Morning journal and courier., 1882-10-19

because when I arrived there the seats were all engaged for that space of time, although two stages were dispatched daily for this place and great many hired vehicles Of any kind and came inc ependent of the stage.
 For the benefit of the travelling part of the family give sketch of my tour. From Albany to Schenectady by railroad. This was then the only railroad for passengers in operation in the United States Thence to Ut1ca by canal thence from Utica to Buffalo by stage, diverging from the regular route at Lockport to Lewiston on Niagara river then crossed over to Queenstown on the Canada side, where stands column l25 feet high, Q monument to General Brock, who fell at this place during the war of 1812 From the top had 0 view of the Niagara as it rolled it's waters into the Lake Ontario, which I saw in the distance looking like so much blue sky. From this place I went to the Falls, which excelled in grandeur any mill dam I ever saw. Keeping still on the Canada side I passed On to Fort Erie; crossed the Niagara at Buffalo; embarked on board the steamboat Sandusky for Cleveland; the scene on the boat defed all description in consequence of the emigration. Stopping two days at Cleveland I took the steamer Pennsylvania for Detroit thence by stage to Niles on the St. Joseph river; thence in a kettle with two paddles called steamboat to the town of St. Josephs at the entrance of the river into Lake Michigan |; thence in 9 schooner to Chicago, pronounced She kaw go, TThe pronunciation of Chicago at that period puzzled the people. Some called 1t Chick a go and some Shy-ka go and few She-kaw go.
 On the whole, my journey was very pleas ant, for although the travelling was bad be- yond all description and I was always very much crowded in the carriages and was de- pr1ved of my rest at night great deal, still we passengers always formed jovial crew fun, frolIc, good humor and a disposition to mi ha nf al luov came from Utica to Lockport with nearly the same persons, and from Detroit to Niles the same twenty-four (two stages) of us stuck together all the way. Through Michi- gan the road is so bad that we travelled at the rate of but two miles the hour. A few years will make vast difference in the travelling, when railroads will carry the traveller at the rate of eighteen or twenty miles per hour and take me to and from Connecticut in less than no time When I left home this place seemed at an immense distance, but I am here actually feel at less distance than when was in New York.
 I am extremely glad that have taken this step, for Illinois is the Eden of America. Her soil most abundantly repays the most trivial labor of the husbandman, and while in Connecticut and all other parts of the barren East the farmer tolls and wears away his life in cultivating land which produces nothing, when by coming here he might be living in luxury. Alas, the ignorance of men! I find large number of New Eng land men here. All who have visited the State without exception delighted and feel that they want words to make known to their eastern friends the propriety of their quitting the sterile land Of their birth. I have not patience to say all I would. A song at present will buy a large farm and the own CT has but to just look at it and it will pro- duce everything. The truth itself is so glo- rious that the people at the East take it for fiction. Henceforth Illinois is my home.
 Chicago is filled with strangers. Hun dreds go and come daily and fortunate are they who can find beds. Board is high here, from $4 to $5 per week. Potatoes are from $1, 50 to $1:75 per bushel and provisions of all kinds in proportion, because emigration is 50 much beyond all expectation, and there has not been enough produced for the con sumers. This place will be one of great bus iness As may after all come out at the small end of the horn, do not let my ebulition of good feelings be made known out of the family. went to church Sunday at the Presbyterian-at Detroit did likewise.