Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-01-18

lance by water on the latter route is also
considerably greater. From Nandalia
to Fort Meigs the distance by land is lit
tie more than fran Philadelphia to Pitts
burgh, and there are no mountains inter
venng. The goods will consequently
arrive with more certainty, at less risk,
in shorter time, and at much less ex
pense; and all the population on the
route northeast and east of Nandalia will
be proportionally greater gamers.
But still more important view oil the
subject may be taken. Emigration 10
Illinois is at present nearly suspended.
Any proper means which will fmmedi-
atety tend TO restore it, deserves encour-
agement. Ga account of the uncertain
ty, trouble, risk, and time, attending emf
grafton by water down the Ohio, our
eastern emigrants have generally pre-
ferred coming by land. The distance,
however, from 900 to 1900 miles, even
on this route, is very great. The roads
pass over long district of mountainous
and billy country, at least four-hlhs OF
the way; and hence land carriage Is We
ry disagreeable, ialiguing, and expensive.
The middlng classes are consequently
discouraged; and the poor are unable to
come, The tide Of emigration is, there
| fore, turned towards, and stops at the
shores oil Lake Erie. The north part oil
Ohio and Michigan territory are in con-
sequence rapidly populating. The state
OF illinois is. however, more inviting; It's
| soil more fertile; its surface more level;
its prairies more desirable; and the
whole aspect OF the country more beau
tiful. Open passage, and from 200 to
$50 miles of level road Will enable the
emigrant to select situations III consl-
| derable sxtent of our territory. All those
sections OF the eastern states, which have
easy access TO the great canal, may then
send their emigrants by water TO the
thence by comparatively triHlng land
carriage into the bosom Of Illinois. Al
present the route is ihpracticable for
carriages. Want of houses, want ofsus
tenance, and want OF ferries, also oppose
the emigrant's wishes. Bat even now,
many travellers on horseback from the
state of Newly ork prefer this route. Let
the course then of this road be merely de-
signated, and the road will complete IL
self. Travellers will give the preference
and currencyt TO an uniform route; houses
oil entertainment will be built at proper
distances to entertain those travellers;
ferries will be established; and the road
will soon be cleared out by the inhabi-
tants Of the bordering country. The car
ria2es 81 emlgrants will then follow The
course; and dense population be cree
ated in that part OF the state, which, with
out the road, must long remain uninha-
bited.
BY this route a Journey to or from the
city Of New York may be performed IN
fifteen or sixteen days. We admit the
advantages oil The national road, and the
ks,ill greater advantages of the Illinois
canal. But the formation Of these viii
be expensive, and the time of their com
pletion must be far dislant--at least SIX
or saxen years. In the mean time, we
can be enjoying the advantages Of the
Erie road and the formation of it will
not interfere in the least with the national
road or the Illinois canal. The sum ex-
pended on the present subject will never
be missed IN the amount necessary to be
expended for a canal, or even for the ma
tona road. If we are ever ableto com
pl ete either of the latter objects, with the
addition of that sum, we can do nearly
as we'll zuithout it. 1t viii be but drop
out of the bucket, and its absence canno,
be sensibly felt. Bat instead OF inter
ierihg with these grand designs, the Erie
road will have Effects directly the re-
verse. 1t will not only bring in wealth
enough to pay for itself, but will furnish
liberal donation to the others. Whep
all three are completed our population
will be more equally diflused and IN
crea sed BY the equilibrium of advantages
thus established. The national road viii
give lie, wealth, and activity to one sec
tion Of the Interior; the Erie road TO ano
Their section equally demanding it; and
the canal TO every district OF country
bordering on the navigable streams. We
therefore incerely hope, that Mr.. Pugl
will not despair on account of one failure,
and give up his laudable a,tcmps to effect
this important object; and we hereby
authorize him in our name TO humbiy
pray the legis lsture to take the subject
| into coreide GRAFTON.
| Let survey at least be taken in CO.
operation with the states OF Ono and Ia
diana. Let the course of the road at !eas,
be marked by blazing through the timber
and stalking through she prairles; and it
no further assistance is extended by go