Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-06-28


Constantine, Mich., June 81, 1887.
FRIEND Rim accordance with the agreement
entered into when we parted, 1 now proceed to
give you some "penclings by the way" as Will
lis has it. You will perceive by the date that l
now hail from place at the nest, at least com.
pared with your down-easterly location. But
here it is not so. All are yet bound for that I'M
known region. which people have conjurcd up in
their imagination, should think, and given it
the very doubtful and incomprehensiblc appella-
ton of "the toest." Where it is located, none
pretend to know-but all are seeking for it as if
it were the summum bonum of human life-the
great object to be attained-an elysium upon
earth, like the tabled fields of the ancents where
repose the shades of the virtuous dead, amid q
profuson of flowers-where all is happiness
enters to disturb tho calm tranquility which
reigns within. The west-the west, is the con-
tinuod cry here as we'll as thousand miles near-
er the rising Of the sun. All are pressing for
ward to this goal of their hopes, and appear con-
fdent that here they shall find a resting place
from all the ellis which flesh is heir to-"
But to the sketch which propose to give you.
I arrived at Buffalo, and started from thence on
board the steam boat Gen. Porter, for Detroit, on
Thursday, June LIST. A few years ago, you can
well recollect, Buffalo was considered by the peo
pie Of New England as the .jumping-of' place-
the ultima thule of civilization, beyond which
was bowling wilderness, all desolate and drea-
ry-the fit abode only Of wild beasts and fero-
cous savages. But what change has come
over the face of the country. How rapid is the
march of Improvement. How quickly fall the
forest trees before the axe of the sturdy husband
man. The country, the cities and villages along
the southern shore of lake Eric have been so Of
ten described-so often set down in the note book
of travelers--so often paraded before the public
in the shape Of maps, Autographs, &C. that TO
enter into any thing of a minutia, would be SUI
pcrerogation. But perhaps they deserve pas
sing notice. The first port we made was Dun
kirk, about forty five miles from the place of our
embarkation. This is lively little piece, at
which the vessels THE lake call in their passage
up and down. Its business cannot DO very ex-
tensive, there being no heavy transhipments of
goods here, or water power to any great extent,
as could observe in transient visit. II is,
however, the contemplated point at which will
terminate the great New York and lake Erie rail
road. Leaving this, we passed several small
towns which have grown into notice within the
last year or two, mostly through the influence of
speculatioH,~which, by tho way, has had almost
miraculous effect in creating cities and villages
in the wildernoss--at least upon paper.
We arrived at Erie, Pa. about 6 o'clock, P. M.
having left Buffalo at 9 in the morning. This 1
found to be place of considerable importance,
doing good business in the commercial as we'll
as other lines of trade. The town consists of
two parts, one upon the low lands on the shore
of the lake. the other after rising small dcciv-
ity. Tho upper town, as il is called, is the place
where nearly all the business is transacted. At
Erie the Pennsylvania canal will probably tcrmi-
nate, which will greatly add to its present actv-
ity. After leaving this place, we passed some