Greetings -- For the Conference on New York State History, to meet in Buffalo on June 4-6, 1998, I'd like to put together a panel on the economy and urban-hinterland relations of New York (city and state) in the broad period of 1750-1850 or so. I have a paper I'd like to present that discusses the various reasons put forth for New York City's growth, and suggests that the most significant is upstate New York's expansion -- although differs somewhat from Diane Liondstrom's interpretation (which also stressed the importance of the interior). Good matches would include anything on urban-rural relations (economic or otherwise), the rural New York economy, the growth of pre-Erie Canal transportation networks, or anything dealing with trade and frontier expansion. A panel should be three papers and a commentator/moderator; once I have some proposals for papers I will begin to talk with some potential moderators. The deadline for proposals is December 31, so there is a little time but I'd like to get things set well in advance. Thanks. Rit Aggarwala Ph.D. Candidate, U.S. History Columbia University