The industries are varied

Most of the foreign commerce of the U. S. enters at the Port of New York. The State has an extensive railroad system comprising, 1892, 8,116 m. It has large and varied manufactures, and its agricultural and pasturage interests are large, especially in the manufacture of butter and cheese and the production of wool. Its agricultural product in 1889 was valued at $161,593,009. Iron is mined near Lake George; about Syracuse salt is produced from salt wells, and in the western portion it is mined. The region was almost simultaneously explored by Cham plain, who entered it from the n. 1609, and by Henry Hudson, from the sea. The result of Cham plain's expedition was the enmity of the Indian Five Nations, who remained hostile to the French until they surrendered their po e ions in America. The result of Hudson's expedition was the exploration of the Hudson River as far as Albany, and the claim of all this territory for the Dutch as New Netherlands. In 1621, owing to the increasing prospects of lucrative trade with America, the Dutch West India Company was formed for purposes of trade and coloniza tion.