The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-06

nVe 70 nfteen dollars per acre. Although the
tide of emigration has, to great extent swept
across this State, on its way farther West yet
there can be no doubt-in view Of the general
good character and intelligence OF its people,
they have lately adopted the Maine Lar the
facilities for reaching the great markets on our
seaboard, the healthful character of the coun-
try, rolling and uneven with oak forests beau
tiiul openings, and running streams; the yalua-
BILE pine forests on its northern borders, togeth-
er with tho general good quality of its soil
there can bo no doubt, | repeat, that Michigan
presents great inducements to emigrants Her
great staples arc wheat wool, and lumber
At New Buffalo we came in sight Of Lake
Michigan Here speculation once built great
city-on paper A dismantled warehouse, a
| deserted, unfinished wharf few wretched
groggeries, are the fitting remains and accom-
PAYMENTS of the dreary sand hills and MAS
matte marshes that surround them
Farther on, at Michigan city, which, | was
informed, was quite an important and popu-
lous town, especially the church-yard portion Of
| it) speculation once plumed its vsngs Cor lofty
| flight It's airy structures were gerry sppropri-
ately located on these shifting sands; but they
have disappeared like the baseless fabric Of
q vision" and left not wreck behind. From
this point to Chicago the land is level and
marsby, affording beautiful summer residence
for the ague iend.
Chicago has population of IS, O0O-the for
| eign element exceeding in number the Ameri-
can. The rapid growth, the present prosperi-
ty, the prospective greatness of Chicago, are all
familiar to your readers.
From Chicago to Rockford, by railroad, is
some so miles This portion Of the State of H.
linois is prairie, with here and there beautiful
grove Of trees and shrubs. For a few miles
from Chicago it is a perfect leyal, stretching
away in the distance till the strained vision is
curtained in by the horizon. ("lndade," said
| an freshman, 1--WE are out Of sight of land!n)
Farther on We have rolling prairie, with
its beautiful green slopes magnificent crops
and great herds of cattle. With good water
and plenty of timber, this country would be a
paradise for farmers.
Rockford is thriving town, built upon ei-
| Their bank of Rock river, which is here crossed
| by very shabby bridge. The Rock river
| country, was told by those acquainted with
it, in fertility of soil cannot DO surpassed by
| any other section of country at the West At
Rockford we take stages for Galena, some 80
| miles distant-on ON! through the same in
terminable rolling prairie, repaying even the
shftless cultivation and apparent Incidence Of
/
| tonish an Eastern man, familiar only with the
sterile soil of New England. We reach Free
port about sunset Here the Illinois Central
and Chicago and Gaena railroads effect
| junction. Buildings are being erected real es
tate il rising aud the Freeportes are sanguine
in their belief of brilliant failure awsijng
them
We are in the mail coach, and travel all
night. A lowering sky and Western road
await us After supper, we seat ourselves two
ladies and four gentlemen in the coach. For
the first few miles we progress" at tho rate
Of three miles an hour }, but never mind, a right
,nerrie company were we. We change horses
| about midnight, and enter a corduroy road ex-
tending few miles through a timber bottom.
The night is pitchy dark, the lighsnings flash,
the thunder mutters, the rain pours down.
| What ride was that Tosscd hther and yon,
careening over, now on our iarb0ard, then on
our starb0qsd side, to the fsrtsss point of equi-
lbrium; then suddenly pitching our bows into
pit well nigh bottomless, bringing up with a
sudden jerk, which sent the craniums of one
half of our number into the respective bread
baskets of the other half So we rode, until Q
cry of distress, heard above the wailings of tn,
storm, checked our "Jehu 10 his mad career
The coach Immediately behind us had overset
"What fall was there my countrymen
Men, women, and children, foundering in tn,
mud and such mud To make long story
short, we scaled the hills which surround Ga
lena, and literally pitched into this leaden town
some two hours behind the usual time the mex
day
Galena is the centre and depot of the lest
region. Its principal street winds it's marrow
way along the bank Of Fevre river, which i
navigabe for steamboats, up to this point. Tn,
city is wedged in between two high bluffs, ia
up the sides of which are built some very prett.
residences, reached by flights of steps. Sure
ly, the denizens of these hill-sides ought to b.
temperate, for no Life Insurance COMPANY
would ruin their reputation by taking risl
upon the life of any man who should undertak,
to navgat, this "munition Of rocks" minus ;
cool head and steady nerves Galena is place
Of business and wealth, and must continue t
increase in both The immense wealth con
tanned in these leaden hills will develop itsel
under the stimulus of capital and systematic
effort The tireless energies Of steam will &C
complish what the hardy miner, with his pick
and windass cannot.
We take passage on the good boat I" Ben
Newton for St Paul, the capital of Minneso-
Ia One hours sail, and rounding headand
we enter the noble Missssippi-tbe Father OF
Waters - sweeping down, through 90 degrees
of latitude, from the beautiful ltasca lake, in
whose pearly depths are mirrored the North
ern pine; and traversing in its windings from
its source to it's mouth, nearly 5000 miles, with
an uninterrupted steamboat navigation of over
1000 miles TO the Falls of St Anthony; ts
banks lined with every grade of vegetation,
from the hardy evergreen to the fragrant
orange grove; itself and tributaries draining
the vast valley lying between the Appalachian
range on the east, and the Rocky mountains
on the west, embracing 100000 square miles
of territory, as fertile rs can be found on the
face Of the globe--this mighty river washing
the shores Of ten States and Territories, itself
the indestructible boundary line between them,
this great national highway, bearing upon its
bosom untold wealth. the production Of
Zines. As for the first time gazed upon
ivwaters, their smooth surface OVERLAND with
gold from, the rays Of the setting sun, it's enc
raid banks sloping up against the sky, and dark
ened by the shadows which nestled on their
sides, impressed me with an indescribable sense
of beauty and msgnfcence. The sublime and
beautiful scenery on the Upper Mississippi
must be seen TO be appreciated. The densely
wooded bottoms, the sloping forest covered
banks, crowned with steep, bold bluffs, from
300 10 SO feet high, whose castellsted sides,
oyerhung With foliage, and seen IN the dim twi.
light, reminded one Of turreted castles and
mail-clad knights And then the snnscts such
a commingling of heaven and earth. Sec the
shadows softly creeping up the eastern slopes,
with parting kiss for the golden glory that
fingers upon the summit. When the long twi-
light has faded into night, and the stars gm-
mer in the sky, then It is, amid the impressive
silence of that far.off wilderness that tho SOUL
ave, this poor, sinful, human soul---asserts its
supremacy, and conscious Of its Immortality,
with stately tread enters through Natures YES
thule into the voritsble presence Of Natures
God The purple flush of morning chases away
| the stars tka sop0 of the pRelv il hushed its