The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-04-26

LETTER PROM THE WEST.
Nbw BUFFALo, Mich,
April 10, 1891,


April 10, 1891,
The West and the East are fast approach
ing into the neighborhood Of each other, aud
social and business intercourse Is every year
increasing, Some years ago when travelling
/ 10 tLs State OF Maine, fell in company with
social farmer who wished 10 "be - bold ~
% enquire where / was FROM aud m being
Informed that was from Vermont he OK
pressed deep interest In learning about
hat "western country" A. he called H. and
regretted that be- was TOO old 10 think Of Ego
ing 10 the west" Ito had once lived whore
he could 500 the White Mountains but had
never been beyond them, II u but a few
years since Ohio, Western New York and
Michigan, were regarded In New England A.
"The West" but now vast population has
rolled on beyond who look back on those
States a. part ofthe East, and even Illinois
aud Wisconsin have ceased 10 be "1'he Far
West" A.
Westward tie Star II Empire takes ~ course"
tits gratifying 10 SEQ the oonyeniencos, the
arts aud the improvements 81 New England
| following In the train, and the children Of
New England everywhere prominent in de-
yel0ping the resources Of these new States
directing the enterprise and moulding the
character Of the inhabitants, The proximity
which now exists by means of Rail Roads and
/ Steamboats, between me Fast and the West
! l. very favorable l..g est-r'liug the iutiururr
Of Now England habits, principles and insti'
tutions over this great valley, which must
soon be the centre of population S' we'll. ~
| the central part ofthe national domain. The
great systems Of Rail Roads connecting the
Eastern aud Western States are of the most
magnificent character. The two great lipc'
designed ~ the principal thoroughfAres be-
tween New York and Boston, and the West,
viz tho New York 4 Eric aud the several
roads between Boston and Buffalo, will corr
meet with a road now in process of constr'e-
ton running around the south shore Of Lake
Erie, through southern Michigan and nor
thcrn Indiana 10 Chicago, and thence across
the north Part Of Illinois TO Galcna near the
Mississippi, 10 that within year passengers
may travel hy rail road almost on the sanw
parallel of latitude from Boston to the Missis-
sipp The two great routes from Philadel-
phia through Pennsylvania and from Bnlh-
moro through Maryland and Virginia. will
be- extended westward through the central
parts 81 Ohio,Indiana and Illinois To 81. lou
IL. There are now two lines connecting
Cleveland and Sandusky on Lake Erie with
Cincinnati or the Ohio River for the accom-
mediation Of northeastern and southwestern
freight aud travel and the liberal apprnpri-
atiou by the last Congress 81 Govcrnhon'
lands for the purpose, secures the construc-
ton OF road through the Centre Of Illinois
from south 10 north. InnumcrAble branches
from these main lines traverse the country
in every direction, reaching into almost eve
~ section Of the several States aud the i'm
mensc agricultural productions which consti-
tute an almost unlimited amount OF freight
taken in connection with the small expense
OF construction in this level country, render
almost all the roads productive. They are
mostly built with eastern capital aud to COM
plrtc what are alsesJy ga a F'Fslr~-s ~ vor-
struction, or which must necessarily bc CON
structcd to complete important connections,
must consume all the surplus capital which
cur tbu ypUrVd Tor sonC Ncars 10 come4-------
These enterprises however,, will probably