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.

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.

From thence to Chicago, Illinois.

From Cleveland to Portsmouth, via Ohio canal.

The most expeditious, pleasant and direct route for travellers to the southern parts of Ohio and Indiana; to the Illinois river, as far north as Peoria; to the Upper Mississippi, as Quincy, Rock Island, Galena and Prairie du Chien; to Missouri; and to Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Natches and New Orleans is one of the southern routes. There are, 1st, from Philadelphia to Pittsburg by rail-roads and the Pennsylvania canal; 2nd, by Baltimore,—the Baltimore and Ohio rail-road,—and stages to Wheeling; or, 3dly, for people living to the south of Washington, by stage, via Charlottesville, Va., Staunton, the hot, warm, and white sulphur springs, Lewisburg, Charlestown, to Guyandotte, from whence a regular line of steamboats run 3 times a week to Cincinnati. Intermediate routes from Washington city to Wheeling; or to Harper's ferry, to Fredericksburg, and intersect the route through Virginia at Charlottesville.

From Philadelphia to Pittsburg, via rail-road and canal.

The Pioneer line on this route is exclusively for passengers, and professes to reach Pittsburg in four days—but is sometimes behind several hours. Fare through, $10. Passengers pay for meals.

Leech's line, called "the Western Transportation line," takes both freight and passengers. The packet boats advertise to go through to Pittsburg in five days for $7.

Midship and steerage passengers in the transportation line in six and a half days; merchandize delivered in 8 days. Generally, however, there is some delay. Emigrants must not expect to carry more than a small trunk or two on the packet lines. Those who take goods or furniture, and expect to keep with it, had better take the transportation lines with more delay. The price of meals on the boats is about 37½ cents.

On all the steamboats on the Western waters, no additional charge is made to cabin passengers for meals,—and the tables are usually profusely supplied. Strict order is observed, and the waiters and officers are attentive.

Steamboat route from Pittsburg to the mouth of Ohio.

Persons who wish to visit Indianopolis will stop at Madison, Ia., and take the stage conveyance. From Louisville, via Vincennes, to St. Louis by stage, every alternate day, 273 miles, through in three days and half. Fare $17. Stages run from Vincennes to Terre Haute and other towns up the Wabash river. At Evansville, Ia., stage lines are connected with Vincennes and Terre Haute; and at Shawneetown twice a week to Carlyle, Ill., where it intersects the line from Louisville to St. Louis. From Louisville to Nashville by steamboats, passengers land at Smithland at the mouth of Cumberland river, unless they embark direct for Nashville.

In the winter both stage and steamboat lines are uncertain and irregular. Ice in the rivers frequently obstructs navigation, and high waters and bad roads sometimes prevent stages from running regularly.

Farmers who remove to the West from the Northern and Middle States, will find it advantageous in many instances to remove with their own teams and wagons. These they will need on their arrival. Autumn, or from September till November, is the favorable season for this mode of emigration. The roads are then in good order, the weather usually favorable, and feed plenty. People of all classes from the States south of the Ohio river, remove with large wagons, carry and cook their own provisions, purchase their feed by the bushel, and invariably encamp out at night.

Individuals who wish to travel through the interior of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, &c., will find that the most convenient, sure, economical and independent mode is on horseback. Their expenses will be from 75 cents to $1.50 per day, and they can always consult their own convenience and pleasure as to time and place.

Stage fare is usually 6 cents per mile in the West. Meals at stage houses, 37½ cents.

Steamboat fare, including meals.

And frequently the same from Cincinnati to St. Louis;—varying a little, however.

A deck passage, as it is called, may be rated as follows:

The deck for such passengers is usually in the midship, forward the engine, and is protected from the weather. Passengers furnish their own provisions and bedding. They often take their meals at the cabin table, with the boat hands, and pay 25 cents a meal. Thousands pass up and down the rivers as deck passengers, especially emigrating families, who have their bedding, provisions, and cooking utensils on board.

The whole expense of a single person from New York to St. Louis, via. Philadelphia and Pittsburg, with cabin passage on the river, will range between $40 and $45. Time from 12 to 15 days.

Taking the transportation lines on the Pennsylvania canal, and a deck passage on the steamboat, and the expenses will range between 20 and $25, supposing the person buys his meals at 25 cents, and eats twice a day. If he carry his own provisions, the passage, &c., will be from 15 to $18.

The following is from an advertisement of the Western Transportation, or Leech's Line, from Philadelphia:

Packet Boats for Cabin Passengers, same line.

Emigrants and travellers will find it to their interest always to be a little sceptical relative to the statements of stage, steam and canal boat agents, to make some allowance in their own calculations for delays, difficulties and expenses, and above all, to feel perfectly patient and in good humor with themselves, the officers, company, and the world, even if they do not move quite as rapid, and fare quite as well as they desire.

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