Racine lies ten miles north from Kenosha, on a beautiful stream of the same name, which forms a harbor in all respects excellent, except for the wonted drawback of an awkward bar at its mouth. The population of Racine in 1840 was about 1,500; in 1850 it was 5,111. ˆ The principal business, however, is done on piers, which project from its mouth, as at Kenosha. The city is on a height, and is, without doubt, the most beautiful site for a lake city, west of Cleveland. The back country, depending on the city for supplies and a market, is very similar to that already described in other parts of the district. Its imports for 1851, were... Exports for

Total...

do

Entrances, 1,462.

$1,473,125

1,034,590

2,507,715

Milwaukie, the port of entry and principal port in the district, is situated on Milwaukie river, which forms a good harbor for vessels and steamers of light draught, but it needs some improvement to make it easy of access to larger craft. The harbor of Milwaukie is in one respect very favorably situated, as there is a sort of bay, or bayou, running in behind the north point, making a fair shelter against all but easterly winds.

The city stands partly on the river, and partly on the bluffs, which are very high and overlook the lake for many miles. It is ninety miles north from Chicago, and contains 25,000 inhabitants. It is the terminus of the Milwaukie and Mississippi railway, which is finished some fifty miles west, and is intended eventually to communicate with the Mississippi at Dubuque, or Prairie du Chien. This road runs through one of the most fertile districts of Wisconsin, and will bring immense traffic to this port. Of late, owing mainly to the partial failure of the wheat crop during the two successive years of 1849 and 1850, the commerce of this district has not augmented so rapidly as for several years previously, or as it probably would have done in the event of good or

average crops.

The city of Milwaukie increased in population from 1,712 inhabitants in 1840, to 20,061 in 1850, being a ratio of 1,072 per cent. greater than that of any other city during the same period. It is situated 805 miles northwest from Washington.

The commerce in 1851 is estimated for the city as follows: Imports..

Exports....

Total....

$14,571,371

2,607,824

17,179,195

Entrances, 1,351.

The commerce of the whole district for the same year was:

The enrolled and licensed tonnage, on the 30th June, 1851, was set down in the official report at 2,946 tons, of which 287 tons were steam, and 2,659 tons sail. The official report of the collector, however, published at the end of the season, makes the tonnage of the district amount to 6,526 tons, giving employment to 325 men. Therefore there. must be an error somewhere, as it is not possible that the tonnage of the district should have more than doubled itself within a few months. Such inconsistencies, however, seem to be the rule, not the exception,in the reports of the lake districts.

The following table will show the business in a few prominent articles of trade, in this district, for export from the several ports; and the comparative trade of the port of entry for the years 1850 and 1851, according to the returns.

The imports consist principally of assorted merchandise necessary for the consumption of a new country-salt, and the household property of emigrants. This district reports no trade with Canada.

Statement showing the principal articles of export and import, coastwise, in the district of Milwaukie, during the year 1851.

Port of entry, Chicago; latitude 42° 00', longitude 87° 35′; population in 1840, 4,470; in 1850, 29,963.

This district is about eighty miles in extent of coast-line from Michigan City, in Indiana, to Waukegan, Illinois, embracing that portion of the coast of Lake Michigan bordering on the States of Indiana and Illinois. Michigan City, Waukegan, and Chicago, are the only ports. The commerce of Michigan City is comparatively small; but having no definite returns from that point, it may be roughly estimated at $600,000. It is the only lake port of Indiana, and is about forty miles east from Chicago, and on the opposite side of the lake to that city. The Michigan Central railway passes through this place en route for Chicago, and most of the supplies of merchandise are received by it. The exports of flour, wheat, corn and oats from this place are worthy of some consideration.

Waukegan is situated forty miles north from Chicago, on the western shore of Lake Michigan, and is a thriving place of business, though its harbor consists only of piers, extending into the lake, similar to those at Racine, Sheboygan, and other places in the district of Milwaukie. The country circumjacent to it is becoming rapidly populous, and the land is fertile and adapted amply and abundantly to repay all the expenses of toil and time annually bestowed upon it.

It cannot, therefore, be reasonably doubted that its annual increase

will not fall short of the general progress of its own and the neighboring States.

The account of the tonnage of this place is as follows:

The entrances at Waukegan during the year 1851 were 1,058; being 698 steamers, 244 propellers, 14 brigs, 105 schooners, 2 barques, and 3 sloops.

The following is a concise statement of the commerce of Waukegan, with the names of some of the leading articles both of import and export: