Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-03-20
DOMESTIC.
From the Western Pioneer.
CHICAGO AND VICINITY

oHiCAGO AND VICINITY.
Erhact Of letler from gentleman i
ms ptcinity to has .trie,m in Eq4al,ty. Ii
dated Rock Spring, III. FEB. I7h, 1881
DEAR SIR,-Yours, making iuouirie
about Chicago and the countr, ada
cent. arrived last mail.
Chicago is beautifully situated O,
level aud high ground, on both sides O
the creek, or rather bay, which give.
name to the place, and about three
iourths of mile from the shore of lake
Michigan. By high ground mean
not bluffs or bills, hut land elevated a
number OF feet above any adjacent wa
ter-dry and pleasant.
The Chicago water course is formed
10y the junction of two streams, coming
from almost opposite directions and cali
cd North and South branches. They
meet near the upper OF west end of the
town plat, aud put off at IA right angle
east, three-fourths of mile to Lake
Michigan. This body of water i. from
so TO rs yards wide, and from / 5 to 90
feet deep, forming great natural ca
nal, and furnishing at all times an excel
lent harbor for steam boats, schooners.
and other lake craft. The water in this
channel rises and fails at variation of
about three feet, as it is acted upon by
the winds driving the lake water into ii.
or propelling them from it. In calm
time it has hui little current. Tho bu.
stress .:.css part of tie town lies on this chan,
mel.
After passing by the light house, Fort
Dearborn, thu Inc land bordering or
the lake, which is reserved for military
purposes, ii meets with a sand or gravel
narhor, where it forms an angle to the
right. passing between the military res
ervation and this bar half a mile further,
and enters the lake over the bar. This
bar xtends under water lhree>fourths
of mile into The lake, the water gradu
ally deepening, till it becomes naviga.
bic for vessels.
The U. States government is now
constructing Il harbor, by making "a
passage through this bar into the Chi,
cago, and terrifying the sides with piers
to protect the channel from the winds
and ice. When this work is completed,
the channel between the piers, and the
Chicago itself will form the best harbor
in all the lake county.
North Branch rises near the northern
boundary line OF illinois, within three
or four miles of the lake, runs south
and parallel WITT the lake shore. Ii
contains a large body Of excellent tim
Der, with fertile prairie adjoining. It's
navigabIc for small craft, and is about
80 miles lorg.
South Branch rises in an opposite di
rection towards the Saganaskee swamp,
aud runs north course. LIS length is
about 90 miles, with timber in small
quantities. The school Sc, ton, GAO
acres,) that recently sold for $4,000,
lies on this branch ana adjoining the
scwn plat.
The country back of Chicago for three
or four miles, is dry, rich prairie, which
is occasionally covered with water in a
wet season. From ten to twelve miles
west across the prairie, you reach the
Aux Pleins, which you know forms one
OF tIlS main DTdnCDeS VI Tic iiii'o'e'
The Aux Pleins, Tor as frequently spell
led Dcs Pleins.) rises in the Wisconsin.
territory, about six miles above the
boundary line, runs southern course,
and forms a junction with the Kanka
kee, which; united, take the name Of
illinois The timber on the Aux P'eios
Is chiefly in groves of various SIZES.
The bottom Of the stream ;r r Tat rock.
with rocky banks few feet high, and
has no alluvial or bottom land. The
prairie land is generally good. The
Du Page, still further west, is a hnt
stream, and has several large settle
ments on its waters.
The country bordering on FOX river
which enters the Illinois at Otto"a, is
desirable farming region. Towards !"
mouth the numbered lard is OF small ez
tent, but further up are large bodies 9
fine timber. When say ''large bodies'
mean in proportion to other parts
this upper country, nineteen twen'le''
of which is prairie. The"Big Woods
SO called, lie on Fox RIVER, so miles D
ow the boundary line.