A New Guide For Emigrants To The West Part 12

_Chief Towns._--Wheeling is the princ.i.p.al commercial town, and a great thoroughfare, in Western Virginia. It has a large number of stores, and commission warehouses; and contains six or eight thousand inhabitants.

It is 92 miles by water, and 55 miles by land, from Pittsburg. It has manufactures of cotton, gla.s.s, and earthenware. Boats are built here.

The c.u.mberland or National road crosses the Ohio at this place, over which a bridge is about to be erected. The town is surrounded with bold, precipitous hills, which contain inexhaustible quant.i.ties of coal. At extreme low water, steamboats ascend no higher than Wheeling.

Charlestown, Wellsburgh, Parkersburgh, Point Pleasant, Clarksburgh, Abington, Louisburg, and many others, are pleasant and thriving towns.

The climate of Western Virginia is preeminently salubrious. The people, in their manners, have considerable resemblance to those of Western Pennsylvania. There are fewer slaves, less wealth, more industry and equality, than in the "Old Dominion," as Eastern Virginia is sometimes called.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] See "Mitch.e.l.l's Compendium of the Internal Improvements in the United States," where much valuable information of the rail-roads and ca.n.a.ls of the United States is found in a small s.p.a.ce.

[9] I have adopted the orthography of the legislature.

CHAPTER VIII.

MICHIGAN.

Extent,--Situation,--Boundaries;----Face of the Country; Rivers, Lakes, &c., Soil and Productions;--Subdivisions, Counties;--Towns, Detroit;--Education;--Improvements projected;--Boundary Dispute;--Outline of the Const.i.tution.

Michigan is a large triangular peninsula, surrounded on the east, north and west, by lakes, and on the south by the States of Ohio and Indiana.

Lake Erie, Detroit river, lake St. Clair, and St. Clair river, lie on the east for 140 miles; lake Huron on the north-east and north, the straits of Mackinaw on the extreme north-west, and lake Michigan on its western side. Its area is about 40,000 square miles.

_Face of the Country._--Its general surface is level, having no mountains, and no very elevated hills. Still, much of its surface is undulating, like the swelling of the ocean. Along the sh.o.r.e of lake Huron, in some places, are high, precipitous bluffs, and along the eastern sh.o.r.e of Michigan are hills of pure sand, blown up by the winds from the lake. Much of the country bordering on lakes Erie, Huron, and St. Clair, is level,--somewhat deficient in good water, and for the most part heavily timbered. The interior is more undulating, in some places rather hilly, with much fine timber, interspersed with oak "openings,"

"plains," and "prairies."

The "_plains_" are usually timbered, dest.i.tute of undergrowth, and are beautiful. The soil is rather gravelly. The "_openings_" contain scattering timber in groves and patches, and resemble those tracts called _barrens_ farther south. There is generally timber enough for farming purposes, if used with economy, while it costs but little labor to clear the land. For the first ploughing, a strong team of four or five yoke of oxen is required, as is the case with prairie.

The _openings_ produce good wheat.

The "_prairies_," will be described more particularly under the head of Illinois. In Michigan they are divided into wet and dry. The former possess a rich soil, from one to four feet deep, and produce abundantly all kinds of crops common to 42 degrees of N. lat.i.tude, especially those on St. Joseph river. The latter afford early pasturage for emigrants, hay to winter his stock, and with a little labor would be converted into excellent artificial meadows. Much of the land that now appears wet and marshy will in time be drained, and be the first rate soil for farming.

A few miles back of Detroit is a flat, wet country for considerable extent, much of it heavily timbered,--the streams muddy and sluggish,--some wet prairies,--with dry, sandy ridges intervening. The timber consists of all the varieties found in the Western States; such as oaks of various species, walnut, hickory, maple, poplar, ash, beech, &c., with an intermixture of white and yellow pine.

_Rivers and Lakes._--In general, the country abounds with rivers and small streams. They rise in the interior, and flow in every direction to the lakes which surround it. The northern tributaries of the Maumee rise in Michigan, though the main stream is in Ohio, and it enters the west end of lake Erie on the "debatable land." Proceeding up the lake, Raisin and then Huron occur. Both are navigable streams, and their head waters interlock with Grand river, or Washtenong, which flows into lake Michigan. River Rouge enters Detroit river, a few miles below the city of Detroit. Raisin rises in the county of Lenawee, and pa.s.ses through Monroe. Huron originates amongst the lakes of Livingston, pa.s.ses through Washtenaw, and a corner of Wayne, and enters lake Erie towards its north-western corner. Above Detroit is river Clinton, which heads in Oakland county, pa.s.ses through Macomb, and enters lake St. Clair.

Pa.s.sing by several smaller streams, as Belle, Pine, and Black rivers, which fall into St. Clair river, and going over an immense tract of swampy, wet country, between lake Huron and Saginaw bay, in Sanilac county, we come to the Saginaw river. This stream is formed by the junction of the t.i.ttibawa.s.see, Hare, s.h.i.+awa.s.see, Flint, and Ca.s.s rivers, all of which unite in the centre of Saginaw county, and form the Saginaw river, which runs north, and enters the bay of the same name. The t.i.ttibawa.s.see rises in the country west of Saginaw bay, runs first a south, and then a south-eastern course, through Midland county into Saginaw county, to its junction. Pine river is a branch of this stream, that heads in the western part of Gratiot county, and runs north-east into Midland. Hare, the original name of which is Waposebee, commences in Gratiot, and the N. W. corner of s.h.i.+awa.s.see counties, and runs an east and north-east course. The heads of the s.h.i.+awa.s.see, which is the main fork of the Saginaw, are found in the counties of Livingston and Oakland. Its course is northward. Flint river rises in the south part of Lapeer county, and runs a north-western course, some distance past the centre of the county, when it suddenly wheels to the south, then to the west, and enters Genesee county, through which it pursues a devious course towards its destination. Ca.s.s river rises in Sanilac county, and runs a western course. These rivers are formed of innumerable branches, and water an extensive district of country. Other smaller streams enter lake Huron, above Saginaw bay; but the whole country across to lake Michigan is yet a wilderness, and possessed by the Indians. Doubtless it will soon be purchased, surveyed and settled. On the western side of the State are Traverse, Ottawa, Betsey, Manistic, Pent, White, Maskegon, Grand, Kekalamazoo, and St. Joseph, all of which fall into lake Michigan. Those above Grand river are beyond the settled portion of the State. Grand river is the largest in Michigan, being 270 miles in length, its windings included. Its head waters interlock with the Pine, Hare, s.h.i.+awa.s.see, Huron, Raisin, St. Joseph and Kekalamazoo. A ca.n.a.l project is already in agitation to connect it with the Huron, and open a water communication from lake Erie, across the peninsula, direct to lake Michigan. Grand river is now navigable for batteaux, 240 miles, and receives in its course, Portage, Red-Cedar, Looking-gla.s.s, Maple, Muscota, Flat, Thorn-Apple, and Rouge rivers, besides smaller streams.

It enters lake Michigan 245 miles south-westerly from Mackinaw, and 75 north of St. Joseph;--is between 50 and 60 rods wide at its mouth, with 8 feet water over its bar. The Ottawa Indians own the country on its north side, for 60 miles up. Much of the land on Grand river and its tributaries, is excellent, consisting of six or seven thousand square miles;--and, considering its central position in the State,--the general fertility of its soil,--the good harbor at its mouth,--the numerous mill sites on its tributaries,--this region may be regarded as one of the most interesting portions of Michigan. The Kekalamazoo rises in Jackson and Eaton counties, pa.s.ses through Calhoun, and the northern part of Kalamazoo, enters the south-eastern part of Allegan, and pa.s.ses diagonally through it to the lake. There is much first-rate land, timber, prairie, and openings, on its waters, and is rapidly settling.

The St. Joseph country is represented by some as the best country in Michigan. This stream has several heads in Branch, Hillsdale, Jackson, Calhoun, and Kalamazoo counties, which unite in St. Joseph county, through which it pa.s.ses diagonally to the south-west, into Indiana,--thence through a corner of Elkhart county, into St. Joseph of that State, makes the "South Bend," and then runs north-westerly, into Michigan, through Berrian county, to the lake. The town of St. Joseph is at its mouth. It has Pigeon, Prairie, Hog, Portage, Christianna, Dowagiake, and Crooked rivers for tributaries, all of which afford good mill sites. In Ca.s.s and St. Joseph counties, are Four-mile, Beardsley, Townsend, McKenny, La Grange, Pokagon, Young, Sturges, Notta-wa-Sepee, and White Pigeon prairies, which are rich tracts of country, and fast filling up with inhabitants.

Michigan abounds with small lakes and ponds. Some have marshy and unhealthy borders;--others are transparent fountains, surrounded with beautiful groves, an undulating country, pebbly and sandy sh.o.r.es, and teeming with excellent fish. The counties of Oakland, Livingston, Washtenaw, Jackson, Barry, and Kalamazoo, are indented with them.

_Productions._--These are the same, in general, as those of Ohio and New York. Corn and wheat grow luxuriantly here. Rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, and all the garden vegetables common to the climate, grow well. All the species of gra.s.ses are produced luxuriantly.

Apples and other fruit abound in the older settlements, especially among the French about Detroit.

It will be a great fruit country.

_Subdivisions._--Michigan had been divided into 33 counties in 1835, some of which were attached to adjacent counties for judicial purposes.

Other counties may have been formed since. The following organized counties show the population of the State, (then Territory,) at the close of 1834.

=================================+================================= _Dist. from COUNTIES. _Population._ SEATS OF JUSTICE. Detroit._ ---------------------------------+--------------------------------- Berrian, 1,787 Berrian, 180 Branch, 764 Branch, 133 Calhoun, 1,714 Eckford, 100 Ca.s.s, 3,280 Ca.s.sopolis, 160 Jackson, 1,865 Jacksonsburgh, 77 Kalamazoo, 3,124 Bronson, 137 Lenawee, 7,911 Tec.u.mseh, 63 Macomb, 6,055 Mount Clemens, 25 Monroe, 8,542 Monroe, 36 Oakland, 13,844 Pontiac, 26 St. Clair, 2,244 St. Clair, 60 St. Joseph, 3,168 White Pigeon, 135 Washtenaw, 14,920 Ann Arbor, 42 Wayne, 16,638 Detroit, ------ _Total_, 85,856 ---------------------------------+-----------------------------

The other counties are Hillsdale, Van Buren, Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Lapeer, Genesee, s.h.i.+awa.s.see, Clinton, Ionia, Kent, Ottawa, Oceana, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Gladwin and Arenac, the population of which are included in the counties given in the table. Doubtless, the population of Michigan now (Jan. 1836) exceeds one hundred thousand.

The counties are subdivided into incorporated towns.h.i.+ps, for local purposes, the lines of which usually correspond with the land surveys.

For the sales of public lands, the State is divided into three land districts, and land offices are established at Detroit, Monroe, and Bronson.

_Chief Towns._--Detroit is the commercial and political metropolis. It is beautifully situated on the west side of the river Detroit, 18 miles above Malden in Canada, and 8 miles below the outlet of Lake St. Clair.

A narrow street, on which the wharves are built, runs parallel with the river. After ascending the bench or bluff, is a street called Jefferson Avenue, on which the princ.i.p.al buildings are erected. The older dwellings are of wood, but many have been recently built of brick, with bas.e.m.e.nts of stone, the latter material being brought from Cleveland, Ohio. The primitive forest approaches near the town. The table land extends 12 or 15 miles interior, when it becomes wet and marshy. Along Detroit river the ancient French settlements extend several miles, and the inhabitants exhibit all the peculiar traits of the French on the Mississippi. Their gardens and orchards are valuable.

The public buildings of Detroit, are a state house, a council house, an academy, and two or three banking houses. There are five churches for as many different denominations, in which the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and Roman Catholics wors.h.i.+p. The Catholic congregation is the largest, and they have a large cathedral. Stores and commercial warehouses are numerous, and business is rapidly increasing.

Town lots, rents, and landed property in the vicinity are rising rapidly. Lots have advanced, within two or three years, in the business parts of the city, more than one thousand per cent. Mechanics of all descriptions, and particularly those in the building line, are much wanted here, and in other towns in Michigan. The population is supposed to be about 10,000, and is rapidly increasing. This place commands the trade of all the upper lake country.

_Monroe_, the seat of justice for Monroe county, is situated on the right bank of the river Raisin, opposite the site of old Frenchtown. Two years since, it had about 150 houses, of which 20 or 30 were of stone, and 1600 inhabitants. There were also two flouring and several saw-mills, a woollen factory, an iron foundry, a chair factory, &c., and an abundant supply of water power. The "Bank of the River Raisin," with a capital of $100,000, is established here. The Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, and Roman Catholics have houses of wors.h.i.+p and ministers here. It was at this place, or rather at Frenchtown in its vicinity, that a horrible ma.s.sacre of American prisoners took place during the last war with Great Britain, by the Indians under Gen. Proctor. The sick and wounded were burned alive in the hospital, or shot as they ran shrieking through the flames!

Of the 700 young men barbarously murdered here, many were students at law, young physicians, and merchants, the best blood of Kentucky!

Mount Clemens, Brownstown, Ann Arbor, Pontiac, White Pigeon, Tec.u.mseh, Jacksonsburgh, Niles, St. Joseph, Spring Arbor, and many others, are pleasant villages, and will soon become populous.

_Education._--Congress has made the same donations of lands, as to other Western States, and will, doubtless, appropriate the same per centage on the sales of all public lands, when the State is admitted into the Union, as has been appropriated to the other new States. A respectable female academy is in operation at Detroit. The Presbyterian denomination are about establis.h.i.+ng a college at Ann Arbor, the Methodists a seminary at Spring Arbor, the Baptists one in Kalamazoo county, and the Roman Catholics, it is said, have fixed their post at Bertrand, a town on the St. Joseph river, in the south-eastern corner of Berrian county, and near to the boundary line of Indiana. Much sentiment and feeling exists in favor of education and literary inst.i.tutions, amongst the people.

_Improvements projected._--A survey has been made for a rail-road across the peninsula of Detroit, through the counties of Wayne, Washtenaw, Jackson, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Berrian, to the mouth of St.

Joseph river. Another project is, to commence at or near Toledo on the Maumee river, and pa.s.s through the southern counties of Michigan into Indiana, and terminate at Michigan city. A third project is, to open a water communication from the navigable waters of Grand river, to Huron river, and, by locks and slack water navigation, enter lake Erie. A ca.n.a.l from the mouth of Maumee Bay to lake Michigan, has also been spoken of as a feasible project;--or one from the mouth of the river Raisin to the St. Joseph, would open a similar communication. It has also been suggested to improve the river Raisin by locks and slack water navigation. Doubtless not many years will elapse before some of these projects will prove realities.

_Boundary Dispute._--This unpleasant dispute between Ohio and Michigan, relates to a strip of country about fifteen miles in width at its eastern, and seven miles at its western end, lying between the north-eastern part of Indiana and the Maumee Bay. A portion of the Wabash and Erie ca.n.a.l, now constructing by Indiana, and which is dependent for its completion on either Ohio or Michigan, pa.s.ses over this territory. Michigan claims it by virtue of an ordinance of Congress, pa.s.sed the 13th of July, 1787, organizing the "_North-Western Territory_," in which the boundaries of _three_ States were laid off, "Provided, that the boundaries of these three States shall be subject so far to be altered, that, if Congress shall hereafter find it expedient, they shall have authority to form one or two States in that part of the said territory _which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of lake Michigan_;"--Ohio claims it by possession, and because, by being received into the Union with this portion in possession, Congress virtually annulled that part of the former ordinance that fixed the south bend of lake Michigan as the boundary line, and by having run the line north of this.

_Outlines of the Const.i.tution._--A convention a.s.sembled at Detroit, on the 11th of May, 1835, and framed a const.i.tution for a state government, which was submitted to, and ratified by vote of the people on the first Monday in October.

The powers of the government are divided into three distinct departments;--the legislative,--the executive,--and the judicial.

The legislative power is vested in a _Senate_ and _House of Representatives_. The representatives are to be chosen annually; and their number cannot be less than 48, nor more than 100.

The senators are to be chosen every two years, one half of them every year, and to consist, as nearly as may be, of one third of the number of the representatives.

The census is to be taken in 1837, and 1845, and every ten years after the latter period; and also after each census taken by the United States, the number of senators and representatives is to be apportioned anew among the several counties, according to the number of white inhabitants.

The _legislature_ is to meet annually, on the first Monday in January.

The executive power is to be vested in a governor, who holds his office for two years. Upon a vacancy, the lieutenant governor performs executive duties. The first election was held on the first Monday in October, 1835, and the governor and lieutenant governor hold their offices till the first Monday in January, 1838.

The _judicial power_ is vested in one _Supreme Court_, and in such other courts as the legislature may, from time to time, establish. The judges of the Supreme Court are to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the term of seven years. Judges of all county courts, a.s.sociate judges of circuit courts, and judges of probate, are to be elected by the people for the term of four years.

Each towns.h.i.+p is authorized to elect four justices of the peace, who are to hold their offices for four years. In all elections, every white male citizen above the age of 21 years, having resided six months next preceding any election, is ent.i.tled to vote at such election.

Slavery, lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, are prohibited.