Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-07-03
TRAVEL ON THE GREAT LAKES.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE.
DErRoIr, (MIcH.) JusK A, ls47
On the margin of the GREAT WEsr-for think its east
border has not yet receded beyond my present locality
lei make due repaaton Lake ERIE for the bad name
have contributed to give her through the longer half my
lie Twenty years ago. when first made the acquaintance
of this upper basin of the mighty Niagara the boats
traversng its waters and especially those running between
Buffalo and the parts of Cleveland were poor fra cob
bling affairs when compared with the stately and solid eyia
thans which glide three great Lakes and smaller
with the connecting straits and river in single passage
making Detroit the first day and Chicago considerably inside
the fourth For passengers the small steamboats, espe
cialy addicted easckness Lake Erie ras Ito my sor-
row. most emphatcaly purgatoy. Lying high above the
ocean level without adjacent mountain break the sweep
of the Winds with considerable depth of the element and
very decided prevalence Of western gales the Short shuf-
fling, fohy acting upon Short slight, narrow boat
pepetualy calling the beartsick traveller TO render
up his last boot, if determined to be satisfied with nothing
less. Vivid my recollection of hdeous nights passed in
cngng to stanchons hanging, limp and haggad over the
railng looking ruefuy into the boiling foam that sill de-
manded the sacrifice dsdaned Repeatedly have drag
ged my weary and schng feet along the Lake Margin some
sixty or eighty miles, rather than for few hours
the horrors OF which my recollection vivid and
doubt that many an emignnt the West from New York
New England, deferred from visiting the and the
friends OF his youth by his remembrance Of msres
endured the Lakes Let such be oyuy assured that cit
is not in these days as II was in those days"
On the large and powerful boats running from Buffalo
to Cleveland, Detroit Milwaukee, and Chicago time passes
quietly pleasantly rapidly any where but at home
Of course in violent gae there will be sickness save
for those who mpevous it, who seasonaby take 10
their behs and remain there until the are assuaged
Such elemental froic however, exceptions TO the gene
raj rule Of and comfort throughout Lake passage
up yesterday the Empire, Capt Randall one Of the
stanchest but not OF the Think the longest
boats Amer the tedious process Of working her way Of
Buffalo harbor-whch II burning shame to leave hardly
wide enough for halt dozen watersnakes while the
rapidly increasing Of half continent seeks pass
age through it-she little than twenty hours
reaching this city including two hours detention Cleye-
land. During this time had Clouds ran fog and fair
breeze but not thought Of sickness percepbe among the
eight hundred persons board many them doubt
less steamboat for the first time Our noble boat deep
laden with merchandise and household effects slid through
the waters with other motion evinced than the trembling
jar coused by the rapid motion the paddles while the
human eghagc of this modern ark ate walked read talk
cd and slept, If shore; piano and banu dscoursed
melody by turns and in the evening the cabin passengers
Cor part Of the three hundred gathered the grand saloon
and pped it ght fantastic toe through the nlazes of
few cotlons. think this portion Of the exercises was
hardly well enjoyed in the average the dancers the
spectators for il was not kept up long, did than
dozen couples engage in IT yet dance Lake Ere for
once in lifetime, il conceit not be despsed by those
gifted with the requisite agility. Who say whether the
partners OF the hour, who met BEFORE shall
again the dusty and devious pathway of life Here are
=
sencd in the set by four persons who for the first time
this morning. who part forever tonight The hours COM
munon may be pleasant and the danger Of resulting heart
breaks must be slight.
One good feature Of the Lake navigation this the
absence OF the usual combnaton whereby travellers and emf
grants compelled pay smary only for the steam
boats which conveyed them but also for the hardly smaller
number which laid up, under the combination arrange
meni but drawing their share Of the general receipts Now
every boat its hook and a cabin passage in
cludng good sateroom berth and generous fare eight
dollars from Buffalo TO Chicago, little less than the living
would cost in rscass hotel Deck passengers (who "ate
themselves taken from Buffalo to Chicago (neary
thousand mes) for dollar each and have some kind Of
place TO sleep into the bargain Perhaps these are not the
usual prices if they they may be raised week by
combination; but they the prices current in Buffalo
night before last when two noble boats he Empire and the
Oregon) started in opposition. Considering that at least
during the present supeabundance Of egh good business
may be done, even at these rates, while great majority of
the emsan's need all they save hope rates Of deck
passage VIII not De raised. IT. G..
fatal and most distressing accident occurred in the vcn-
~ an the nh D.