The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-06-14
comHsrospncr pr rnr cAlFnorAH.
LETTER FHbM THE WEST.

81, LoUIs, May 20, 1881,
A glance at the map Of North America will
show that the most central point in the Unit
led States In respect TO population, political
! Influence, and hoility Of communication With
all other parts oflhs continent, must at some
day be At or near this place. The magni6-
cent rivers which drain the great valley, con-
gregate near this point, and hence roll their
mingled waters in the bed Of the Mississippi
20 the ocean. These rivers throw open this
garden Of the earth 10 the advantages Of nav
| igadon, and the inexhaustible agricultural
and mineral products Of this whole region are
/ by these avenues transported to market
From this point we ascend the Missouri which
rolls 10 waters thousands Of miles from the
| Rocky Mountains-ihe Illinois, stretching
diagonally across the State 20 which IL i'm
parts its name, aluios, 10 the shores Of Lake
Michigan-the upper Mississippi aud its trib-
utaries, which ike arms embrace the fairost
aud richest portion Of earths surface. DRIVE
may descend the Mississippi 20 miles To the
mouth Of the Ohio,and then ascend that beau
tful river 900 miles through region teen
ling with agricultural and mineral productions
TO Pusburg, the Sheffield Of America; or we
may follow down the great Father Of Waters
1900 miles TO the Gulf OF Mexico. a cenu.
/ ~ hence, should our glorious soHtedCrAcy be
preserved, the Mississippi will be the spinal
cord Of the Union, and the number, political
influence, aud population Of the States west
Of this great central line, will equal II not eX-
coed that OF the States which lie east Of IL.
A large portion Of the richest and most
productive part Of the great valley, now finds
its most ready market at St. Louis. Nilsson
ri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and portion Of
Wisconsin, send their great staples, corn,
wheat -four, pork and lead, and a variety Of
ail.as il.il.a- ~ th,- e,ty ,-sed here obtain
their supplies Of groceries, manufactured
goods, Sc. The above States are capable Of
an almost unlimited production Of these sta
pies. together with coal. iron, wool, Sc,
Wisconsin is perhaps the most desirable Cor
settlement Prairie and woodland are favor
ably intcrmingcd for farming purposes.--
Lead is found abundantly in numerous plac-
es. a large share Of the inhabitants are en-,
igrants from New England, and a higher cs.
innate is placed on measures for promoting
education, good morals and general improve
meut, than in most OF the Western States. IN
these respects Iowa is and will be very much
of the same character as Wisconsin. Ilinoi.
is emphaticaly'th the Prairie State. A very
large proportion other territory is ofthe rich.
est and most productive kind OF prairie and
so small is the proportion of woodland that
the inhabitants must depend principally on
coal for fuel. Lumber for building, also, il
procured out Of the State, and forms an ex.
tensive article Of traffic. Like ancient Esypr
she might be the qranary Of a continent Her
population is now less than n million, but IL
her resources were fully developed, she ghi
sustain in plenty the present population Of
the whole Union. Missouri has also wonder
full agricultural and mineral rcsources-her
iron mountains afIorling inexhanstible sup
plies Of the richest ore, which the industry of
man has hardly yet molested But the blight
Of slavery rests on her broad domain, and
manhelcs. not only the negro. hut the energy
and enterprise which are necessary to develop
and improve her natural advantages The
contrast between slave and free territory is
exhibited on tho northern border Of The State,
where lands equally valuable for cultivation
VIII bring only half or third as much as in
the adjoining State of Iowa.
The few last years have witnessed sur
prising growth in some of the western cities
growth which is steadily progressing. In
] SAC visited Chicago and Milwaukio-the
former city then had a population of some
$4,000, and the latter 10000. Chicago now
numbers over $4,000, and Milwaukee some
10000. The latter place bears the marks Of
thrift and healthy progress, and much good
taste is exhibited in the architecture and style
of the buildings--both of the blocks in the
business part of the city, and of the private
residences on the bluffs surrounding il. The
Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, extending
west from the city some 20 miles, and design
ed TO be continued TO the Mississippi river,
will pass through very rich and productive
region, and will contribute greatly to the
growth of the place. The harbor is one of
the safest on the lakes.--At present the en-
trance is difficult, but il may be easily i'm
proved. Chicago is situated on a low prairie,
elevated but few feet above the level of the
Lake, and on account Of its dead level, can
never be pleasant city. Its local situation,
however, being at the head Of lake naviga-
ton, and the point where the river and canal
navigation enters the lakes, will give it an
Importance, and it will probably be tho larg-
est port on the.lakes with the exception of
Buffalo The Railroads across Michigan will
terminate at this place, and the Galena &
Chicago Railroad extending from Chicago
across the north part of the State to the Mis-
sissippi, is now running so miles and will
probably be completed next year to GOlena.
/ ~ branch of the Illinois Central Railroad,
passing from tho mouth Of the Ohio through