New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-28
ILLINOIS.

between the Arctic and the Tropic, the Atlantic
ard the Rocky Mountains. lies the State OF
ILLINOIS, the young Hercules Of the West, touch
irg Lake Michigan on the north and the lower
Ohio on the south, with the majestic Mississippi
washing her entire western border and the
Wabash skirling her for more than hall ITS
length on the east. Her growth during the last
decade has been really more rapid apd consider
able than that Of any other State, though some
of the newest have increased in population by
larger percentage than hers. We believe her
representation in Congress will be Increased
under the Census of 1860 by four Members, and
we think no other State will gain so many.
Her population has oil but doubled during the
last decade, having risen from some 5000 to
about 100000.
Other States have each some peculiarly in
which it may fairly claim precedence. bchl-
gan and Wisconsin are both IA better numbered,
each having au abundance Of Pine, whereas ILL.,
uo;s has not q stick. Pennsylvania, Virginia,
and Missouri are richer in minerals; Iowa and
Kansas have more undulating surfaces, and are
1--WE think) better watered; Ohio lies nearer TO the
seaboaId; New England has her manufactures,
ard New-York her foreign commerce.; but in
average depth and richness OF soii--in capacity
to produce cheaply Grain and Grass, Meat aud
Vegetables, Illinois is probably the fret among
the States and surpassed by no equal area on
the face of the globe.
Originally scarcity and imperfect distribution
Of timber with defective facilities for transporta,
ton and travel, were her great drawbacks
Probably three-fourths of her surface were
prairie when settlement commenced while her
timber was for the most part stunted and quarry
by reason of the high winds constantly wrenching
and the fierce fires frequently scorchiDg it. She
had no eyergreens of consequence, and very few
trees from which decent boards could be saved
Many prairies were ten TO twenty miles wide
some were thirty to forty. The deep, black
muck which fopmed the soil was powdered into
dust BY drouth or sodden into mire by rain
The moment the prairie sod was cut through
the wheels Of each loaded vehicle sank through
half Of each year nearly to the hub; and thus
not only building materials, salt aud groceries,
but fencing and fuel were TO be earted for long
distances-a load of wheat being drawn to Chi
cago and the proceeds converted into load Of
boards for fcnciDg-the journey out and back
often consuming a week. Many load Of prod
uce thus marketed has seen nearly or quite Its
price absorbed in the inevitable expense Of the
Journey out and in. This impeled the State to
engage prematurely in the construction of canals,
which involved her heavily in debt without very
materially improving her access to markets. Rail
roads followed in due season, aud did her good
service. while, being constructed mainly by pr.
yate enternrize. whatever advantage accrued TO
| the public was so much clear gain. Still,
| extensive areas Of her soil must have remained
unmproyed, uninhabited for ages but for the
construction OF the Illinois Central Railroad
That great work, munfceutly endowed with
wild lands BY Congress, starts from Chicago in
the NORTHEAST and Dunleith in tho North
West Of the State and converging to junction
near the center, runs thence by single line to
Cairo in the extreme South at the junction Of the
Ohio with the Mississippi, the work having thus
a total length of over six hundred miles. And,
though not run as the profit Of the stockholders
would have dictated its course is precisely such as
best conduced 10 the settlement and growth Of the
State. Millions of acres, else uninhabitable, are
by it rendered among the most inviting and valuable
of any wild lands on our Continent; and though
the Federal grant covered more than Two and
Half Millions Of acres, we believe the Public Do
main was increased not merely in value but In
productiyeness to the Treasury by this enlightened
Eberality. And though the stockholders in the
road have hitherto reaped no advantage, and
their stock is now considerably below par. we
feel confident that patience and judicous manage
ment will yet render their investment good
one.
Illinois, already the fourth and probably soon
to be the third State in the Union-for Virginia
is already behind her in every element Of conse-
quence and power-is yet in her infancy. OF
her soil, probably less than oDe-fourth has yet
been plowcd; and her last crop-immense as it
was, especially of Corn-is but fraction Of
what she can and viii produce. We believe her
product of this staple already far exceeds that
of any other State, while in Wheat, Beef
and Pork she is scarcely second to any.
Her Coal is hardly exceeded In abundance by
that of any other State; nearly every foot of her
surface is underlaid with Lime; and her Iron,
though less abundant, is good. Her chief mart,
though hardly thirty years old, ranks seventh
among American citics it promises ere long to
DO the fifth. Illinois bids fair TO have Five Mil
lions of inhabitants in 1890, and to increase the
number to Ten Millions early in tho next cen.
turf. Her career is hardly begun.
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TIE APOSTLE TO THE AFRICANS.