The true Democrat., 1855-06-12

not only that. but its results equally striking.- For example, the northern terminus, Chicago. is mounting rapidly to the first rank of inland cities. We quote from the report of J. c. Bran- croft Davis, esq, 1855, the following interest," ing facts:
 Chacago.-The city of Chicago is the iermi- nus of the Chicago branch of the Aurora road which IS led from the northern branch between La oaile, or even as far south as Bloomington and freeport; and of the Chicago and Galena mon road, which is fed Ly the northern branch from Freeport up.
 It Is situated near the head of Lake Mich- gan. at the outlet of the Illinois and Michigan canal. To the east it has an uninterrupted na- vlsatlon through Lakes Michigan and Huron, the rlver and Lake St. Clair, the river Detroit and Lake Erie. of more than 1OOO miles, and by the WeHand Canal with the Atlantic ocean, Oh the west may be seen, over nearly level prairie, the woods which skirt the Des Plaines flowing into the Mississippi; and behind it, without interruption to the Mississippi. ale the most fertile lands in the United States. The growth of the city is miraculous InlS3l. there were twentythree families in the town: it's pre- sent population is 75,OOO"
 The southern terminus is at the new citv of Calro, ot which we have obtained, by the kind ness of subscriber, some maps which exn]ain themselves.
 On the Mississippi, 18O miles above Cairo at the Missouri, stands the great and prosperous city ot St. Louis, a place whose increase has been equally ymarvelous. The following table shows how population has followed it's posit on in this wondrous region:-
 s. Louis.-The growth of the city of St. Louis, situated on the Mississippi, few miles below the junction of the Missouri. is nearly as remarkable as that of Chicago.
 Population of St. Louis in 1920, 4.123
 1854, l25,OOO'
 Of Cincinnati, another of these western mar vels 5O0 miles above the junction of the Ohio ana Mississippi, we need not speak particularly. US position does not require 1t of us at this mo- ment
 here remains, then, but one more view to take ol the subject at present under consdera- tlon. We have Chicago and St. Louis as great centres ot western trade and western population, and Tn all human probability there is yetanother which will vie with, if not surpass them both. hs ssls the city of Cairo, at the junction of the two rivers situated l8O miles below St. Louis. 5O9 below Cincinnati, where, as we have alrea. dy lntlmated, theriver is always deep and there Is no obstruction from ice. It's latitude is 90 deg. N, and its longitude 12 deg. F. from Washington. As those of all alluvia Delta are, ts site Is not elevated to any great height. It IS 40 it. above the ordinary level of the river: but like most the towns on the Mississippi like St. Louis, Natchez, under the hilI or New Or jeans, or like Albany on the Hudson river, is liable to partial overfoWs at extraordinary sea- sons. Human ingenuity has successfully op- posed barrier to these floods. and the mauaqers of the Illinois Central railroad are securing this result for its own advantage. Leyees along the banks and sectional levees across the base of the triangle made by the two rivers, leave mo- thing further to be apprehended from this source. Indeed 1t would not be difficult to raise the whole site of the town far above the line of possible inundation by the transportation of earth from the high ground above, just as in New York, where we constantly fill up our IT, yer fronts to depth of 50 feet, or create acres of new land at the Battery. No fears, how ever, appear to deter the numerous settlers who are erecting permanent habtations at Cairo, and who observe the stout old trees which guard the river banks and flourish undisturbed bv its waters. So far. then as this iS.to be considered, we find Cairo at the worst only to be in the cate gory of all the river towns, except that it is to be much better protected by artificial works, more easily constructed than in any of the low CT towns. It has another pr-eminent advau- tage. There is no interruption to navigation below it. Its channels are deep and never ce- 1 bound. In all seasons 1t is reached by vessels of the largest river capacity, and to 1t and about 1t are concentrating ali the great railways of the west Travellers and freight, therefore. brough 1 to this point by railway or otherwise, are al ways sure of reaching their final destination.- While St. Louis and Cincinnati are for months shut up by the ice and droughts, Cairo suffers l .,,cb Mr very favOrably of it's position. He savs- 1 "Caro Is situated at the most important con- fuence of rivers in the world. Below it the Mississippi is navigable at all times to the ocean. The magnificent rivers above 1t, both to the west and east, are closed in the winter by ice, and in the summer nearly or quite so by drought; making travel uncertain, freights variable and obiging traders to lay in stocks of goods for months before they are wanted, to insure sup ply. The Illinois Central Railroad furnishes at present the only railroad connection for the greatest commercial city upon the Mississippi, the greatest commercial city upon the Ohio, the greatest commercial city upon the lakes, and the principal mining region of the United States with this point It is possible to make, here after, if the divided business will warrant it, shorter roads to 1t both from Cincinnati and St. Louis. But it must ever remain the most di- rect route from Calro to ChlcagO and Galena, passing to each of them through the most fertile land of Illinois.
 Important as are these connections, Cairo pos sesses independent resources The supplies of groceries and other heavy goods for the interior of Illinois will naturally be shipped from this place. In return, it will naturally become the exporting point for the produce of that country going south
 There is also excellent reason for believing that it will become the great depot for coal for Mississippi steamers. Steamers are now SUD- piled with this article from mines up the Ohio The nearest mine is at Muford, 115 miles above Cairo; the fartherest, Pittsburg, 1,OO4 miles above it. Itis brought down in flat boats, tow ed by steam-tugs, and delivered, during the navigation season, directly from the river. But the winter and dry weather supplies also are obliged to be brought down during the season and hauled up on the levee above high water mark.