Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-06-12

river, yet as it is situated high, with high
dry land back and around it, il must be
lohrious that we are much less exposed
tothem than any other point on the riv
Ter.
| The town is laid off in squares, each
square containing 10 lots, 70 feet from,
| BY III feet deep. The streets are all
100 feet wide, and ca, h square has an
alley running through it of 10 feet il
width. Nearly all the lots originally
laid off by the Commissioners have been
sold, and the estimated value of them
has been greatly increased within the
last year. The value now fixed upon
lots varies from thirty dollars to FIVE hun
dred, according to their location. The
commissioners have recently laid off
some additional lots along the north.
west, and south line of the town, which
will be sold at auction on the twenty 9Th
inst.
There are four or five saw mills in
the vicinity of the town, and it is ex
Pected that large steam grist mill and
one or two steam saw mills will be com,
menced this season. The only grisl
mill at present in the immediate neigh.
borhood is on the Kickapoo, stream
that empties into the Illinois about 8
miles below. d. j, !;
Building lumberis obtained at an av-
erage Of about twelve aollars per thou
sand, delivered all our wharf. The
plank chiefly used are Of oak, ash, wal
nut, and white maple;-hewed timber
is obtained at very low price. Lime
and free stone, for building is readily
obtained at short distance above the
town.
Wood is very easily procured and
immense quantities of excellent stone
coal are found in the immediate vicinity
of the town.
There are four steam boats that ply
regularly between ST. Louis and this
place, whilst number of others come
here occasionally. There have been
about fifty steam boat arrivals this
spring.
The stage route from ST. Louis to
Chicago, and from the former place to
Galena, interseot here. The first is Sc
mi.weekly, the latter but once IA week.
Some idea may be formed with re
gard to the improvement Of the place.
by contrasting its present condition with
what il was one year ago. Then it con-
tanned but eight or ten families, now il
numbers between three and for hundred
inhabitants. Then there was but one
store in the place, now there are seven
and will in few weeks double that
number. During the present spring
there have been erected, and are now
erecting % houses, and at this time there
are about forty more under contract
We do but express the common opin-
ion when we say, there is no doubt but
between the first of March, and the
close Of the building season, there will
have been over one hundred houses
in this place.
Among the number of buildings at
present in progress, is a Court House
which when completed, will he one Of
the finest in the state. II is built Of
brick, as feet front by So deep. There
will be four Ionic columns in front, sup
rortinga steeple of "a feet elevation
The work is all to be executed alter the
Ionic order. The mechalios engaged
10 construct it, are men of skill and TX
perience, and will doubtless execute the
work in an excellent manner. Another
work is also in progress of vast import
ance to the citizens. We alude TO that
by Mr.. Stillman, for furnishing the cit
'zens with water. The supplies for this
purpose are derived from springs issu
ing from the bluff, neat "a mile back
from the river, and is conveyed through
logs to the public square, from whence
it can be taken to any part of the town.
This work ill be completed in few
weeks.
Great inconvenience is experienced
here from the want of mechanics and
aborers; an additional number Of first
rate carpenters, and almost any number
of laborers, would find immediate and
constant employ ment, at good prices.
ALTON.
We consider the present a favorable time
to say few words in relation to the prog
ress and prospects of our town; and we
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