Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-31
For the Daily State Sentinel.
A Trip North.


MILWAUKEE, July &C. 1861
Mr.. EDIroR-Thnking that perhaps your read.
would turn aside their attention for moment
from the events Of the war to read short notes of
the late branch excursion from indianapolis TO
this city, write; but shall write with telegram
and statistical brevty, as most in accordance with
the troubled spirit of the day
The object of tho branch excursion was to at
tract public attention to the new route opened for
transit between Indianapolis at Chicago by means
of the Peru and indianapolis, the Cincinnati and
Chicago, and the Pittsburg. Fort Wayne and Chi
cago railroads.
The route is this; from indianapolis to Koko-
mo, 55; thence through Logansport and Valpa-
ralso, to Chicago, l26 miles, making the total
distance between indianapolis and Chicago, by
this route, le2 miles, time & hours with but one
change of cars.
Above, called the excursion from Indianapo-
lis branch. The main excursion was from Gin
cinnati. The indianapolis branch left the Hoo
ser capital at III o'clock, on Wednesday, July
24th, on the regular train for Peru, and met the
Cincinnatians at kokomo, at which place they
arrived in twenty -four cars, being in number
about 600, to which our number of ten persons
was then added.
1t the first time had passed over the Peru
road, and | had never been along the line of it,
was disappointed The road is as smooth. as
well constructed, to appearance, well conduct
ed, and passes through as good a country rs any
road leading from Indianapolis. The country Is
new; but already, in the So miles to Kokomo
fifteen stations, many of them handsome towns
three of them county capitals furnish passengers
and freight to the road, while the country is being
cleared up, new farms are opening, and along
the abundant crops, on numerous fields, give evi
dence that there, elsewhere, the hand of in
dustry, stimulated by acquistiveness, often
by ayarice, guided by intelligence, and aided by
the implements which science has furnished to
art, is identifying the country, developing its
its productions. Every time l traverse, to me.
new portions of Indiana, | am more and more
proud of her agricultural State.
From KokomO to Logansport, % miles, the
country is newer, wilder and there are but two or
three small stations on this part of the line.
At LoganspoIt, large and gro wing place, (but
scarcely to be seen from the road, with great
natural advantages, our late Senator, Dr. Fitch,
among others came aboard. He informed me,
upon inquiry, that the Peace Convention, so call
ed, which assembled at Washington last winter,
did make report to Congress after Mr..
Lincoln had got into the city. and the arrange
ments for his Inauguration were complete,
but that notice there taken of it, the con-
vention having answered the purpose to which
the Republicans determined to convert it, viz:
deluding the people of the South with hope, until
it was too late for them to prevent Mr.. Lncoln's
inauguraton-Mr. Chase saying, Inauguration
frst and adjustment afterwards!
Between Logausport and Valparaiso, and west
of that place till you come to the Kankakee
swamps, you pass through fine country, the
Wabash and TippecanOe river valleys. (the latter
river is crossed near Winnemac, a town which
ships an abundance of hoop poles.) At Valpa-
raise the excursion was met by the board of trade
of Chicago, the mayor, &C. Valparaiso is hand
somely situated, and is one of the most prOm-
sing towns in State. Situated in a most ex-
cellent country, the capital of Porter county, the
junction of two railroads, the site of two collie
ges-a Methodist and Presbyterian, each of
which, last year. erected handsome and commo-
dious brick edifces, it is growing in population,
business and Importance. Ii has run up rapidly
| to 1900 inhabitants, from about 400 before the
making of the first railroad through it.
Arrived ut Chicago, we were unable, without
great difficulty, to obtain hotel accommodations.
The fremont was oyerfiowing; we went to the
Sherman; all the rooms were taken; with great
difficulty, we got a room mt the Briggs, and, by
the way, a good house Now, why or how is it,
that an extra arrival of 900 persons outruns the
hotel accommodations of ChicagoY do not un-
derstand it.
The excursionists had one day in which to ex-
plore the city. The programme announced that
a capital view of it could be had from the top Of
the Court House, fine building, but not as large,
| think as that of Cincinnati - it further
announced that an opportunity would be al
forded to examine the Grain Elevators. did
not spend the day in Chicago. but went on in ad-
vance to Milwaukee. Before doing so, however,
wandered about the former city sufficiently to
discover that business is stagnant, that there is
no improvement going on. that the blight of war
is upon it, ms well upon the balance of the
country. | never saw Chicago half so dead The
blockade of the Mississippi has thrown the pro-
duce formerly going South through eastern chan
nels to market, portion OF which passes through
Chicago.
| noticed many temporary brokers' Offices.
where, as was the in indianapolis in the
smash up a few wears ago, of our free banks, H.
linos paper is bought up at what the buyer sup
poses the securities worth, the fears of the
seller induce him to part with paper at. Perhaps
the BUYERS are agents of the banks themselves
| On re iching Milwaukee, | discovered that Wis
consn paper had, through the efforts of the mob,
been forced up to that point that exchange East
could be obtained for it at eight per cent. The
Wisconsin banks are increasing their securities,
and the people there have confidence in them
| have already spent n day in Milwaukee, and
observed the city. 1t is a handsome city, and
more desirable rs n place of residence than Chi
cago. Its commerce and business of the
same character rs are those of Chicago-grain,
lumber, beef, pork, groceries, dry goods, etc. 1t
| is gaining every year upon the latter, and has,
this year. thus far, shot ahead of her in the wheat
trade, thus becoming the greatest wheat market
| in the world
| Milwaukee has some commercial advantages
over Chicago.
1st BY line of steamers to Grand Haven,
Michigan she is brought nearer Detroit than Chi
cago is. These steamers run all winter.
ID BY the lake, she is nearer Buffalo than
| Chicago is. A vessel makes from to two
trips a year more from Milwaukee to Buffalo than
it can from Chicago. Hence ireights are less, and
consequently produce higher at Milwaukee than
at Chicago. These facts are drawing tine produce
| to Milwaukee, aad she is now making a railroad
to Beloit connecting with the railroads of north
western Illinois whereby she will flank Chicago
on the west.
| The lumber trade of Milwaukee reaches the
! enormous amount of II ,035 900 feet besides lath
| IL, $50 ,OO0 shingles - l62, 100. But grain is
her great staple. She is building elevators, that
is buildings for receiving grain surprising those of
Sturgis Il Buckingham in Chicago / visited
that of Smith & Co.. and saw it in operation. The
| building is erected on the dock so that ships come
along into it. Ii will. when all completed, be
$50 feet by 80, and 30 feet high. Ii has eel
lar in which are constructed twelve hoppers. A
railroad track passes along over the hoppers, on
which Il train of twelve cars loaded with wheat
moves into the elevator, single car covering each
! hopper-the bottom of the cars opened, the
wheat drops in a moment into the hoppers, from
which it is discharged into the great buckets of
the elevators and BY them taken to the attic of the
building where it is weighed and emptied into
| hoppers. from which dscharging elevators empty
it into the ships where it is to be shipped. This is
done by machinery. and by the process $4,000
bushels of wheat are raised from the and trans
ferred to a vessel ir two and half hours. 1t is a
common thing to receive and discharge, at this ele
vator, 300 900 bushels day. The wheat trade
at Milwaukee is mostly carried on thus.
Owners of wheat land so of other produce)
throughout the North west. ship to Milwaukee to
consignees (agents) to sell When it arrives, it
is inspected in the cases 10y the City Inspector,
weighed, its grade of quality fixed, and the In
II. al. L. IL