Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1855-03-14
NEW ROAD FOR TRADE.

There was posted in conspicuous place in
the Board of Trade Rooms of Chicago, about
the commencement of last month"; notice to
ship-owners that one vessel was wanted for Liv-
erpoo, one for Glasgow, and one for Cork or
orders. These ships, it was explained, must be
the first class, and can be profitably employed
in the coasting trade between England and Ire
land, and the English ports, during the winter
months, taking out passengers to Quebec, in the
spring. Should they not be able to get further
than Quebec, alta proportionate rate for Quebec
That it might not be considered hoax, parties
were desired to apply TO VIM. Kernaghan, 1873
South Water street At that time there were
orders in Chicago from England for 100000
bushels Of corn, provided it could be obtained
at a given figure, with instructions to ship direct
in lake bottoms via the ST. Lawrence. 1t is not
impossible, according to the Chicago Weekly
Press of the 9th ult., that this order may be ex-
executed on the opening of navigation. The
vessels trading on the lakes, of which Chicago
is said to possess six steamers twelve propel-
lers, four barks, twenty briggs s,ninety-one schoon-
ers, and two soops, are described to be many of
them as large as the vessels engaged in our grain
trade with the Black Sea.
The voyage from Chicago to Liverpool would
not be longer than from Odessa, Ibraila, or Ga.
canal being constructed, as is said to be practi-
cable, from Montreal, by the Ottawa River thro'
lake Nipersing to lake Huron, connected with
lake Michigan, on the southern and western end
of which Chicago is situated. This is, howev-
or, a project not likely to be executed till the
commercial connection between the st. Law
renee and the Mississippi, between British North
America and the United States, has become so
large as to put an end to political rivaries and
political claims to supremacy. These stand in
the way of commerce, they continually check
the flood of its greatness, and must cease be.
fore all that is requisite for its success can be
achieved.
Chicago is one Of the most rapidly increas.
ing towns in the States. 1t is the port Of the
lakes furthest south and west. The river or
which it is situated is navigable to Bridgeport
four miles from Chicago, where the Illinois
and Michigan canal communicates direct with thC
lakes.
Thus Chicago has q water communication te
the south and west with the whole valley Of the
Mississippi, and with all the countries to which
the great river serves as q high road, and to the
north and east with the st. Lawrence, and al
countries to which its waters lead, including tn,
whole ofNorthern Europe. Its position is mos
favorable for carrying on an extensive trade
with the rich and fast peoplng countries in it
immediate neighborbood, for conveying thei
produce to other counries,and for receiving fron
other countries the produce they remit in ex
change. The facilities of navigation led il
the first instance to the mouth of the Chicag,
being selected as the site of town, and it
position has since then made it the centre of
railway communication, which connects it wit
f the seaboard of the east and the furthest pee
+ pied west. Connected with it are twelve line
of railroads 2,4l6 miles in length, running int
other great railroads, and sixteen branches an
extensions l,l30 miles in length. BY rail it
: united to Mobile in the Gulf of Mexico, and thrc
Iowa and Missouri to their western frontiers
and by rail it is united to Philadelphia and Ne,
York.
Eighteen years ago, as we read in Mr.. Co
: tons work on the progress of the Unite
: States" there were not! 5000 white inhabitant
I in all the beautiful regions lying between LAX
J. Michigan and the Pacific Ocean. In 1853 ther
, is above 100000. In 1880 Chicago wa
: known as trading post; in 1910 it had 4,47
inhabitants; in 1850 it had 29,o63, an increas