ulable. On its line, have sprung up a number of
beautiful towns and villages as if by magic, while many of those that
had an existence prior to its construction have grown into flourishing
cities. Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Marshall, Battle Creek,
Albion, Kalamazoo, Niles, and others that might properly be included,
all located upon this road, are beautiful places, noted for their
thrift and enterprise as well as for their rapid advances in all that
pertains to well-regulated cities. Their commerce is rapidly
increasing and the country along the entire route will vie with that
traversed by the great thoroughfares of any of the older States along
the seaboard.

The Central was commenced and partially built by the State, but in
1844, passed into the possession of the company now owning it, who
completed it to Chicago. A telegraph line has been in use for some
years past along the entire line of the road, with an office at each
station, by which means the exact position of each train may be at all
times known at each and every point. To this admirable system may be
attributed in a very great degree the extraordinary exemption of the
road from serious accidents, while its advantages are very great in
every point of view respecting the general management. The eastern
terminus of the road being at Detroit, it has the full advantages of
the numerous connections at this point, the Great Western and Grand
Trunk Railways, the important steamboat route from Cleveland, the
lines of Detroit and Buffalo propellers with their immense freight
traffic, as well as the numerous other steamboat routes of which our
city is the nucleus. At Chicago it has the advantages of connection
with all the roads radiating from that flourishing city. Freight is
now taken from Chicago to Portland without breaking bulk but once. An
important "feeder" is the Joliet Cut-off, by means of which it has a
direct connection with St. Louis, via the Chicago, Alton, and St.
Louis Railroad. An important arrangement was consummated last summer
with the latter road, for the direct transmission of freight between
this city and St. Louis. Fifty cars have been diverted to this route,
under the name of the "Detroit and St. Louis Through Freight Line."
The time between the two cities is thirty-eight hours. The advantages
of this line to shippers are very considerable, and the arrangement is
adding, and will continue to add, materially to the commerce of our
city.

A