Capital is one of the mighty engines of national progress, and internal developments can only keep pace with the accumulations of the people.Our city rulers now expend more on public works in a single year than our fathers did during a lifetime. Still, we must pause to chronicle a few of the prominent events that transpired in the earlier, part of this century. Passing over the events of the war with England, in 1812-14, when the city wore a martial air, and the populace almost unanimously engaged in constructing the fortifications at the Narrows, on the islands of the bay, and elsewhere; and the imposing reception of General Lafayette, in the summer of 1824, we pause to glance at the internal improvements of the following year. The year 1825 was the beginning of a new era in the development of the city, since which its population has more than quadrupled, and the volume of its commerce enlarged at least twenty-fold. The great event of this year was the opening of the Erie Canal, commenced eight years previously. The first flotilla of boats, containing Dewitt Clinton, Governor of the State, and many other distinguished gentlemen, left Buffalo October 26th, and arrived at New York on the morning of November 4th. The triumphant starting was signaled by the discharge of a cannon, which was replied to by another and another all along the line, the report reaching New York in eighty minutes, and the return salute finding its way back to Buffalo in about the same time—the raciest telegraphing of that period. The construction of this great artificial thoroughfare, as well as its subsequent enlargement, was an unpopular measure with a large minority of the people, on account of its costliness; but in 1866 it was ascertained that, besides enlarging many of the principal cities, and adding to the comfort and wealth of nearly all the people of the State, it had returned into the public treasury $23,500,000 above all its cost, including principal, interest, repairs, superintendence, etc., etc.

It was in May, 1825, that the first gas-pipes were laid, by the New York Gas-light Company, which had been incorporated in 1823. No system for lighting the streets was introduced until 1697, when the aldermen were charged with enforcing the duty that "every seventh householder, in the dark time of the moon, cause a lantern and candle to be hung out of his window on a pole, the expense to be divided among the seven families." At a later period, the principal streets were dimly lighted with oil lamps. This first gas-pipe innovation extended on either side of Broadway, from Canal street to the Battery, and soon grew into public favor, so that in 1830 the Manhattan Gas-light Company was incorporated with a capital of $500,000, to supply the upper part of the island. A network of gas-pipes now extends over the entire island, conducting this brilliant illuminator into nearly every building.

The same year were introduced the joint-stock companies, which were speedily followed by great commercial disasters, almost paralyzing the commerce of the whole country.

The Merchants' Exchange, and other architectural monuments, were begun the same year. Marble was then first introduced for ordinary buildings, the City Hall and the American Museum being the only buildings then standing on the island in the construction of which this material had been employed. The records of that otherwise bright year were somewhat darkened with the introduction of the Italian opera and the Sunday press.

In this connection we may also add that the New York and Erie Railroad was opened to Goshen in 1841, and through to Dunkirk in 1851. The Long Island Railroad was opened in 1844, the New York and New Haven in 1848, the Harlem to Chatham Four Corners in 1852, the Flushing in 1854, the Hudson river to Peekskill in 1849, and to Albany in 1851. All these have greatly enlarged the commerce and growth of the metropolis.

The first telegraphic communication with New York was established by the Philadelphia and Washington line in 1845, and was the second in the country, one having been established the previous year between Washington and Baltimore.