The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-05-14
FROM AN OLD EETTLER.

EkOM AN UAD NEIILEks
NEW ORLEANS, La, May 1st, 1874.
ED1reR JouRNA1.-Under the heading
"From an old Settler" you published my
pilgrimage from Syracuse to Chicago, from
whence commence my new departure
West. After We shall have availed our
selves Of the freedom Of the town, to see
how We liked it mot with tho view Of buy
ing it). We found city Of from twenty to
thirty thousand inhabitants, and remem.
Der vol, tho old fremont House. I will
remark however, that Jack and I did not
patronize the fremont, or any other hotel,
but remained on board the steamer, that
brought US across the lakes, as guests of
the Steward, this course adopted more for
prudsstia! reasons than otherwise. Pre-
vious to our arrival tho city had been Wis.,
tied with continuous and heavy rains, we
fouad the side walks made Of planks in
stead OF brick the streets were also paved
with plank. The cutters were filed with
water covered with green SCUM, and
when loaded wagons or carts would pass
along, the muddy water squirted up
through the openings in such a manner,
that pants and patent leather boots gave
them wide berth. Jack and l held
consultation over the matter, concluded
that Chicago was unhealthy, and decided
to adhere to our original resolution and
Ego West"
Chicago at that day, knew her destiny
and had the elements and men to work it
out. I had not then read the predictions
Of Maj. Long in his official report Of his
expedition to establish the northern bound
airy between the q. s. and tho British Po-
sessions, in 1920, just 80 years previous
Journeying from Fort Waine to Chicago,
his guide lost the way and the whole party
were several days getting on tberight path.
remember that the Major makes several
delicate illusions to mosquitoes he met in
the wilderness. After many days of "a
tigue and hsrdships, the Maj. and party
arrived at Chiacgo, which he describes as q
Military Post, at the mouth Of the Chicago
river, occupied by small garrison, sur
rounded by miserable set Of French and
hslfbresd Indians, with low, fiat country
in all directions. He referred to SCHOOL,
crafts reports Of . year previous where he
predicts that Chicago would become q large,
commercial CITY, To which Maj. Long re-
plies, that the climate is too cold to oulti-
vate maize; that if wheat or small grain
were raised, tho numerous swarns Of birds
would discover it, and that it was not pos
sible, with the utmost efforts Of the garri-
son, assisted by the surrounding inhabit-
ants, to raise grain enough to support the
garrison. As to it's location for CONNER
cial city, that was out Of tho question,
the long distance to be navigated in the
lakes, which were without harbors, would
prevent many vessels navigating the lakes,
and that, one vessel would be sufficient to
supply the commerce Of the upper lakes
for fifty years. might continue to quote
from Maj. Longs able report, but will on
ly refer to his opinion of tho st.. Peter,
now Minnesota Valley, and the Red River
Valley, which he described as very rich in
soil, but whose products would never be
of value, in consequence Of it's remoteness
from any market. He doubts the existence
of copper in large quantities on the shores
of Lake Superior, but if it did so exist it
was 80 remote from the sea board, that the
cost Of transportation would render it val
ueless.
Just fifty years ago and whats change.
Railroade, steamboats,, telegraphs and free
institutions have done it. With the slight
depression have made in quoting from
Maj. Long, will resume my journey from
Chicago to Galena. We made diligent en-
quiry IS to tho cheapest mode Of re.ching
Gslens. Tho only railroad leading out of
Chicago was road to Elgin, about forty
miles. remember it was Of primitive
style, fat rail, laid on strlngers. You will
please recollect that our original capital, on
which We had to rely to pay our travelling
expenses and commence business when We
| reached the land Of our dreams, was only
eighty dollars, and one.half of that was al
ready exhausted this will account for our
| close fnanciering. The railroad would
take US but short distance on our way,
and was too expensive luxury. Fink &
Walkers four-horse stage coaches had to
be sighted Tor the same reasons. Our
next move was to look among the farmers
who had come to the city with produce
! from the direction We wished to make.
We were not long on the search, before We
found farmer, named Stearns, who had
brought load Of grain from Freeport. We
soon concluded bargain. He to take
Jack and myself our tool. chest,-weight
about 200 lbs,-and our two trunks, 70
Galeua, for the sum Of ten dollars, We to
pay the tavern expenses, which by the way,
fortunately for the parties of the second
part, were very moderate. My recollection
is. that our bills for men and beasts were
on an average, about ST. % per day, which
included supper, lodging and breakfast for
the Whsle party. Our progress At first was
very slow, We were al Of one day and
night in making the first twelve miles,
over tho prairie just out Of Chicago, which
was part Of tho way knee deep under wa
tor; several times We had to lift at tho
wheel. Next day our journey was rather
menotonous, but ~ made up for that, the
following night, and had Ill tho excitement
any reasonable man would desire. About
midnight w were disturbed from our slum.
bers by loud talking and tho elattsr Of
horses hoofs, and calls for the "landlord to
bring EN- down." our party put on our
oar path and went down to SEQ what We
wanted. After considerable talk our apol-
ogy was accepted. 1t turned out to be q
party Of about a dozen resolute, robust
farmers, hunting horse thieves. The same
party having hung two the day before.