Daily American telegraph., 1852-09-22
[Correspon5snce Of the Daily American Telegraph
Chicago, It's Prospects, sc.
MATTESON HOUSE,

MATTEs0N HOUSE,,
CHICAGO, Sept H.
FRIEND CONNOLLY: Little more than week
since | was walking the streets Of the capital of
the natioH-the headquarters of Whiggery, Loco
focoism, and Free Democracy or Freesoilsm-
from whence are disseminated, by the committees
who have these i8ma in charge, documents to en-
tighten the dear people scattered over the broad
extent Of this never.to o-he humbled republic and
now | amin the largest commercial city of the
Northwest which, from its position, is destined
to rank with, if not above st. Louis and Cincin-
natl in size and commercial importance-a city
now containing forty thousand, where, twenty
years ago, was to be seen nothing but low
marsh, with q small deep stream running through
it, which could have been bought for the govern
ment price Of 1925 per acre.
Ten years ago, it would have taken weeks to
have travelled from the city of Washington to
this place-a distance of nearly one thousand
miles now the distance can be travelled in three
days by taking the route over the mountains of
Pennsylvania, up and down the river inclined
plains, which consume six hours in travelling by
railroad thirty-six miles Three railroads enter
the city now and many more will in the course
of few years The "Central Michigan" and
the Southern Michigan railroads connect Chicago
with Lake Erie, both Of which run across the
State of Michigan, and are over two hundred and
fifty miles in length. The Chicago and Galena
road connects Chicago with the ead-mining re-
gion on the Mississippi, terminating at Galena
Ninety.two miles of this road have been finished,
and by it great quantity of produce of the back
ofpeople travel daily. The part already finished
pays twenty per cent, and the whole road when
completed viii pay more, rs it will then open into
the rich mining region on the Mississippi.
The railroads of this State can be constructed
at one-third the cost of Eastern roads, but little
having to be spent for grading.
The situation Of Chicago is such as to make it
the commercial centre Of the whole Northwest
the travel and produce by railroads from the back
country, and by shipping from the country bor-
dering on the lakes naturally centering here-it
being the terminus of railroads, steamers and
ships.
Business lots in this city are held very high,
situated in eligible positions also command good
prices. Twelve years ago, two or three lots
fronting the lake, with small tenement on one,
could have been bought for two hundred dollars
for the whole and now they could not be pur-
chased short Of fifteen thousand dollars-a small
rise
There are some fine hotels in the city and well
kept. The house Mt which p---"Matteson' =
is kept by New York men, in superb style the
servants being very attentive, the rooms well
furnished and attended to, and the table supplied
with the delicacies of the season in profusion
There are two rival telegraph offces-one
called the ORielly and the other Speed
gether the most business although it is a com
petitor to the other and started some time after.
Both however, seem TO be doing good business
at this season Of the year. The stock is rising
rapidly.
Captain Webster, Of the Typographical Corps
of Engineers, has the superintendent of the
harbors on Lake Michigan. He is man Of fine
manners, and much liked The people would be
glad to have him continued here He has pro
posed plan for the improvement Of the harbor
ut Chicago which, if adopted, will make . good
harbor at this point, with an entrance Of deep
water, which is what it wants now.
understand that he is favorable to the adop-
ton Of floating breakwater and safety anchor
age for the harbor Of Michigan city, which oil the
principal commercial men on the lakes are anx-
ious to see adopted, as they are confident it will
give more protection to the harbors than any.
thing else that has been tried
The Wings in this section Of the country are