, 1860-10-24

Rev. S. Il. Fi4her, editor Of the German RI
formed Aesstnqer, published at Chambersburg,
Pa, visited the West few weeks Eince. From
one Of his letters to his paper, ne take the fol.
Loving extract relative to our city:
Chicago, in our estimation. is destined 10 be-
cone tbs great city Of the West. 1thas future
before it such - belongs to no other. The al
vantages It erioyB for trade are not to be sur
passed. II is surrounded by one Of the gTestts at
GRIM growing and most productive countries in
lie world. and its facilities for the reception
xnd transportation Of The products Of this eoun-
try arc truly wonderful. Near the ceatr- cf the
river, extcrds into the heart Of it about three
quarters Of mile, and then branches off in oppo-
site directions, for miles. This forms en- i j.
1aense ha.bor for shipping. All along the hor-
pers Of this river are erected whzTts and ware
houses, End A1nong the rest numerous immeuse
gyenarieB for the reception OF ail kinds ofgrain.
1t theee, ships and q. seme places cars also,
may be seen a! a!l times iosdiug and unloading
their freight. 1t the gfan&riee, the work is all
dcne by Rtesm power. It Is said that the grain
can thus be removed from the largest vessels
md p1sced In tha receptas1e proviced for it, in
ths course Of q few hours It Is dons by meanB
Of immense elevstors. The ia: iities for load.
ing ere equally - grest. 4 visit to one Of thesc
immense gran2ties ls VEL worth the uTo and
effort it requires.
Railroads. also from all directions centre in
Chicago, and immense trains Of cars a1e con-
tiuual1y in motion upon one or the other fthem.
We psid a visit to the depot Of the Central ILL.,
inois railroad. lt4 Arrangements for the t.an-
shipment Of freight are very extensive. Their
passerger depot is taid to be the largest in the
United Statcs. i is indeed an immense struc-
ture, between Eve rn six LurdEed feet In
length and over one hunc.ed feet in breadth.
1t hhs 9 very large AID handsome front, built
Of granite, severef stories high, containing
lsrTe number Of cfficeB for the transaction Of
the business Of the company. We vera espe-
cia1ly inteErsted in tho Lend Department.
This railroad, extending together throughout
the leng Of the STATE. between seven and
road it is in possession Of immenee tracts of
lxnd obtained from the general government,
which it eei1s to settlers on the rroat favorable
terms. The lands are Ea:d to be rcry prodac-
tive. In tho Land Department are to be zetn
speeirners of the soil Of tina different sections
Of these lands, together with samples Of their
various p.odnctions, such as wheat, rye, corn,
etc. We snw there soma corn stalAs nearly
twenty feet high, and pumpkins Weighing over
one hundred pounds. 1he specimens Of wheat
and rye were also very 6ne. Minerals zTe found
in various portions Of these lands, apeciu,eps
OF which are also there exhibited. The whole
to ether form quite group OF objects Of Inter
est. Tbs sales Of these I'd. hare been extern
sive, Ard judging from what tramp red during
one day Of our stay in Chicago, Vs shculd inf r
that no small smonnt Of sales are being effected
Ut the present time. Col. J. n. Foster is tho
Commissioner Of the department, and We
learned from reliable authority. that On the day
referred 70. be zold thirty thousand dollars
worth q i.sdt. II Part payment II tor yhieh be
We visited The ConEt House, and from ita e1e-
yated cupolz Ind fine 1iew Of ths whole city
and its surroundings, and Of 4hs lake. Tne
building il q handsome one and constructed OF
erapite brought from the Sts's Of New York.
| Il was erected, except ste upper story. ceresal
any stone suitable for building purposes, were
10 be found in the vicinity OF chicago. Since
then. however, innenGe bodies Of Whist Is esl:d
/ Chicago Iimestone, haye been discoFered. This
forms The most beautiful nsteriRl for oonstruc
tion in the United States. 1t has warm , ysllow
| tint, and nothing Of the coldneEs Of marble to
the touch It quarries ia layers thin enough
! for flags, and th{ck enough for the most solid
| structure, xnd IL susceptible Of fine polish
| 1t il free from grit, and may be fared or chis
| sled into almost any shape or form. We saw q
| flag stone Of fifteen By twenty feet, one foot
thick 1tn used for evs,y variety Of building
purposes, and tts olscosery ton.s contribute es
The Streets Of Chicago arc Tery wide. II
| this respect it has much advantage oVer mobI
| other cities. They generally cross each otht,
| als2 1t right a=gles. Some Of the strests are
| yery han6socaely bpilt up. Like street, one oi
the principal buainess stfrets, Contains many
vsrJ cualy and imposing straetxrss. s;mill'
buildings sfo found IA some Of the other street.
| a.so. Michigan Arenae, which fronts on III
Ike, and is filled ont 1asin'y NTH private resi-
| :dencea, is aa,d to b one OF tha fnest In th'
| world. 1 portion of the city wears quite = r.
| ri atpect, Tha chuEches arc generally hand
aome M Ind costly buildings. They are numeroul
! md e1incs : great variety Of f.ste. Chicago
has bean bull: up principally within tho lis
twenty-five yesrs- It now contains oser OF.
hundrod apd ten thoustrd inhahitents. Grea'
| rnfernriza charnc er7ea ita ci''.ens.