New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-24
FROM NIAGARA TO THE MISSISSIPPI.

New-York Central aud Erie Railroads, which
strikes the traveller on the Canada route is the
Suspension Railroad Bridge. We had imagined
all sorts Of horrible things concerning this
bridge-ss TO how it would look, and especially
whether we should have courage TO ride over the
gulf behind locomotive. Upon the whole We
lad determined to confront the danger nOtwith-
standing some very urgent warnings against il
from persons as inexperienced So ourselves. Bat
as our train on the Canandaigua and Niagara
Falls Road came in sight of the dreaded bridge,
We witnessed what 10 our unaccustomed eye
was thrilling sight, the passage of another
train over it-one frst-class locomotive and
three c.rs-and yet there il stood as firm as If
supported every twenty feet with massive
stone pier. There was no unpleasant oscilla-
tioo, nothing to court ones fears, and accord
inely We made the dreaded passage with as little
anxiety as over the Cayuga Bridge. In our en-
thusiaim We unanimously pronounced that bridge
the most splendid achievement in railroads IN this
country and the success OF IL more surprising than
the tuIueiing of mountains or the cutting path
through such obstacles for instance those along
The Delaware above Port Ieryis.
Tie Canada country is evidently filling up with
imuigTanis-a great many OF them from our own
country. We passed through land destined to be
valuable. Thofe about London we admired great
ly-but oh what fall is IL from these to the
swsmps through which you pass for the last thirty
niles before reaching Detroit
Cur arrival AZ Detroit was marked by the some
what Unpleasant CONSERVATION of one ct our pas
sergers On finding bis pockets picked OF large
sum Of money, in spite Of huge stariog sign
Beware OF ck-pockets, watch suffers aud gam
oilers"
Detroit has made remarkable Improvements
within five years | found lots, indeed whole
squares, then vacant now compactly bult up
Several beautiful churches have also been erected
since that time The burning of DR.. Duliields
Dst rresby terrain church was good thing on tue
whole, since once oyergrown congregation Is
now, in consequence divided into three each Of
which, Of course, is not equal TO the Old one, but
destined soon TO be. All the churches are exert
ing Themselves strongly, and the results are
marked The Congregational Church (Mr. Kit
chels) is one of the strongest in the city.
From Detroit 10 Chicago We anticipated an I'M
pleasant ride but after an interval OF i've years lt
was agreeable to mark the progress which had
taken place in tie villages and towns, and espe-
cially in the farms along the route My opinion of
Michigan has greatly improved with this reyista
ton. What can be more beautiful than the lands
for several miles On either side of Kalamazoo
Those farms are gems, and must in time command
prices nearly or quite AS high the famous Cen
efee lands. Farming in Michigan Is evidently im-
proving ] saw some blowing that would have
COMMANDED the appreciation of Prot Mapes.
We thought the swsmps of Canada were awful,
but made up our minds that they were not to be
mentioned in tie same day with the sand banks
through which the Southern Michigan and Central
Railroads run from Michigan City to Chicago.
Rarely can one find spot where sand is more
thoroughly ground into ones body corporate,
forced into ones n0se and eyes and ears than Just
along there.
l made considerable inquiry concerning the
LIQUOR prohibition laws in Michigan and Illinois,
and am strongly Of opinion that the masses OF the
people are in their favor. One very good judge
lowever thought the law in Michigan would be
pronounced unconstitutional as was its predeces-
sor and in Illinois, where the law is To be submit
ted for approval to popular vote the most siren
uOus exertiOns are making to defeat il. yirulent
sheet The Aat- ProhiJitioHist, | have found at
most Of the hotels and am told il circulates ex-
tensiyely among the people. Yet the common
opinion is that large majority will approve the
law.
BY the Rock Island Railroad came to this place
for the first time in my life riding for miles and
miles through an open prairie elegantly fringed
with horizon of oaks. 1t was to me an Impress
i've sight that bOundless expanse of beauty and
fertility, the only apparent dra"backs Deihg thc
presence Of spectators keeping vast areas from
the plow, and the insufiicency of timber. From
what | saw of groves planted at some places |
think that chesnut trees would grow in ten or IF
teen years large enough for fencing purposes. The
New-Jersey mountains. poor as they are, give
growth OF timber large enough for posts and rails
every twenty or twenty-five years. The railroads
traversng these prairies are to work change by
bringing boards and posts from the forests OF the
North
Tie Mississippi we saw this morning for the first
tine with start and an exclamation OF pleasure.
Ii is the Father Of Waters" Rock Island had
but few people in ls47, but this railroad has given
il an amazing increase IL now has more than
seven thousand inhabitants, and lots which few
years ago were worth little are now commanding
high prices II is not very beautiful 10 be sure,
but perhaps it will be- Iowa has a charming look
from tie Illinois shore, and Is, | suppose one OF
the most beautiful States OF the Union
one thing has surprised Inc in this flying trip,
and that is TO find the forests of Canada greener
than those in the vic nifty of New-York, while
Northern Illinois and Michigan seemed two weeks
in adv snce of US The forests and fields are green.
The grain, especially the wheat, is As good 10 all
appearance as | ever cav, and il uncOmmonly
promising The abundant and kindly SHOWS of
last Winter have much TO do with this prospect.
If seme Unforeseen casualty does not blight it,
there will be an immense harvest TO put down our
present starvation prices.
Tie bridge over the Mississippi just above the
town bids fair to be & grand and useful achieve
ment, as the following condensed view OF Il VIII
show. The iron channel j. on the west side Of
Rock Island. and the length Of the bridge on this
side is l,5-. feet The bridge is to be built accord
ing to Howe. patent truss, aud each span will be
80 feet The draw pier on which the draw-bridge
is TO reyolyc will be 80 feet in diameter az the
fot,om and 81 AZ the top and when tie Law is