56 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



in the course of next summer, for their new home west 

 of the Mississippi. Others are deterred from emigrating 

 in consequence of the land not yet being in market. No 

 difficulty is to be apprehended from making improve- 

 ments before purchasing. Congress provided for all of 

 the settlers of 1833, at the last session, by a removal of 

 the pre-emption law. No doubt the same favor will be 

 extended to those who have settled since that time, at the 

 present session of congress. If not, the claims of settlers 

 are most singularly respected by common custom. For 

 instance a person comes here and looks out a piece of 

 land that suits him, he will perhaps lay the foundation of 

 a cabin is [as?] "claimed" or located, and no person will 

 interfere or presume to settle upon it without first pur- 

 chasing the first claimant's right. There is a vast body 

 of most beautiful country yet unclaimed in this purchase. 

 Thousands of "first rate chances" may yet be had on this 

 Prairie and in the groves adjoining. I have no doubt but 

 that the rush of emigrants into "Oakland county," will 

 be as great for three years to come, as it has been into 

 Laporte county for three pears past. The growth of 

 this country is, to an eastern or southern man, most won- 

 derful. The majority of the inhabitants are Yankees; 

 and those too who are not only comfortable, but "well to 

 live." One good evidence of the good quality of the in- 

 habitants is to be seen in the numerous school houses and 

 the scarcity of grog shops. There is a great demand for 

 mechanics. The communication with New York by the 

 Lakes is so easy, that merchandize is not high, but labor 

 and provisions of all kinds are quite so, when compared 

 with prevailing prices on the Ohio river. 



Michigan city, which is the only landing place at pres- 

 ent on Lake Michigan in this state, presents one of the 

 most singularly rapid growths I ever knew. It is now, 

 in reality a small city — one year ago it contained only 

 three log cabins. There is much fine white pine timber 

 near the city, and Trail croek affords good mill privileges, 

 on which are several mills. 



