 dollars. The Imports in 1853 amounted to 366,116 dollars, of which goods to the value of 261,719 dollars were carried in American vessels. The foreign trade of Rhode Island is now chiefly carried on through the ports of Massachusetts and New York. Providence has the greatest unmber of vessels entering and clearing at Rhode Island ports, and Bristol and Newport together about equal Providence. The total amount of shipping owned in the state
in 1850 was 40,489 tons, a large proportion of which was engaged in the cod, mackerel, and whale fisheries, and in the coasting trade. In 1853 there were 11 vessels, of the aggregate burden of 8170 tone, built in the state, of which 6 were ships and 5 schooners.
Divisions, Towns, &c.—Rhode Island is divided into five counties, the respective capitals of which, Providence, Newport, Bristol, East Greenwich, and South Kingston, are also the political capitals of the state ; the meetings of the general assembly being held at each periodically. Of these, with some of the other more important towns, we give a brief notice : the population is that of 1850:— Providence, a city, the principal capital, and considerably the largest town in the state, is situated at the head of the navigation of Provi demos River, 35 miles from the sea, and 394 mike N.E. from Wash ington; in 41' 49' N. lit, 71' 24' W. long. : population 41,513. The town la built on both sides of the river, and the two parts are contracted by bridges. The harbour is safe and convenient, but some what difficult of approach. Vessels of 900 tons burden can lie alongside the wharfs. Most of the houses are of wood, but many are of granite and brick, and in the mere modern parts of the city many of the houses are both costly and handsome. The chief public buildings are—the state house, of brick ; the state prison ; the arcade, which is a magnificent aria building 226 feet long, 80 feet deep, and 72 feet high, the body of stone, and the two fronts and the columns of granite ; the two halls of Brown university, of brick; the athenaeum ; the museum ; What-Cheer building ; the Dexter asylum, for the poor of Providence; Butler hospital for the insane ; the Friends' school ; the first Congregational, St.. John's, St. Peter's, Grace, and some other of the churches are handsome buildings. Brown University, originally founded at Warren in 1764, but removed to Providence in 1770, is chiefly under the direction of the Baptists. It has 11 In structora, 252 student., and • library of 32,000 volumes. There are severld publio schools, and three or four libraries belonging to literary institution.. Providence Is • place of great manufacturing industry. There are large cotton- and woollen-factories, worked both by steam and by waterpower; extensive bleaching establishment., dye-houses, iron-foundries, machine-shops, brass-foundries, establishments for working in tin, sheet-Iron, copper, brass, &o. ; marble-works, grist- and sawmills, glase-houaes, carriage manufactories, numerous jewellers', and goldsmiths' shops ; besides boot, hat, soap, and several smaller manufactories. But the commercial is greater than the manufacturing Importance of the place. The foreign trade, like that of the state generally, has declined, but the cosseting trade is extensive ; and the whale, cod, and mackerel fisheries afford considerable employment. The transit and retail trades are also very extensive. The city pos sess& great railway facilities, and constant communication by steam vessels is maintained with Boston and New York. There are 26 banks in the city. Providence was founded by Roger Williams in 1637.