Price : American Port Towns

If, instead of using Bridenbaugh's figures for 1775, we rop-the'older
figures of Rossiter (Appendix Ba), we find diat PbihIHelphia's lead
over New York in 1770 was only 33 percgnf^S,000:21,000). Re-
cently, Warner has investigated the ppptilation of Philadelphia and
calculated that it was only 23,7#7in 1775. Part of this great dif-
ference is due to the previopruse of high multipliers (ca. 6.3) when
converting the numberxJl houses into heads of population. Warner
has calculated thatjthe multiplier in the 1770*5 was only 4.44; hence
his much lowerpopulation figure.63 Although the last word has
probably^aot been said on diis subject, it is apparent that part of the
led lead of Philadelphia over New York mav be a statistical

su

lusion.

At first glance, New York was very similar to Philadelphia in its
Dmmerce and population structure, though closer inspection re-
peals some marked similarities to Boston. Although it continued to
count furs among its significant exports longer than any other
northern colony—owing to the great Indian trade at Albany—its
principal exports in the eighteenth century were, like Philadelphia's,
flour and provisions. The general volume of its maritime activity
was, however, less than that of any other major port.

Table III

AVERAGE SHIPPING TONNAGE
CLEARED OUTWARD P.A.

±768-1772

Philadelphia
Boston
Charleston
New York

42,790 tons
37,842
3L075
26,278

CF. U. S. Historical Statistics, pp. 7^0-760.

In value, all of ISfew York's exports in 1769 were worth only
^231,906 while Penmylvania's, essentially Philadelphia's, were
worth ^410,757; its imports were valued at only ^188,976, Penn-

63. Warner, 77ie Private City', pp. 11-12, 225-226.