A New Guide for Emigrants to the West - John Mason Peck

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&c.—Soil and Productions—Subdivisions—Counties—Towns—Detroit—Education—Internal Improvements projected—Boundary Dispute—Outline of the Constitution, 179 CHAP. IX Ohio. Boundaries—Divisions—Face of the Country—Soil and Productions—Animals—Minerals—Financial Statistics—Canal Fund—Expenditures—Land Taxes—School Fund—Statistics—Canal Revenues—Population at different Periods—Internal Improvements—Manufactures—Cities and Towns—Cincinnati—Columbus—Education—Form of Government—History, 193 CHAP. X Indiana. Boundaries and Extent—Counties—Population—Face of the Country, &c.—Sketch of each County—Form of Government—Finances—Internal Improvements—Manufactures—Education—History—General Remarks, 222 CHAP. XI Illinois. Boundaries and Extent—Face of the Country and Qualities of Soil— Inundated Land—River Bottoms, or Alluvion—Prairies—Barrens—Forest, or timbered Land—Knobs, Bluffs, Ravines and Sink Holes—Rivers, &c.—Productions—Minerals—Lead, Coal, Salt, &c.—Vegetables—Animals—Manufactures—Civil Divisions—Tabular View of the Counties—Sketches of each County—Towns—Alton—Projected Improvements—Education—Government—General Remarks, 251 CHAP. XII Missouri. Extent and Boundaries—Civil Divisions—Population—Surface, Soil and Productions—Towns—St. Louis, 315 CHAP. XIII Arkansas and Territorial Districts. Arkansas.—Situation and Extent—Civil Divisions—Rivers—Face of the Country—Soil—Water—Productions—Climate—Minerals—State of Society. Wisconsin. Boundaries and Extent—Rivers—Soil—Productions—Towns, &c., 323 CHAP. XIV Literary and Religious Institutions for the West. Colleges—Statistical Sketch of each Religious Denomination—Roman Catholics—Field for Effort, and Progress made—Theological Institutions—Deaf and Dumb Asylums—Medical Institutions—Law Schools—Benevolent and Religious Societies—Periodical Press, 334 CHAP. XV Suggestions To Emigrants. Modes of Travel—Canal, Steamboat and Stage Routes—Other Modes of Travel—Expenses—Roads, Distances, &c., 364

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      Much has been published already about the West—the Great West—the Valley of the Mississippi.—But no portion of this immense and interesting region, is so much the subject of inquiry, and so particularly excites the attention of the emigrant, as the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan, with the adjacent territorial regions.

      All these States have come into existence as such, with the exception of Ohio, within the last twenty years; and much of the territory, now adorned by the hand of civilization, and spread over with an enterprising, industrious and intelligent people—the field of public improvements in Canals and Railways—of Colleges, Churches, and other institutions, was the hunting ground of the aborigines, and the scene of border warfare. These States have been unparalleled in their growth, both in the increase of population and property, and in the advance of intellectual and moral improvement. Such an extent of forest was never before cleared—such a vast field of prairie was never before subdued and cultivated by the hand of man, in the same short period of time. Cities, and towns, and villages, and counties, and States never before rushed into existence, and made such giant strides, as upon this field.

      "Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once?" Isaiah, LXVI. 8.

      The rapid increase of population will be exhibited in a tabular form in the following pages, and other parts showing that the general improvement of the country, and the development of its physical, intellectual and moral resources have kept pace with the extension of settlements. And such are its admirable facilities for commerce by its numerous navigable rivers, and its lines of canals, some of which are finished, and many others commenced or projected—such the richness of its soil, and the variety of its productions—such the genial nature of its climate—the enterprise of its population—and the influence it must soon wield in directing the destinies of the whole United States, as to render the great West an object of the deepest interest to the American patriot. To the philanthropist and christian, the character and manners—the institutions, literature and religion of so wide a portion of our country, whose mighty energies are soon to exert a controlling influence over the character of the whole nation, and in some measure, of the world, are not less matters of momentous concern.

      "The West is a young empire of mind, and power, and wealth, and free institutions, rushing up to a giant manhood, with a rapidity and power never before witnessed below the sun. And if she carries with her the elements of her preservation, the experiment will be glorious—the joy of the nation—the joy of the whole earth, as she rises in the majesty of her intelligence and benevolence, and enterprise, for the emancipation of the world."—Beecher.

      Amongst the causes that have awakened the attention of the community in the Atlantic States, to this Great Valley, and excited the desires of multitudes to remove hither, may be reckoned the efforts of the liberal and benevolent to aid the West in the immediate supply of her population with the Bible, with Sunday Schools, with religious tracts, with the gospel ministry, and to lay the foundation for Colleges and other literary institutions. Hundreds of families, who might otherwise have remained in the crowded cities and densely populated neighborhoods of their ancestors, have had their attention directed to these States as a permanent home. And thousands more of virtuous and industrious families would follow, and fix their future residence on our prairies, and in our western forests, cultivate our wild lands—aid in building up our towns and cities, and diffuse a healthful moral and intellectual influence through the mass of our present population, could they feel assured that they can reach some portion of the Western Valley

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