The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-06
From East to West.
MINNEAPOLIS. June 8

Here Is the entrance TO the Erie Canal and
the landing place of much of the lumber OF
the lakes. There was enough evidently to
build small city.
We reached Buffaloat dark, and were soon
asleep in our berths. The next morning
found US at Charing Cross on the Canada
side of Lake Erie. At Charing Cross we
take on that modern convenience of the
West, the dining cars, and after most ex-
cellent breakfast laid on spotless linen, we
are ready to take swift survey Of the coun-
try about us-which is low. fiat and of ex-
cellent fertility. The soil is of a reddish
mould, and all along the way are fine farms
and lands in all stages Of development and
Improvement
There was general appearance Of new
ness and incompleteness. Fine herds of
cattle fed in the grass up to their knees, and
the absence of horses was noticeable. Az
intervals we came upon hanleis where saw
mills were cutting up the ash and elm, which
seems to be abundant here. There was an
entire absence of pine, spruce and hemlock.
Here were forests of ash and elm, of which
many were three feet and over through.
The highway seemed to be beds of mire, and
we saw one carriage drawn up in front Of a
farm house, the wheels of which were APP
parently of the weight of heavy cart wheels
there was so much mud adhering to them.
We have heard of s'pigs in clover,n and here
we saw droves of hogs up to their backs in
clover. and as correspondingly happy--and
clover is regarded as the best of feed for
swine out here.
This Canada Southern is comparatively
new road, roughly oallusted and incomplete.
and large gangs of men were at work upon
itfrom Charing Cross to Windsor-which is a
the end OF our journey on the Canada side
Windsor is opposite Detroit on the other
side of Detroit river, over which our train is
ferried. Detroit river is a beautiful stream.
half mile wide. carrying the waters OF
lakes Michigan, F 1on and st. Clair into
Lake Erie. Def is port Ct entry, and
for six miles ~ down the river front II
IS a mass oggrail4 elevators, mills, dry docks,
foundrieSF and ship yards, It's buildings
are blacK4and begrimmed with the smoke of
the soft coat, of which so much is Consumed
here, and it is full of business, and is the
railroad center Of a large territory; full of
noise aud hustle, with eight lines of horse
cars and a population of nearly 100000 At
the mouth of Detroit river Com. Perry won
mis- victory Of Sept. 10Th, 1913. The French
came here in 1915 and made permanent
settlement, in 1701 building a fort, which
was captured by the English in 1853. Here
was Fort Shelby in 1912 the scene of Hulps
disgraceful surrender.
At the East the idea of the commerce OF
the lakes is a limited one. At this port
alone belong over four hundred vessels en-
gagged in the lake traffic, traffic bounded BY
over 5000 miles OF coast line From Detroit
we are constantly passing large, thriving
towns. Here we notice less cattle and more
horses. The monotonous levels are Only
broken by the immense sand hills between
us and the Lakeland about p. NJ. we
strike the outskirts of Chicago, the queen
city of the West. For thrifty minutes we
wind among the suburbs of the town, over
distance of fourteen miles, before we reach
our depot at Randolph street. Here in the
outskirts is the new city of Pullman. a city
of 1000 people, where the Pullman car shops
are located. Three years ago this land was
unoccupied except by water, while to-day
we find it covered with fine blocks and i'm
mense car factories, foundries aud car.
wheel works, all which, from opera house
and dwelling down, are enthusiastically
beautiful. Surely Aladdin with his lamp
could not have done more. This 10 the
Western push we have read OF. Lots here
are Occupied and built upon long before
there are any signs of streets, and even
when covered with water.
We saw large numbers of houses built on
posts driven into the mud; houses with all
the adornments of modern architect1re-the
only approach to which was over a narrow
plank; and we saw whole families sitting
upon their front steps as serenely as il they
were not in the middle of goose pond.
Land is valuable here, if you can touch
bottom.
Most of the land on the outskirts is made
or filled in, and when the streets along
which these houses are built are graded
their more solid foundations will be laid un-
der them. So the growth Of Chicago goes
on-a persistent and wonderful growth.
An Eastern man, accustomed to the staid
cities of New England Is startled by the
transition to the wild, aggressive and, one
may rightly say, reckless spirit of city next
to New York in wealth and population.
To see is to appreciate. Eastern men COM
ing here soon forget their early traditions
Horse cars run all night. Stores and offices
are in full blast on Sunday as well as other
days-there is no let up. The several large
theatres are frequently occupied with sa-
cred services on Sunday morning while they
are crowded afternoon and evening with q
boisterous and mirth-loving audience. The
real, heavy business of Chicago is not seen
but felt, and the kings Of traffic WELD I
mighty sceptres, and the shock Of their fail
ures vibrates through every trade centre in
the country. 1t is the great eeainN Hepot of
the Northwest. About II 900 miles of rail-
road are tributary to it, the annual gross re-
ceipts Of which amount to $100,000,000, af-
fording an annual profit Of $40,000,000. In
1S47 there was but one railroad here, In
1850 but forty-two miles of connecting lines,
and low three hundred and fifty trains enter
ard leave Chicago daily-making seven hun
bred arrivals and departures daily. From
the immense business here one can hardly
believe that in 1881 there were but twelve
families here, yet such was the fact and
now population of 560,693, covering thirty
six square miles, inhabit Chicago.
While here in Chicago we visited the loco
motive and car exposition, where we saw all
kinds of motors, and the electric motor train
in full operation as well. The exhibition of
electrical appliances for producing eectrici-
ty was complete. Weston, Brasb and Edi-
son each try to outlight the other. Here was
wonderful array of rolling stock. The
ninety ton locomotive, the biggest in the
world was here, along with fifty others of all
makes--forceful and impressive In their
weight and Furnishings. Here we saw most
elaborate specimens of sleeper, dining, pas
oGDBCl lltlShb NoioJ WIN elio hhOWh
safety appliances.
One of the most fascinating machines
here, and one which drew the largest crowd,
was mortising machine-a machine with
an augur and chisel combined that does its
work with but single movement and rapid
ly at that.
The electric railway signal was an inter
esting and curious exhibit. Here the cranks
were at home-all endeavorine to attract
your attention to their discovery The
display was fine, and every foot of space in
the exposition building Of 800 feet in length,
240 feet in width and ITO feet in height was
utilized. A man needs but to come here to
be convinced of the commercial Importance
last year in duties $3,696,7l1 in addition to
which were the internal revenue collections
of $9,579,497.
The Union stock yards here cover $50
sores Of ground, In which ara 81 miles Of
railway tracks, 20 miles of streets 20 miles
.l-AI q.