The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-12-05
LETTERs FROM THE WEST.

LETTERS FROM The WEST.
A gentleman who spent several months at the
West last season, has, mt our request, transcribed
from his journal for our use in the form of letters,
his "penciings by the way" which we propose
to publish. The following is the commencement.
ST.. JosEpu, MIou May 20, 1887.
DEAR Sln:-Ilavng soiourned in the Western
part of New York and in Michigan about three
weeks, will proceed to give you account of
the country; and in doing which, L shall aim at
truth rather than poetry. l will tell you how 1
got along-Trom Albany to Utica, 100 miles, by
rail road in about five hours Utica to Buila-
10 by canal packet boats, 260 miles, in four days.
from Buffalo to Silver Creek Qhis being the lowest
point on the lake at which steam boats could land,
on account Of the ce) by open wagon, in cold
storm 80 miles in eight hours;-.irom Silver Creek
to Toledo by steam boat, $50 miles, in two days and
la half;-from Toledo to Adrian, by rail road,
(orse powor) 33 miles, in six hours-irom Adrian
to Niles, by stage coach, l40 miles, IN three days
and haIf;-from Niles to this place by open wag-
on % miles, in six hours. found the rail road ca
na and steam boat travelling very pleasant; but the
land carriages on OF bad roads, poor teams,
and independently grabbed drivers, be very tedious.
In Western New York many pleasant and -four
ishing villages and cities, and large quantities of
first rate soil. The farmers generally appeared to
be hale and hearty--carryng with them plenty Of
external evidence tina! they were not strangersrto~
good living, and some Of them, of little too much
intimacy with the cider barrel. Fruit in this section
of country is raised in abundance, and Of lis
of the first quality. Improved farms are held ,sat
from 30 to B75 Rochester is u furnishing
city, situated on both sides of Genosee River, Ii is
built principally of brick and stone and has 81 pop
ulaon of about 5000. In ;hc upper part of the
the Erin cnnnl The ri bv n nuunluct
Of red frcc-sione eight hundred feet in length, sup
ported by eleven arches, and elevated about four
teen feet above the common level of the watur.--
About eighty rods below where the canal crosses is
the fall where Sam Patch made his last and Gllut
leap in the fall Of 1920. The fall is 81 feet perpen-
dcular, and from the scutiold from which he j4.np-
ped to the water 125 feet. The principal trade, of
this city is in flour. 1t has about dozen i!our
mills, and will grind 13, 900 bushels of wheat day.
Buffalo is situated near the out let Of Lake Ercyand
possesses the adv nntagc Of lake and canal navsi.,
lion. 1t is well built, principally of brick and has.
population ofabout 900 1t has grown up very.
rapidly, but probably will increase much fog
several years 10 When l left, there were
between two and three thousand emigrants for the
far west in the city, waiting for the opening of steam
boat navigation. On the south shore of lake Erie
are several popuIous and fourishing towns. Cevo-.
5000, and possesses advantages for becoming
place of great business. The Ohio canal, which is
than SEQ miles lorg, pussins through the
productive State in tho Union, commences here
and continues the water communication ofthc lake
10 the OHIO river Toledo is and growing
place has two good tavcrns three meeting houses,
m academy, a newspaper. and some other public
mprov cments-popuation 500 Capt. Allen, the
principal proprietor, is very spirited and
Drisng As this is the last point for travellers
crossing the State Of Michigan to land at, it
all to have considerable growth. Adrian is
pleasant village, and has meeting house, two tav-
'rns, and newspaper. Niles is situated the
St. Joseph river, % miles of lake Michigan by
and, and 80 by The river. Its location is PLEASANT
he land in the vicinity good, and the inhabitants
In 1888 ii had but frame house
now it contains about 100. a very respectable
newspaper is published here, and the facilities for
cligious and intellectual improvement quite
GOD. small steam boat plies regularly in sum-
ner between this place and the lake, that goods
md merchandise may be brought all the way from
New York City by water-population about 900
it. Joseph is situated high bluff on the south
ide of the River ST. Joseph, and facing the lake.
t contains about so houses, two tavcrns, two for
varding houses, five or six stores, light house,
'ank, newspaper, which has Just been suspended
or want of patronage (only 300 subscribersD but
10 meeting house There some half dozen fam
lies OF good and pous people in the village, who
would be glad TO enjoy constant preaching but, So
ar as can judge majority of the inhabitants are
lisspated and would prefer rather to spend the
Sabbath in sporting than in the house of God. This
ias been called very unhealthy place. and is still
considered one of the most sicltly villages in the
Western country. The harbor is so bad that YES
sells can neither go out nor como In, except tho
wind is very favorable. l have been waiting sew
eral days for a breeze to make my exit. The Gen
eral Government has made small appropriation
Tor the Improvement of the hurhor. The people OF
The West seem to understand speculation about as
well as do the citizens of Major Downing State
Here twenty more water lots suitable for for
warding houses for which the proprietors ask about