The Portland daily press., 1863-06-08

The Route-Greeabdcks and ShiNptdSters-
A Dog in Trouble-Detroit Residence
Warehouses = Lumber Yards = Vessels
Sabbath-Wonderfd Secession. Cass
Vegetation.
DETROIT, May 81, 1863.
From Toronto TO this city, originally a
French settlement, is 534 miles, the road pas
sing over delightful country though generally
In the state to which nature unaided by art
has brought it, covered large portion of the
way by dense forests of heavy timber, but sus-
ceptible, when brought under cultivation, of
supporting dense population. Our company
ieft Toronto with its fine lake harbor, its
beautiful public buildings with their ornamen-
tai finish and mosaic floors, its pleasant falls
and pretty women-for Toronto claims that
her girls excel in beauty those of any other
city on the continent, ercept Portland - by
the IL. 10 p. NJ. train, and arrived in Detroit
at rather late breakfast hour in the morning
The route having been passed over mostly by
night, can speak of the general appearance
Of the country only from hearsay. Canada
West has been built up and enriched by the
Reciprocity Treaty, and am fully convinced
at the expense Of our own country. But of
this shall have something to say and some
facts to present hereafter. Now must con-
fine myself to matters and things by the way.
The Grand Trunk road runs along at the
south side of lake Huron, leaving lake ST.
Clair entirely to the southwark. At Sarnia,
at the foot of Huron, where the St. Clair
FLYER commences, the passengers cross from
Canadian to Michigan soil. Port Huron is
opposite to Sarnia, some sixty odd miles from
Detroit 1t was refreshing once more to find
ones self beneath the stars and stripes, where
"greenbacks" commanded respect, where sill
yer would do good to sore eyes, and where
government shinplasters are good at their face
While crossing the river by ferry, a warm dis
cussion came off between the revenue officer
and man emigrating from Canada to the
States, the officer claiming between four and
five dollars, duties on gun, a few poor house.
hold traps, and good sized puppy-dog which
the emigratng party was taking with him in
box covered with open stats. The conse-
quence was the leaving of the dog behind for
nonpayment of duties, much to the discomfort
of the poor fellow who had, an quite sure,
the full sympathy of the passengers, and the
officers of the train.
Arrived at Detroit, through country from
Port Huron mostly covered with heavy tim
Der, our company repaired to the Russell
House-the crack hotel" of the place
where we met with Mr.. p. and his family, who
had made detour from the regular route for
privata husiuaSe Int xxl,o To-
quence of our stop at Montreal and sudden
bringing-up below Toronto, had arrived at De-
troit in advance of US. During the day We
were rejoined by the Collector of your port,
who, with his daughters, had left home several
days in advance of our party, and had been
leisurely making his way westward.
Detroit is, perhaps, in point of beauty and
regularity, ahead of any other city in the West.
The streets are broad and straight, the princi-
pal ones are paved, and ornamental trees line
the walks, though it will be many years before,
IL rural beauty, she can compare with the
modest city which sits in queen-like majesty
beside the waters of Casco Bay. Many of the
private residences are truly palatial, and an
air Of comfort and good cheer, and evidences
of good taste everywhere abound. Along the
river front Of the city the warehouses stretch
out, filed with barrels, bales, boxes, bags, ag-
ricultural tools, carriages, the furniture of en-
igrants, and every namable thing needfui for
man, beast or production,-showing not only
that great country here delivers her pro-
ducts and receives her supplies, but also show
ing what kind of a population has taken pos
session of the broad acres of the State and
surrounding country, to need such supplies,
and to send to market such products. The
lumber yards are numerous and well supplied,
and the number of vessels, of various sizes
and denominations, some propelled by wind
and others by steam, that pass the city or stop
at her wharves, is truly wonderful.
Detroit is noble city, of about 10000 in
habitants,-a proud monument of what enter
prise, backed by freedom and intelligence,
may do. She has enjoyed steadier and more
healthiul growth than most Western cities,
and has never been extensively cursed either
by amad spirit Of speculation or by a fever-and-
ague prosperity.
To New Highlander Detroit looks natural.
1t was the quiet of the Sabbath when we ar
rived. The streets moistened by the weeping
heavens, the sound of the church-going bell,
and the orderly people vending their way to
the houses of worship, all combined to make
one think of his New England home, with its
blessed associations and its pleasant memories.
No wonder, then, that the Puritanical spirit
was stirred up, and that few of our party
made the inside acquaintance of church,
where sermon was delivered SO full of fire
and energy that even the dampness of the
day could not diminish its glo,c. The strains
of the organ, the voices of the choir, the Sc
lection of the tunes and the faces of the con-
gregation,a all seemed essentially New England
Senator Chandler has his residence in this
city, on Fort st, and one of the finest in the
city. Mr.. Chandler is a merchant a " mer-
chant prince y and is now partner in lead
ing dry goods house on Woodward avenue
a few doors from the Russell House. Near
his house, on the same street, is the princely
mansion of Mrs. Jones widow lady, whose
husband was a drummer boy in the war of
1872 10 = not worth dime - but who died
few years since, leaving million.
The old residence of Gen. Cass, corner of