Suggestions to Emigrants—Canal, Steamboat and Stage Routes—Other Modes
of Travel—Expenses—Roads, Distances, &c. &c.

In the concluding chapter to this Guide, it is proposed to give such information as is always desirable to emigrants upon removing, or travelling for any purpose, to the West.

1. Persons in moderate circumstances, or who would save time and expense, need not make a visit to the West, to ascertain particulars previous to removal. A few general facts, easily collected from a hundred sources, will enable persons to decide the great question whether they will emigrate to the Valley. By the same means, emigrants may determine to what State, and to what part of that State, their course shall be directed. There are many things that a person of plain, common sense will take for granted without inquiry,—such as facilities for obtaining all the necessaries of life; the readiness with which property of any description may be obtained for a fair value, and especially farms and wild land; that they can live where hundreds of thousands of others of similar habits and feelings live; and above all, they should take it for granted, that there are difficulties to be encountered in every country, and in all business,—that these difficulties can be surmounted with reasonable effort, patience and perseverance, and that in every country, people sicken and die.

2. Having decided to what State and part of the State an emigrant will remove, let him then conclude to take as little furniture and other luggage as he can do with, especially if he comes by public conveyances. Those who reside within convenient distance of a sea port, would find it both safe and economical to ship by New Orleans, in boxes, such articles as are not wanted on the road, especially if they steer for the navigable waters of the Mississippi. Bed and other clothing, books, &c., packed in boxes, like merchants' goods, will go much safer and cheaper by New Orleans, than by any of the inland routes. I have received more than one hundred packages and boxes, from eastern ports, by that route, within 20 years, and never lost one. Boxes should be marked to the owner or his agent at the river port where destined, and to the charge of some forwarding house in New Orleans. The freight and charges may be paid when the boxes are received.

3. If a person designs to remove to the north part of Ohio, and Indiana, to Chicago and vicinity, or to Michigan, or Greenbay, his course would be by the New York canal, and the lakes. The following table, showing the time of the opening of the canal at Albany and Buffalo, and the opening of the lake, from 1827 to 1835, is from a report of a committee at Buffalo to the common council of that city. It will be of use to those who wish to take the northern route in the spring.

Year.Canal opened at Buffalo.Canal opened at Albany.Lake Erie opened at Buffalo.
1827April 21April 21April 21
1828April 1April 1April 1
1829April 25April 29May 10
1830April 15April 20April 6
1831April 16April 16May 8
1832April 18April 25April 27
1833April 22April 22April 23
1834April 16April 17April 6
1835April 15April 15May 8

The same route will carry emigrants to Cleveland and by the Ohio canal to Columbus, or to the Ohio river at Portsmouth, from whence by steamboat, direct communications will offer to any river port in the Western States. From Buffalo, steamboats run constantly, (when the lake is open,) to Detroit, stopping at Erie, Ashtabula, Cleveland, Sandusky and many other ports from whence stages run to every prominent town. Transportation wagons are employed in forwarding goods.

Schedule from Buffalo to Detroit by water.

Miles.
Dunkirk, N. Y.,39
Portland, N. Y.,18— 57
Erie, Pa.,35— 92
Ashtabula, Ohio,39—131
Fairport, Ohio,32—163
Cleveland, Ohio,30—193
Sandusky, Ohio,54—247
Amherstburg, N. C.,52—299
Detroit, Mich.,18—317

From thence to Chicago, Illinois.