Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-22
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP
The Growth Of the erea. west.-In schoo

crafts American Lakes" we find the follow
ing: "31 August, 1920, Governor Cas- here
determined to proceed on horseback across
the peninsula of Michigan to Detroit.
The distance to Detroit is computed at three
hundred miles-there is a plain horse path,
but il is intersected by cross paths So that !,
could not be pursued by a stranger without a
guide. The village of Chicago consists
of ten or twelve dwelling houses, with popu-
lation Of about sixty souls" Mr.. Schoolcraft
also remarks, g. to the ordinary advantages of
an agricultural market town, it must here
after, add that of depot, for the inland com
merce between the northern and southern Sec
tons Of the country, and great thOroughfare
for strangers, merchants and travellers" How
true his prediction and how true it is that all
points selected by the Indians, traders and
Jesuits are fast assn ming in this day of rail
roads, corresponding Importance to the coun-
try arouad that they bore in olden times.
Chicago, in 1920, was reached by Gen. Csss
and Mr.. Schoolcrsft in q bark canoe, by the
way Of the Wisconsin river and Green Bay,
from tour through Lake Superior across to
the head waters Of the Mississippi. Then the
entire country was q wilderness-now Chicago
contains lac, 900 Inhabitants, is the terminus
of more railroads than any other city in the
world-uithout breaking bulk she sends her
ships laden with produce to the Old World
Mr.. schoolcraft's predictions have been more
than realized, and that, too, during his life
time.
Three years ago the City Of Superior was q
wilderness; four years ago, not q white man
resided within twenty miles; now it contains
over twelve hundred inhabitants, and already
the ground has been broken and a railroad
commenced, a.d We see that a contract has
been N ade with a responsible company for
ths-competion Of the road to the Mississippi
river within thirty months-a distance of one
hundred and forty miles Truly, this is fast
age. By examining the writings of old trav
slers, especially those of scientific ones, We
ind that they have referred to all of these
points. In 1865, Father Allonez settled at
the place where Bayfield, now stands. In
1863, Father Marquette succeeded him. They
were Jesuit priests who had established them
Indians. Between the years 1850 and ITO
Alexander Henry uintered at this point. In
speaking of this place he says" Chagouemi
gOn might, at this period, be regarded as the
metropolis of the Chippeways Schoolcraft
says the "harbOr of Chegoimegsn is rarely
equalled."
Owens, inlhis geological report, speaking of
this bay, gives the following beautiful descrip-
ton:
" Lake Superior has, at times, lot only the
varied interest but the sublimity of a true
ocean. Its blue, cold, transparent waters,
undisturbed by tides, lie, during q calm,
motionleSs and CLASSY as those of any small
secluded lake, rejecting, with perfect truth
of form and color, the inverted landscape that
slopes dowr 10 its smooth, sandy beach But
when tbs inland sea is disturbed by the rising
tempest, tho long sweep Of its waves, and the
curling " hite caps that crest its surface give
warning, not oDly to the light bark canoe, bur
70 slOop ard scbooler and lake steamer, to seek
some shelteriDg haven. At such times, craft
Of every description nsy be seen running be-
tore the wind, or beating Up against it, all
making for the most favorite harbor on the
lake-the sheltered BAY Of Madeline Island "
This is the island th at sheltered Allonea and
Marquette, Henry and others Of the Oldsn
time, and it now shelters tbs irhabitants Of
Bayfield, town CONNIE ced last sysing, and
now containing over thirty good buildings. .
hne pier, steam mill of The largest capacity,
large hotel under way, and, by late ST. Paul
papers, We see that the two points are con-
neetsd by line Of stages. Next spring the
srouud will there be broken, the commence
nent Of railroad to connect it with Superior
and the Mississippi
Owens, in speaking Of the soil in this vicin-
ity, says that it is d" a retentive red mari, ca
psble, under, proper system of tillage, Of
returning TO the husbandman hundredfold,
and Of producing fruits and vegetables in per-
fectiOn''
Speaking Of Madeline Island, be saws il
probably is not surpassed, in point Of health
by any locality in the entire Western country:
Ne a fishing station il is unrivalIed. 1t ia not
only one OF the most commanding and soces.
sible situations on Lake Superior, but it pre-
sents one Of the most agreeable and pictur-
esque lake scenes the tourist can we'll
imagine" Older than Chicagoor Detroit
yet, owing TO the country around it having
been until recently owned by the Indians, il
Is in point Of fact but eight months old-situ.
ated upon one Of the best harbors in the
vOrld-in the midst Of rich mineral and
agricultural country, Bayfield, must soon take
. prominent position among the cities Of the
West.
rsceu. article upon the growth of Western
towns states tia. 4" St. Paul will in IS66-tsn
years from this-coatsin four hundred and
ninety thousand inhabtsats; that is, if her
increaso shoald be in the SANS ratio that IL
has been fer the last six years" The city
now contains abopt tUelye thousand This