Trip to the West and Texas: comprising a journey of eight thousand miles, through New-York, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas, in the autumn and winter of 1834-5.Parker, A. A. (Amos Andrew)
History
Trip to the West and Texas: comprising a journey of eight thousand miles, through New-York, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas, in the autumn and winter of 1834-5.
Parker, A. A. (Amos Andrew)
Frontier and pioneer life -- Mississippi River Valley; Frontier and pioneer life -- Texas; Mississippi River Valley -- Description and travel; Texas -- Description and travel; Texas -- History -- Revolution, 1835-1836
New-York, I believe, possesses more of the sublime and beautiful, than
all the remainder of the United States. It has its mountains, lakes,
springs, rivers, water-falls, canals, railroads and edifices.--Other
States can shew some of these, in a greater or less degree; but as a
whole, New-York must bear the palm. Its resources are vast--it is a
nation of itself. But notwithstanding its attractive scenery and rich
lands, the "western fever" rages here as violent as on the sterile
hills of New-Hampshire. I found more families from New-York at the West
and moving thither, than from all the New-England States. They, too,
seek a better country; and some would undoubtedly be discontented if
they lived in paradise.
At Detroit, I saw a man who said he had just made a purchase of a
tract of land near Pontiac, about thirty miles distant in a northwest
direction. He lived near Rochester, had a fine farm, raised from five
hundred to one thousand bushels of wheat a year; a ready market and the
average price one dollar a bushel; clear of debt, and growing rich; but
the lands were cheap at the West, so he sold his farm, and was moving
into the wilderness! The man was about sixty years of age: so if he has
good luck, by the time he gets a farm well cleared, a good house and
improvements, he will be too old to enjoy earthly possessions. But just
the same feeling is manifested in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. And even
in Illinois itself, some I found, seeking a better country farther west!
Persons travelling to Illinois, or farther west, can take passage
in a vessel or steamboat from Buffalo to Chicago. The distance by
water is one thousand miles; for they must go through lake Erie, St.
Clair, Huron and lake Michigan. The distance by land is not so far by
one half; but the water passage is the cheapest, attended with less
hardship, and much the best way to convey goods. There are two other
routes to Chicago. Take a steamboat at Buffalo for Monroe, in Michigan
Territory; and from thence, there is a good stage route, through
Tecumseh, Niles, Michigan city, and along the south end of the lake
Michigan to Chicago--or take a steamboat to Detroit; from thence the
stage to the mouth of St. Joseph, and cross the lake in a schooner to
Chicago. My object was to see something of Michigan; so I took passage
in a steamboat for Detroit.
On board this boat, there were probably two hundred passengers;
besides a number of horses and oxen, wagons, household furniture and
baggage.--Most of them were emigrants, chiefly destined to some part of
Michigan. The cabin passage is eight dollars--deck three dollars. Of
the whole number not more than ten took the cabin passage. We stopped
at Portland, Erie, Ashtabula, Fairport, Cleaveland and Sandusky, and
arrived at Detroit in two days--distance three hundred and five miles.
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