Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-11-29
For the Kenosha Telegraph.
WAYSTDE GLEANINGS.

Wal S40Es 0AkAN4NGS.
Mr.. EDITOR We have an errand at Peoria,
80 miles below Lacon, and as it will be both
pleasant and more expeditions to go by water than
by land, we propose for once to leave our jaded
beast and enjoy ride on Illinois river STEAMBOATS,.
At O'clock are ready, but when will boat
pass? That is an unsolved problem. There is no
regularity in their arrival and departure as at your
goody city, but they straggle along Semi
ally" At halfpast three, however. the ringing of
the bell announces the arrival of the Daniel Hill
man. We go on board and she moves off "lke a
thing of life" Her usual speed is miles an hour,
but the water is now high and she makes 10 with
ease.
The River-turbid at best-is now exceedingly
so from the recent heavy rains. Turbid and slug
gish it is, it is nevertheless noble rver-noble
from the benefit which it confcrs upon the region
through which it passes. The Illinois river and
its supplement, the Illinois and Michigan Canal,
of incalculabe Importance to the Prairie State,
passing they do through one of the most beauti-
full and fertile regions in the world. Were it not
for this important river which bears on its waters
such immense quantities of freight, and affords such
facilities for travel, many of the splendid farms
and thriving villages which dot the country for 80
or 40 miles on both sides might not have existed,
and instead thereof the tall prairie grass might have
remained uncropped, and the monotonous scene
unbroken. Should our own Wisconsin ever be i'm
proved to render it equal for purposes of nav
igation to the Illinois, the effect upon the river
counties would be incalculable If the project of
IL, c.lxv
expedition sly is feasible one, the man who first
suggested it or who may be principally instrument
tai in its execution will deserve to be remembered
by the citizens of the Badger State, as is De Witt
Clinton Ito whom New York is so much indebted
for the Erie CanaD by the citizens of the Empire
State.
But we are wandering and must recollect that
our "gleanings'' are in illinois, The river upon
which We now riding is not the only public
benefit which will tend to make Illinois one of the
first states of the Union. When the contemplated
improvements are completed it will be well provi-
ded with thoroughfares, and few portions of our
country will have greater facilities for travel and
transportation. The Canal and River to which we
have referred pass through the heart of the State
and furnish communication between Chicago and
the Ocean via ST. Louis and New Orleans. The
Mississippi flows along its whole western bounda-
ry, and the numerous steamboats, which ply upon
it touch at a score of villages the Him
DIS side. The Chicago and Galena Rail Road is
fast approaching the latter city, and the iron
horse may be seen bounding over the prairie for
| the whole distance between them. Recently the
project of constructing Rail Road from Peru to
Rock Island has been agitated, and more recently
a grant of land has been made by Congress for
constructing another iron track from Cairo to Chi
cago-the road affording to the eastern counties
facilities which now afforded to the western by
the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. When these
important public works completed-when the
state is crossed in every direction by rail roads, ca
mails and navigable rivers-when every farm is with
in a few miles of market place, who can help ex-
claiming as did Horace Greeley when he gazed on
these bro I'd and beautiful praires few years since
s'Illinois the magnfccnt'
But pardon this depression. The Daniel Hill
man has been gliding onward and we now 10
miles below Lacon, just opposite Chillicothe-
small village the west side Of the river and with
in the limits of Peoria county Two miles farther
down is Rome, a still smaller village-nearly the
only inhabitants of which are the tenants of Mr..
Underhill, whose farm at this place embraces rs
square miles, and who has single corn field, as
we were informed, covering square miles.
Immediately after leaving this place We enter
Peoria Lake, which is merely an expansion of the