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there will be a continuous RailRoad Route completed and running all the way from Buffalo to Chicago, and perhaps even to Galena. It will certainly be quite a convenience to travellers in the winter season. It might not much interest you, if I had time and room to write you all my observations, reflections, and memoranda upon all the towns, cities, places, and routes I have visited many of them you know something about. I have taken time to look at most a little at least. Canadaigua, Westfield, and Cleaveland I think are about the handsomest places I ever saw. Rochester, Buffalo, and Chicago the most active and prosperous. I think I shall go from here to Springfield next. Perhaps remain here over the Sabbath though. It is thought now that I can have employment upon this Great Illinois Central R.R. that is to be; the whole length of the State, from Cairo on the Mississippi River, diverging somewhere to two Northern Termini, Chicago, and Galena. It is a great project, but Boston and New York Capitalists have undertaken it with the half of the large grants of land from government, and it is doubtless to be built as fast as possible. I intend to meet Col. Mason, who has been appointed Chief Engineer of the whole, at Springfield Illinois, sometime next week, last of the week probably he is to be there. Farther than that I can tell nothing what I shall do. But I will write to you again as soon as any thing is decided. I shall go to LaSalle by Canal, then by Steamboat to Naples, and RailRoad to Springfield, I think. This is really a long letter, and it seems as if I had hardly begun to write anything. How I do want to hear from you as well as from Maine. I have not heard a word since I started, and I am anxious all the time about Lucy's health. It is 11 and I slept but little last night, I must stop. This letter will not hold half the love I want to send to you. I must send that by Telegraph; same to Father, Mother, brother, sisters. Sincerely, I.S.