arrived during the year before. In 1836,4 years later, the arrivals of brigs, ships, and schooners amounted to 407, besides 49 steamboats.
The Illinois and Michigan Canal unites the head of navigable waters in the Illinois Eiver with Lake Michigan at Chicago. This great in- ternal improvement was projected, and in part constructed, to be a ship canal for the largest class of vessels which navigate the lakes. For a distance of 30 miles from a point in the Chicago Eiver, 5| miles W. of the cityv it was excavated, through indurated clay and compact limestone, to the depth of from 18 to 20 feet. Beyond this the canal is only 6 feet deep. Its width at the top is 60 feet, and its entire length 96^ miles, be- sides a navigable feeder of about 4 miles, from Fox Eiver. This is one of the best constructed works of the kind in the country, opening an extensive channel of trade to the W., and estab- lishing an uninterrupted water communication between the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi.
Another improvement, still more important in its results to the prosperity of Chicago, is that of the great Illinois Central Eailroad, which is now in process of construction between this place and Cairo, at the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio Eivers. This railroad will constitute the most direct and expeditious channel of communication between the North-Western and the Southern States, and between the commerce of the great lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. Especially will this be the case when its route shall be extended, as now contemplated, through Mississippi and Alabama to the city of Mobile ; for which exten- sion, as well as for the road through Illinois, Congress has voted a munificent appropriation from the public lands. Such an important line of communication, whether by this extension to Mobile, or by the river, as at present, to New Orleans, open throughout at all seasons of the year, must bring an incalculable amount of busi- ness into Chicago, while it opens to thd Atlantic cities of the N. a new available access to the vast resources of the western trade.
The streets of Chicago are laid out in straight lines, intersecting each other at right angles. They are of good width, and some of them are planked ; stone pavements not being used to any great extent. The largest buildings are of brick. The place is well supplied, from the region about Green Bay, with pine timber, another important material for building ; and the transportation of this valuable description of lumber through the canal into the northern parts of Illinois and other sections of the west, where it is a desideratum, makes a profitable part of the business of Chica- go. The city is supplied with water by an aque- duct from the lake. It has six or seven churches, some of which are fine edifices, situated on a public square. Some of the public houses are extensive establishments, affording accommoda- tions equal to the best hotels in our eastern cities.
Chichester, N. H., Merrimae co. The soil is good, and there is little waste land. The E. part of the town is watered by Suncook Eiver. In various parts traces of Indian settlements are to be seen. Pinkfield Pond is in Chichester, from which flows a stream S. W. into the Suncook. First settler, Paul Merrill, in 1753. 8 miles E. from Concord. 4
Chickasaw County, Mi., c. h. at Houston. N. E. part. On the height of land between the waters of the Yazoo and those of the Tombigbee. The head waters of the Yalabusha Eiver and Oktib- beha Creek water this county. |
Chickopee, Ms., Hampden co. A large manu- facturing village, on the Chickopee Eiver, lately a part of Springfield. There are extensive cot- ton factories here, also manufactories of paper, iron castings, arms, machinery, &c.
Chicot County, As., c. h. Columbia. In the S. E. corner, on the Mississippi. Bartholomew and Boeuf Bayous and Macon Eiver traverse this county. Surface low and level; soil greatly diversified.
Chictawaga, N. Y., Erie co. Watered by Ca- yuga and Cazenove Creeks. Surface undulating; soil fertile. 6 miles E. from Buffalo, and 278 W. from Albany.
Chili, N. Y., Monroe co. On the W. side of Genesee Eiver, and drained by Black Creek. Surface undulating; soil very productive. 10 miles S. W. from Eochester, and 230 W. by N. from Albany.
Chillicothe, Mo., c. h. Livingston co. On a prairie, about 3| miles from the junction of the E. and W. forks of' Grand Eiver.
Chillicothe City, O., c. h. Eoss co. A handsome and flourishing place on the W. bank of the Scioto and on the Ohio Canal.
Chillisquaque, Pa., Northumberland co. 65 miles N. from Harrisburg.
Chillitecaux, Mo., c. h. Dunklin co.
Chilmark, Ms., Dukes co. This township com- prises the westerly part of the island of Martha's Vineyard ; also a range of smaller islands/called the Elizabeth Islands, and the island of No Man's Land.
Chilo, 0., Franklin township, Clermont co., was formerly called Mechanicsburg. It is on the N. bank of the Ohio Eiver. 113 miles S. W. from Columbus.
China, Me., Kennebec co. 20 miles N. E. from Augusta. A fine agricultural township on Twelve Mile Pond, the outlet of which into the Kennebec affords excellent mill privileges.
China, Mn., St. Clair co. 51 miles N. N. E. from Detroit.
China, N. Y., Wyoming co. Watered by Clear Creek, one of the head branches of Cattaraugus Creek. The surface is gently undulating on the
S., and still more uneven on the N. The soil is suitable for the growth of grass. 20 miles S. W. from Wyoming, and 271 W. from Albany.
Chippewa County, Mn., c. h. at Sault de St. Marie. Bounded N. by Lake Superior and St. Mary's Straits, E. by the North Channel and Lake Huron, S. by Michilimackinac county, and W. by Schoolcraft county.
Chippewa County, Wn. N. W. part of the state. Drained by the Chippewa and its branches.
Chippewa, Pa., Beaver co. 7 miles N. W. from Beaver.
Chittenango, N. Y., Madison co. 1 mile S. from the Erie Canal, and near the railroad. 120 miles W. N. W. from Albany. There is a sulphur spring one mile S. of the village.
Chittenden County, Vt., c. h. at Burlington. Bordering on Lake Champlain. Its soil varies from rich alluvial meadows to light and sandy plains. The beautiful Champlain, washing its western boundary, gives it great facilities for trade. Lamoille Eiver passes through its N. W. corner, and Winooski Eiver pierces its centre. These streams, with several others of smaller size, afford the county a good water power. The |