Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-18
NOTES BY THE WAY.

lEdifo''a1 Correspondence of The Sta,l
srEAaISG on THE RoAD-r1SyED BY STEAM.
mo 2O1 Jnne 1887
AT a. m this morning embarked on the
Lightning Express" train of the Michigan
Central Railroad for Niagara Falls via Detroit.
some 500 miles distant, to be reached by II
O'Clock and 30 minutes D. m per time table
Thus am now travelling 80 miles per hour
nevertheless, do not know that ever before
felt less motion in a rail car-Iess little ioltinp
and Earring. For six miles or more. this rail-
road departs from Chicago through Lake Michi-
gan, on piles driven within a few rods of the
shore, which is built up for perhaps two miles
with private residences, many of which would
grace the Fifth Avenue of New York city. The
city thus stretches along almost the whole
length Of the six miles Of railroad track over
the Lakes waters. The view from the car
windows here is magnificent; of the blue Lake
stretching off into dim space on the left. and the
rich green hue of the prairie on the right at a
level scarcely five feet above the broad exnanss
OF water, dotted thickly with cottages oyuee,
many OF which are already surrounded with
well grown fruit and shade trees Tie private
residences being constructed in CHICAGO now
are, apparently, all sought to be built fancifullv
the hinese-pagoda style being to a consider
able extent model copied in the ARRANGEMENT
OF the gingerbread work upon them. The ma
chine shops of the Central Railroad Companv
are for the most part situated on this track
near where 1t departs from the Lake, and with
the cattle pens Of the road range along for
nearly mile. In their vicinity we passed n
line of freight cars of that road, apparently all
new, perhaps a mile in extent.
After leaving the immediate shore Of Lake
Michigan and the outskirts of the city in that
direction, the prairie near the railroad is but
little cultivated, owing probably to the fact
that II Is so low as to be everywhere almost
marsh We crossed the Calumet river second
time, perhaps 10 miles out from Chicago. having
crossed 1t on Saturday night last when coursing
on The Alton and st. Louis railroad Tbouyb
famous for incidents transporting upon il. in
connection with the early history Of Illinois
there Is nothing whatever of interest in its an
pearance He who has tray eled oy er the marsh.
&c between New York and Newark, NJ has
crossed several such rivers by the way. At
twenty-five or three miles out from CHICAGO VIC
entered tract of country that in times pas, h, :
Deen heavily umbered-a rarity in this quarter,
80 lar sui the settlements on this road con-
hnue to look as though dropped from the clouds
CWhere they had been made in a great hurry
this morning.
Lake June, point on the road "a miles ont
from Chicago, pretty little sheet of water. ia
surrounded by oak-covered ridgy hillocks, and
al things around it tell that it is a place of
fashionable resort from Chicago. There we
parsed haii dozen freight trains, and one
heAVily laden passenger train, awaiting our
coming and going .
% Ihe land surrounding this lake for MANY
miles Is unfit for profitable cultivation: a., 70
turn up a six-inch sod, will carry the plough
snare down TO water. Nor is the timber at this
uine standing along the railroad west of Porter
Unirty.tWo miles out from Chicago, worth more
inan the cost OF cutting it, being scrub-oak
almost invariably. The consequence is, that
uhti reached point on the road near fifty
miles out, the traces Of mans existence in that
quarter Except the fences put up by the rail.
road company, the whole of whose track i,
fenced in) are few and far between. At thai
point We struck a somewhat different region or
"hicn there stands much valuable timber and
consequently, steam saw mills Its top sol
seems to be bright yellow loan with an ovel
admixture Of sand. At ffty-four miles ou
from chicago, we passed through Michigan
centre, village Of 1000 inhabitants, intended
or'ginally Tor an important city 1t stands il
'ne midst OF shifting sand on the lake shore
ana Is the point of junction of this railroad with
the New albany and Salem railroad. II i
evidently busy little place, so far as the con
ly passing and repassing railway train,
are concerned. There are extensive railroaI
SHOPS There, which strike me as sffordipy m,,cI
oil tne business of its traders.
After leaving this place we again courssd
over most uninviting and proftIess countr,
OF sand hillocks Immediately bordering I,t'
81 Clair. Indeed, We got within ten nil. :
Niles-9l miles from Chicago-before .tr;t;n'
what appeared to me to be a habitabIe COUNT,
That was dotted over for the most part wi :,
miserable novels only fit to make comfortably,
residences for Digger Indians of Utah. Nile
Is on the banks of st. Joseph's river, which
though but pulling creek, bears traces of hay