Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-08-28
BY S. G.. SHERMAN.

p aces, by gen. Brady, who was one of our
party. The visits of steam boats to these
remote settlements. although more frequent
now than formerly, are very gratifying to
he people; they bring fresh supply of
eastern Injuries, and Of news, and restore
long expected friends As the boat ap-
proaches the town, a crowd assemblies upon
The wharf and many an anxious eye darts
ainang he passengers on board, in quest of
some well known countenance; as the boat
touches the wharf a rush is made for the
deck; anxious Inquiries follow, acquaint-
laures meet aud exchange congratulations
Nor is the Sing scene less interesting.
While the is preparing TO leave, the.
crowd c"i.... Is to increase; new set of
passengers GENE on board, accompanied
Iby their fricnds-these collect in groups
and engage in conversation. The last bell
sounds The note Of separation; then comes
the mutual benedctions, the shaking of
hands, the parting kiss. The boat wheels
slowly from the wharf, whie5thc steam i'm
patient of restraint, is bursting from the
safety valve; the new passengers appear
upon the upper deck, to take last look at
the home they are leaving, while their
friends lnger upon the wharf, with moist
ened eyes, to catch another parting glance
and wave farewell to the object of their So
iritude. must hazard the opinion that
large and dense communities corrupt the
human heart as they faint the surrounding
and that the smaller the soci-
ETY., the lirmer bind The social ties, and tiie
closer bind the cords Of true friendship.
Among the many towns now rising into
importance west of lake Erie, it would be
ide to attempt the designation of any one,
as likely to eclipse ali the rest and monop-
alize The wealth aud business of a country
81 extensive and variegated. Detroit, the
Miami, The Raisiu, Chicago and Green Bay,
are all important positions; and to these
may be added other places on each side of
lake Michigan, and on the rivers and small
lakes still further west. All these positions
have their advantages: and perhaps none
are irae from disadvantages Even Chica-
go, much as is now said of it, has to en-
counter serious impediments; the want of
a good harhor. and the existence of extern
sive and adjacent pralries, which can ney.
or admit of ID dense population, are embar-
easements Of no triHing magnitude. Ono
hing, however. is certain, tha. the arrogant
young city Of Buffalo will soon have 10 sur
render the distinguished cognomen of"Citv
of the West" and be content to take her
relative position among the cities of the
Fast. hundreds of miles to the west of her
lies country destined TO be land of cities;
a country checkered with lakes and rivers.
whose navigable waters traverse half the
continent, and mingie with the ocean, at
the north, the south, the east and the west;
a country blessed with an Italian climate,
and soil teeming with every variety of
agricultural productions; Icountry of
boundless resources and capable OF sustain
ing population equal to that of the largest
state IN Europe.
The increase of shipping, and the inns
provement OF the vessels, within few wears
81 the Lakes are equally astonishing. An
excursion Of thorsand miles, is nero
matter Of relaxation and pleasure. The
citizens of Detroit, however, have the hon
or Of bcaring off the palm in the consruc-
ton Of Steam Boats. The Michigan, built
wholly at Detroit, may challenge the en-
lire American waters TO produce her equal.
S. S.