Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-26
CORRESPONDENCE of the Patriot
DETROIT. Aug. 10. 1857

DETROIT, Aug. Is, 1857.
DEAR PATRIoT Very soon after writing
you last, within determined me to leave
the Ella. We landed at Cairo on Mon
day morning a quarter before seven of the
clock. That wonderful animal, whose hoof
is of iron, whose food is of fire and whose
breath is of steam, stood eager to take lis
course through the State of Illinois. I at
once concluded to try the rail. At seven pre-
cisely found myself on the cars, and they
moving, checked through to Chicago. We
moved at a rapid rate, and in point of comfort
radically different from the easy gliding move
ment of the steamer. At o'clock the next
morning, seventeen hours out, we tethered
the iron charger in the great Union Depot at
Chicago, having traversed the centre Of the
State, distance of 365 miles. l was disap-
pointed as well as as5Onished at what l saw Of
Illinois. For sixty miles, more or less, from
Cairo upward, the country is made up of
woodland, and along the immediate line of the
railroad, is mostly wild and uncultivated. At
the depot stations, clusters of houses have
sprung up, and the great and almost exclusive
business seems to be the running of saw mills.
Then comes the vast prairie plains for which
the Western and Northwestern States are Gel
ebrated. at tie time the road was projected
there were but few farms on these fertile lands.
There was no timber accessible with which to
construct houses and build fences; but the
railroad and the saw mills have supplied the
deficiency, and now immense tracts are yield
ing the most profitable crops of corn and
wheat. The company owns a great deal of
the lands along the line of the road, which
they are selling at large prices-their sales last
week amounting to within fraction Of an
hundred thousand dollars. The country is ex-
tremey well located, and the soil of very su-
perior quality. The influences of this road aud
i various branches, are absolutely incalcula-
ble. In addition to fertility, the Powered turf
conceals vast fields Of stone coal. Within fifty
to one hundred feet of the road bed, we saw
the operation of mining this coal going on very
ext ensively. All the houses, farms and sta
tons on the way had the appearance of being
recent, fresh, and as if they had really been
called into existence by the sudden and mystic
rious power of magic.
The Illinois Central Road, though of the
greatest magnitude, Is comparatively small
part of the railway facilities of the State 1t
is intersected all over with these channels Of
commerce and travel, connecting in every d.
recton, from Minnesota to st. Louis, and every
where East and North. The depot at Chica-
90 is said to be one of the most extensive in
the world, and receives the freight, and pas
sengers, trade and travel, of more than a do
zen ROADS, crossroads, and branch roads The
city of Chicago itself is one of the most
wonderful creations of modern enterprise. Its
growth has never been equalled by any town
or city in the world, except, perhaps, San
Francisco. Originally laid out on the low
sandy fats bordering Lake Michigan, and built
of rude and unsightly wooden houses, the
very soil hiss been raised in many parts Of the
| town from eighteen inches to four feet and
buildings of the first magnitude and splendor
rise up on all hands. Business houses are be-
ing constructed at this time, which are inferior
to none in the Union or out of it, in point Of
elegance, size, and beauty. It's lake port i:
| largely supplied with sailing vessels of almos
every description, which are now receiving The
heavy grain crops of the West, to be shipped
in unbroken bulk to Europe. From what
was able to see and learn, should say that Il
linois was yet in it's infancy, and that it is des
tined to ootstrip any and all the other State
in its development. If not already so, Chicag
will be the first city between the Aleghan.
and Rocky Mountains.
After few hours stay there, still led on b.
a within, perhaps, took the Michigan Centra
Railroad, and arrived here in less than min
hours, a distance of 282 miles. This road ont
strips them all in speed. We took what
called the " Lightning Train" which, OWN
to an accident TO the locomotive, was detaiu
ed and came within three minutes of sched
ale time, making the last thirty miles in thirty
six minutes. The road traverses rather an in
ferior country. The evidences of wealth an
improvement are meagre, in farming, houses
quality of soil, and the general appearance {
the people. Detroit is favorably enough IL
Gated, and is a city of considerable size-il
streets being wide, and its buildings, some {
them, large and beautiful. The Presbyteria
Church is the handsomest structure in the city
The people seem to have less life, energy, an
business activity than those of any other Cit
Of like size, either North or South. Many G
, the houses are of very Inferior order. Their
are some exceptions some fine houses au
] some people of great enterprise but upon th
= whole, l was unfavorably impressed by IN
I home of our Secretary of State. The res
I dence of this dignitary is said to exhibit niue
, beauty and taste and wealth. He has, as
o was informed, removed his establishment t
. Washington, and his home is now occupied b
a son-in-law. NJ
THE PRESUMPTION Acr OF lsS1.-One of th
. stipulatons OF the general presumption law L. thl
the applicant, to bring himself under its provisions