New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-31
FROM CANADA VEST.
The n. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune
CoIIINGwooD, c. W, July q, 1855.
Thought it might be interesting to some of
your numerous readers to hear from these lar
of regions, hitherto supposed to be quite beyond
the pale Of civilization The opening OF the Ca
tario. Simcoe and Huron Railroad has awakened
uuwonted echoes in these sotudes, and the
shrek of the locomotive and the ak of the wood
man have replaced the hootng OF the owl ana
the tap Of the wOodpecker. This road, which
extends from Toronto on Lake Ontario to TINS
place, az the head of Georgiene Bay, is destined
10 become, or rather has become, an important
link in the great chain of Western travel, espe-
cially that branch of it extending to Superior
and the upper lakes 1t is "a miles long, very
straight, with no heavy grades, and extends
through a country which for about fifty miles is
partially cleared and very fertile, the latter part
being an almost unbrOken wilderness AtColllng-
wood there is a connection with steamers running
10 all the ports on the upper lakes and to Lake
Superior The road appears 10 be well managed.
The rate of speed. notwithstanding rather pro-
tracted stoppages at the several stations, Will com
pare fayorably with our own roads, and the con
ductors are models of pohteness and clyillty In
deed | think il would contribute not little To the
pleasure of travel on some of our roads, II the d.
rectors would import little OF TINS article IN the
original packages 49, n.
trict through which the road runs look extremely
well The wheat, though not quite SO forward as
r;tb us Is stout and well filed, and there is no
complaint of the wee,i blight or rust Oats
potatoes and peas could not be In better conditoh
There is an abundance OF excellent pine luthoer
all along this road, for the hrst time rendered
accessible This with the passage Otthe RECIPROCITY
Treaty has had the effect to increase the value OF
lands wonderfully all along the road and far INTO
the interior This value as at present rated Is
clearly speculative and fictitious, and dlsaPpolht
neut is destined TO be the only fruit oil many a
bright hope and airy dream.
The speculative mania seems to have concen-
trated all its force at this pace-the northern ter
minus of the road Here one year ago all was one
dense unbroken forest The hut of the Indian
alone stood on these shores, whose bright waters
were Conscious of no heavier burden than his
birchen canoe. Now the forest has been leyeled
in long lanes crossing each other at right angles
in incipient Fifth-ays. and Fourteenth-sts; many
of the squares near the shore have been cleared,
and some forty or fifty houses planted down amid
the eharred stumps. The Company have built
two large depOts and a commOdlous warehouse,
and are extending a pier into the bay some 1000
feet, to serve as a breakwater and to protect the
haIbor. The land here cost dollar and halt an
acre two years ago. 1t is now being sold IN lots
At two and three thousand dollars an acre. An
idea seems to prevail that it is to prove second
Chicago, but nothing could be more iallseious. For
six months at least Of the year il will be shut In
on all sides but one, by impenetrabe ice. The
country around il is wilderness and even when
cleared, will find the outlet for its trade in more
southerly direction, while Chicago is the trade
center Of fertile continent almost.
We witnessed the process Of curing the white
n'n and trout which abound in these lakes and are