The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-06-18
Correspondence of the Pioneer.
JEFFERSON, Wis, June 8, 1857

correspondence OF the Pioneer
JEFFERSON, Wis, June 8, 1857.
DEAR PIONEER Il left you, in my
last, at Chicago. with the promise Of say
ing something in this letter Of that city.
Chicago is situated on the west side OF
Lake Michigan, and where the Chicago
river enters the Lake. Chicago river is
formed by the union of the north and
south branches, which occurs about one
mile from the Lake. Those branches
come, one from the south and the other
from the north, and at their junction turn
directly east, giving to the city three
sides, that on the west of both
branches being called the "west side, 4"
that east of the south branch" and
south Of the united branches the south
side, and that east of the g north
branch" and north of the united branch
es, the north side" In length the city
is seven and half, and in breadth three
and a half miles. with the best river har-
Dor / have ever seen on the Lakes, but
rather difficult of entrance in rough
weather. Vessels and steamers pass up
those branches, north and south, for four
miles, their masts and rigging appearing
like body of deadened timber. Several
brid ges, each revolving on number of
large trucks in the center, cross these va
rious branches, and have to be TUNED
lengthwise of the streams at every en-
trance or departure of vessels. These
bridges are from SO to $50 feet in length
and about 40 wide, and are managed by
two men with great ease and facility
The ground on which the city stands is
very level; that on the "south" I" and
west" sides being similar to the low
est in Sandusky, while that on the +'north
side is more like the higher ground OF
our own town, only perfectly level. On
the "south side" the Lake Shore is short
and abrupt, yet not more than 10 to Is
feet high, while on the "north side" the
waves from the Lake ebb and flow over
considerable beds of yellow sand, which,
when drys is driven by every gust Of
wind into piles like drifted snow. On
this side fully one fourth of mile inter-
venes between the water and the city, it
being too low and sandy to occupy. On
the "north side," can be found the resi-
dences OF the wealthy and aristocratic.
many of them almost hidden from view
by natural as well as cultivated shrub
berry. Many beautiful residences may
be seen m this part of the city.
The Railroad interests and arrange
ments of the city are truly wonderful
The Depot of the Illinois Central, on the
south side," and, in the Lake, is 600
feet long, goo wide and about SO feet
high in the center, built Of stone, with
oval roof, and has eight tracks running
the full length of the building, excepting
the sitting rooms on the north end
This Depot is close by the harbor. The
Depots of the Ohio, Indiana and Michi-
gan Roads are about one mile south west
from this, while those for Wisconsin,
Iowa, Minnesota, &C., are on the "west
side - and distant from two to three
miles. During the whole day and night,
and almost constantly, the sound OF the
shrill whistle may be heard. Chicago is
truly place of great business and many
of the wholesale edifces surpass anything
[ have ever seen in New York With
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois,
and parts of other great States to back
it up" l can see no reason now to change
my past opinion, that it will, ere many
years, be an honorable rival of New
York Some may consider this to be a
foolish and unfounded opinion, bat, ifso,
Twill only ask them the simple question,
have you ever seen the North West
and West? Why, just think of city
with nearly one hundred arrivals and de-
partures of railroad trains per day-with
nearly the same number of steamers, pro-
pellors, schooners, &c.,-with vessels
loading and departing directly for Eu
rope, and that city in the center of the
finest country in the world--what must
it and will it be? And then take peo-
pie so wide awake to all their interests as
are the people of Chicago, and all doubt
is at once removed. 5000 buildings are
said to be now in course of erection
some very large and fine.
On the morning of the 9th Of June,
with baggage on board, I entered car
riage for the Chicago, Madison Fond du
Lac and Prairie du CHEN Station, about
two miles distant. On reaching the riv-
er. the bridge was just swinging around
to let schooner pass, which was drawn
by small steam-tug, (as are all vessels
into and out of port) and not feeling safe
behind a team SO fractions as seemed this
one, [ kept sharp look out for fear ot
trouble. The little tug finally belched
forth his unearthly noise, the result o
which was trouble with our horses.
saw that run they would, and not liking
a passage in such a place, with runa
way team, and the prospect of broken
neck or limbs, or of being run off into the
river where the bridge should be, l tried
hard to open the doors of the carria ge
but could not, and there being but one
way left, soon determined to take ad
vantage of that, although hardly large
enough for my dwarf-like frame to pei
through; however, at it I went, and die
get out through the hole for the window
in the side door, but not before the car
riage was nearly around and the horses
rearing and heading from the river
How | landed on " terra firma," I coano
tell yow nom; but one thing I do know
and that is, that my hat was dangerousl,
smashed, although my head was per
fectly soaad, which certainly leaves th,
other kind Of head to brother Dennison
for his, certainly, could not have born,