Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-03-11
Correspondence Of the Portage Sentinel.
Letter from the Queen CITY.


MEssRs Harris & BArrERsoN:-Think.
Ing it may not be altogether uninter-
es.ing to your readers, I send you word
in reference to "maslers and things in gen.
eral" in the Queen City. The social and
business aspect Of eur city is far different
from what it was eight months ago. At the
time returned EsemsRayenna last season,
dark shade ofgloem and desolation seem.
ed to rest upon the very eountenance of
the city, and the people moved through the
streets as though they were treadiDg the
chambers Of mourning and of death. This
feeling of terror was not only felt here, but
extended far into the country. People,
for hundreds of miles aroand, were afraid
to visit the city, and waited at home in mo-
mentary expectation that the fearful pesli-
lence would commence its work Of death
in their own vicinity. -,- ..
| came down in u private carriage on
one of the most public thoroughfares, lead
ing from Cincinnati and was greatly sur
prised 10 find it almost entirely deserted; |
met only seven cafriages and wagons in
the course of sixty miles travel on this
pike, until | came gi,hin FIVE miles of the
city, in the neieha af some of the
cemeteries and buryfng grounds; and from
thence onward 10 the town met a great
number hearses, followed by few friends
in carriages, bearing the victims of the des-
.royer TO the place appointed for all living,
affording me sensible evidence that | was
approaching the spot where that dreaded,
though invisible messenger, was doing its
fearful work-where the pestilence that
"walketh in darkness and wasteth at noon.
day" was visiting, regardless 'of age, sex.
or condition, and where death, the insatiate
monster, was holding his banquet. And
when arrived in the city the very air SEEM
ed to be laden with sadness. had never
known what it was to see whole city in
mourning; and hope that may never
experience the like again. As the cholera
aba,ed its ravages, this deep seated melan-
choly which pervaded the hearts Of oil, was
slowly dissipated; but it was long
time before the city resumed its wonted
gaie,y and life, in its social and business
character. .....--
1t was lase in the fall before business
fairly commenced again, and in many de.
partments of trade it has been dull win.
ter. The Pork business, however, has been
good, though no. unprecedented. There
have been about four hundred thousand
hogs killed; and it is supposed the packers
will do well. A great confagration oc-
Cured here short time since; two large
pork houses were entirely destroyed; the
loss estimated from 150 to 5000, 900.
Ths Spring business 10 already COM
menced; our wharf is lined with steam
boats. and covered - b eaaof naerchan-
die. Go down to the river at almost any
hour Of the day, and you will see from 80
to 40 boats putting out, and taking in
freight. Everything now looks cheerful
and animating, and We. think the business
of this Spring will be equal to any former
season. -
The builders have began operations in
good earnest-the sounds of the hammer
and trowel are heard everywhere on our
streets; and it is supposed there will be
more houses erected Than in any previous
year, which will be doing very we'll, for it
is estimated that sixteen hundred have been
built each year, for five years past.
Cincinnati is truly great city; and
for its age viii: vie with my in the Union.
Strangers, in coming into this place, espe-
cially those from the East, are surprised
to find it so large; so we'll and densely
built, and so thoroughly active in all its
departments Of mechanical and mercantile
business. Nearly every man in the city
is business man; all things thought Of,
talked of, or dreamed Of, must have some
relation to business. s'Great pro6ts,'
"great bargains -sfn g investments,
and ''grand specu|ations," are tho order
ofthe day. The very atmosphere is exhi-
lerating, and it would bs very difficult for
any one to die of ennHi IN the Queen city.
We have many public buildings fulls
equal, in architectural beauty, to those of
eastern cities; some of these may men,
ton particularly in future letter. There
are very few places where such uniformi-
ty is observed in the structure Of private
residences. Our city=faras perfect am.
phhheatre; the great body Of it is built up
on lever bottom land Of the Ohio, and ex.
tending back upon the high hills which sur
round it on three sides. The distance
from the river TO the outer line of the city
is about two miles, and we have one street
running parellel with the river seven miles
in length, which is the longest street in
the world, believe, save one in London.
As nearly as can estimate there are one
hundred and SIXTY streets in Cincinnati.
Our population may be safely reckoned at
ooc bunIred and fffeen bonc1nI md =,