Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-12-14
Ni5yEAAl.A.s E0va.
CHICAGO.


to the Western Lakes, lately published.
august %, lS2o--Ne reached Chi
csso at five o'clock n The morning, after
proceeding 10 miles. The village con
sis;s of ten or twelve dwelling heuses,
with an aggregate population o., probe-
bly,, sixty souls. The garrison staads o.,
the south shore OF Chicago creek, four
or fiye hundred wards from IFS entrance
into the lake, and, like the majority OF
our frontier posts, consists oi square
stockade, inclosing barracks, quarters
for the officers, magazine, provision
store, sc. and defended by baslions
at the northwest, and southeast angles
il is at present occupied by hundred
and Sky men, under the command OF
Captain Bradley
The village of Chicago is situated in
the state OF Illinois, the northern bounda-
ry Iine OF which commences on The lake
shore, about twenty miles north Of the
fort, and running due west, strikes the
Mississippi between Dnbuque's lead
mines and Prairie du Chen. 1, is two
hundred and seventy-6ve miles from, Chi
Oago to Green Bay, by way oil the lakes
and the portage OF Sturgeon Bay--and
four hundred 10 the island OF Michili-
mack mac.
Chicago is eighty yards wide at the
garrison, end has bar at lis m,uth,
which prevents shipping from entering,
but is deep within. Il is assembled eleven
miles in boats and bargcs, where there
is portage of seven miles across a
prairie, to the river Piein, the main north
western fork of the Illinois.
The intervening country consists of
different strata of mari clay, presenting
great facilities for canal excavation, and
the difference in the level of the two
streams is SO little, that loaded boats Of
a small class may pass over the lowest
part OF the prairie during the spring and
autumnal treshets. But at midsummer,
il is necessary to transport them o7er
land, TO mount Juliet, distance Of thirty
miles. Thence the navigation is scad,
at all seasons, to St. Louis, distance Of
four hundred miles.
The country around Chicago is the
most fertile and beautiful that can be
Imagined. 1t consists of an intermix,ure
Of woods and prairies, diversified with
gentle slopes, sometimes attaining the
elevation Of hills, and irrigated with a
number ofclear streams and rivers, which
throw their waters partly into lake Mi
chlgan, and partly into the Miss ssippi
river. As farming country, il uni,es
the fertile soil Of the fines, Rowland prai
ries, with an elevation which exempts i,
from the influence Of s,agnant waters,
and a summer climate of delightful Sc
reni,y; while its natural meadows pre-
sent all the advantages for raising stock
Of the most favored par, of the valley oil
the Mississippi. /, is already the sea,
ofseveral flourishIng plantations, and on
ly requires the extinguishment Of the
Indian title to the lands, to become one
Of the most attractive fields for the emf
grant. To the ordinary advantages oil
an agricultural market town, it must,
hereafter, add that of depot, for the in
land commerce between the northern and
southern sections oil the union, and a
great thoroughfare for strangers, mer-
chants, and travellers.
There is valuable and extensive bed
Of mineral coal about forty miles south
west of Chicago, on the Fox river ofthe
Illinois, near the point offs embouchure.
The stratum Of coal, which appears on
the banks Of the river, is said to have an
extensive range towards the northwest,
end is only covered with light deposi,
Of alluvial soil, Of few feet in thickness
There is also, about twenty miles north
Of Chicago, bed Of red oxide Of iron in
estate Of great purify, and its preparation
as pigment may be expected to result
from the influx Of emigrauss. Pyri,es