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FROM AN OLD SETTLER.N*w Obleans, LB., May 1st, 1874. Editor Joubnal.—Under the heading “From an old Settler” you publishod my pilgrimage from Syracuse to Chicago, from whence I oommonoe my now departure West. After wo shall have availed ourselves of the freedom of the town, to see how we liked it (not with the view of buying it). We found a olty of from twonty to thirty thousand inhabitants, and remem* ber well, the old Tremont House. I will remark however, that Jaok and 1 did not patronise the Tremont, or any other hotel, but remained oa board the steamer, that brought us across the lakes, as guests of the Steward, this oourse adopted more for prudtnlial reasons thaa otherwise. Previous to our arrival the city had been visited with oontinuous and heavy rains, we fouad the side walks made of planks instead er briok ; the streets were also paved with plank. The gutters were filled with water oovered with a green soua, and when loaded wgons 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 a wido berth. Jaok and I held a consultation over the matter, coBcluded that Chicago was unhealthy, and deoided to adhere to our original resolution and“go West”Chioago at that day, knew her destiny and bad the elements and men to work it out. I had not then read the predictions of Mfg. Long in his official report of bis expedition to establish the Borthern boundary between the U. 8. and the British Po- 1 sessions, in 1820, just 80 years previous. » Journeying from Fort Waine to Chioago, his guide lost the way and the whole party I were several days getting on the right path. I 1 remember that the Major makes several delicate allusions to mosquitoes he met in the wilderness. After many diys of fa- • tigue and hardships, the Maj. and party lt;arrived at Chiacgo, whioh he describes as a • Military Post, at the mouth of the Chicago river, occupied by a small garrison, surrounded by a miserable set of French and half-breed Indians, with a low, flat country in all direotiom. He refered to Sohool-craft’s reports of a year previous where he 1 predicts that Chioago would beoome a large, ' commercial oity. To whioh Maj. Long re- « plies, that the climate is too oold to cultivate maixe; that if wheat er small grain were raised, the numerous swarms of birds woald discover it, and that it was not pos- sible, with the utmost efforts of the garrison. assisted by the surrounding Inhabit- lt;ants, to raise grain enough to support the garrison. As to its looation for a commercial eity, that was out of the question, * the long distance to be navigated in tbe * akes, which were without harbors, would prevent many vessels navigating the lakes, and that, one vessePwould be sufficient to supply the oommerce of the upper lakes for fifty years. I might oontinue to quote from Maj. Long’s able report, but will on-y refer to his opinion of the 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 conftequence of its remoteness from any market. He doubts the existence ot copper in large quantities on the shores of Lake Superior, but if it did so exist it was so remote from the sea board, that the cost of transportation would render it valueless. .Just fifty years ago ; and what a change. Railroads, steamboats, telegraphs and free institutions have done it. With the slight digression 1 hare mode in quoting from Maj. Long, I will resume my journey from Chioago to Galena. We made diligent enquiry as to the cheapest mode of rsoohing Galena. The only railroad leading out of Chicago was a road to Elgin, about forty miloc. I remember it was of primitive ■tyle, fiat rail, laid on stringers. You will please reoollectthat our original oaptial, on which we had to rely to pay our travelling expenses and commence business when we reaohed the land of our dreams, was only eighty dollars, and one-half of that was already exhausted ; this will account for our close financiering. The railroad would take us but a short distance en our way, and was a too expensive luxury. Fink Walker’s four-horse stage ooaohes had to be Blighted for 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 en the search, before we found a farmer, named 8tearns, who had brought a load of grain from Freeport. We soon concluded a bargain. He to take Jack and myself oui tool-chest,—weight about 200 lbs,—and our two trunks, io Galena, for the Bum 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 $1.26 per day, which inolnded supper, lodging and breakfast for the whele party. Our progress at first was very slow, we were all of one day and night in making the first twelve miles, over the prairie just out of Chioago, whioh was part of the way knee deep under water ; several times we bad to lift at the wheel. Next day oar journey was rather monotonous, bat we made op for that, the following night, and had all the excitement any reasonable man would desire. About midnight we were disturbed from our slum-bers by load talking end the clatter of horses hoofs, and oalls for the “landlord to bring ’em down,’* our party put on our warpath and went down to see what woe wanted. After considerable talk our apology was accepted. It tamed out to be a party of about a doxen resolute, robust farmers, hunting horse thisTes. The same party having hnng two tbe day before. We having prored an alibi were not molested. The next day on our roate we found that everybody wanted to sell their farms to go to California. The gold fever was raging at that time with fatal effeot. The fourth daj out we met the stage coach from Galena loaded inside and out; on ap-proaohing we were accosted about thus. “Halloo, stranger, (addressing his remarks to me), bound for Minnesota, and you 7 Having replied in the affermativo, he said I thought so. “Now my friend take my advice and turn back.1' I soon discovered that the whole stage party had been to St. Paul, but a fortune not being in sight they “vamoosed the ranohe” at omoe. They gave a very gloomy pleture.” Sand hills, barren soil, cold ollmate and wild bloody Indians, ready to psrform a surgical operation without your consent.” I reminded them of the CornmutUnart “sent out to view the promised load,” their evil report, and that when the hosts of Israel took possession they found the land to “flow with milk and honey.” Both parties being oonvinoed that oaoh had something to learn, we parted never to meet again. The following day we passed through the lead mine and our friend Stearns completed his contraot by delivering his ohattels in Galena. Owing to the spaoe required I will defer tbe journey up the river for • my next letter G. F. B.
Newspaper Details
The Saint Cloud Journal
Saint Cloud, Minnesota, US
Thu, May 14, 1874
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
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IA, USA 16 Mar 2023
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