Southern, the Wabash, the Grand Trunk, the
Pere Marquette, the Detroit & Toledo Shore Line, the Detroit, Toledo &
Ironton and the Canadian Pacific railways. Two belt lines, one 2 m. to 3
m., and the other 6 m. from the centre of the city, connect the factory
districts with the main railway lines. Trains are ferried across the
river to Windsor, and steamboats make daily trips to Cleveland,
Wyandotte, Mount Clemens, Port Huron, to less important places between,
and to several Canadian ports. Detroit is also the S. terminus for
several lines to more remote lake ports, and electric lines extend from
here to Port Huron, Flint, Pontiac, Jackson, Toledo and Grand Rapids.

The city extended in 1907 over about 41 sq. m., an increase from 29 sq.
m. in 1900 and 36 sq. m. in 1905. Its area in proportion to its
population is much greater than that of most of the larger cities of the
United States. Baltimore, for example, had in 1904 nearly 70% more
inhabitants (estimated), while its area at that time was a little less
and in 1907 was nearly one-quarter less than that of Detroit. The ground
within the city limits as well as that for several miles farther back is
quite level, but rises gradually from the river bank, which is only a
few feet in height. The Detroit river, along which the city extends for
about 10 m., is here 1/2 m. wide and 30 ft. to 40 ft. deep; its current is
quite rapid; its water, a beautiful clear blue; at its mouth it has a
width of about 10 m., and in the river there are a number of islands,
which during the summer are popular resorts. The city has a 3 m.
frontage on the river Rouge, an estuary of the Detroit, with a 16 ft.
channel. Before the fire by which the city was destroyed in 1805, the
streets were only 12 ft. wide and were unpaved and extremely dirty. But
when the rebuilding began, several avenues from 100 ft. to 200 ft. wide
were--through the influence of Augustus B. Woodward (c. 1775-1827), one
of the territorial judges at the time and an admirer of the plan of the
city of Washington--made to radiate from two central points. From a half
circle called the Grand Circus there radiate avenues 120 ft. and 200 ft.
wide. About 1/4 m. toward the river from this was established another
focal point called the Campus Martius, 600 ft. long and 400 ft. wide, at
which commence radiating or cross streets 80 ft. and 100 ft. wide.
Running north from the river through the Campus Martius and the Grand
Circus is Woodward Av