LESSON XII CITIES OF THE CENTRAL SECTION Most of the large cities in the central part of the country are either on the shores of the Great Lakes or along the rivers. Chicago The largest of the cities in this section is Chicago. It is the second largest city in the United States. It is located on Lake Michigan, near its southern end, in the state of Illinois. Chicago is a great railroad center. Nearly all the railroads across the northwestern part of the country begin or end at Chicago. It is in the center of the section where great quantities of grain and livestock are raised. The Chicago stockyards where cattle, sheep, and hogs are sold to the meat-packing companies, are enormous. Lumber and iron ore are brought on the lakes from the north. Thus Chicago has become the greatest railroad center, the greatest grain market, the greatest meat-packing center, and the greatest lumber market in the world. Detroit Detroit is a French word meaning "strait." Detroit is in Michigan on the Great Lakes water route at a place where all vessels going east and west must pass. It is also a railroad center. Therefore, much shipping is done. Detroit is noted for the manufacture of railway and street cars. It is the center of the automobile industry. Automobiles and trucks made in Detroit are sent all over the world. One plant turns out automobiles worth $40,000,000 each year. Milwaukee Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin. It is on the western side of Lake Michigan. Like Chicago it is a trading center for grain, lumber, and livestock. Great quantities of flour and machinery are manufactured in Milwaukee. It is especially known for dealing in hides and leather. Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio, is another lake port. It is situated near the coal fields. Much ore is handled and a large amount of machinery and hardware is manufactured. It has an important trade in lumber and grain. Many ships are built in Cleveland for commerce on the Great Lakes. St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri, has a favorable location. It is on the west bank of the Mississippi River near the mouth of the Missouri River. It is near the center of the great Mississippi Valley, and can easily be reached by boat from the north, south, east, and west. It is an important shipping point by rail as well as by water. St. Louis deals largely in grain, livestock, cotton, and tobacco. Large quantities of flour, iron, and steel, railway and street cars, clothing, boots, and shoes are manufactured here. Cincinnati Cincinnati is one of the largest cities in the valley of the Ohio River. It has several railroad connections, and a good water front. It is an important manufacturing center. Pottery, machinery, and clothing are its chief products. Minneapolis and St. Paul Farther north on the Mississippi River are Minneapolis and St. Paul, the "Twin Cities of the Northwest." They are in Minnesota, and are only a few miles apart. They are important trading centers for a large surrounding country. Minneapolis is situated on the Falls of St. Anthony and in the center of the wheat region. This has caused it to become one of the greatest flourproducing cities in the world. St. Paul, although it has not the advantages for manufacturing that Minneapolis has, carries on an immense trade with the farming regions and the east and south. Other Cities of the Central States Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana. It is a trade center, and is the largest city in the country not situated near a navigable lake or river. Kansas City, in Missouri, and Omaha, in Nebraska, are on the Missouri River. They are near the ranching regions where large herds of cattle and sheep are raised, and have become livestock and meat-packing centers. Columbus is a railroad and trade center in Ohio. Questions and Topics for Discussion What is the largest city in the Central States? Locate Chicago. How does Chicago compare with the other cities of our country? Give four reasons for its growth. Where is Detroit? For what is Detroit noted? Name other manufactures of Detroit. Locate Milwaukee; what is manufactured in Milwaukee? What trade is carried on? Tell what you know of Cleveland. Describe St. Louis. What makes St. Louis an important shipping point? What is manufactured there? What advantage has Cincinnati? What are its chief products? Describe Minneapolis and St. Paul. Why are they called the "Twin Cities of the Northwest"? For what is Minneapolis noted? Why have these cities become important trading centers? For what are Kansas City and Omaha noted? LESSON XIII THE WESTERN SECTION In 1849 gold was discovered in California. When the news reached the East it caused great excitement. Thousands of people left their farms, factories, and homes in a mad rush for the Pacific coast. So many people went west in the search for gold that California gained enough population to be admitted to the Union as a state in 1850. Railroads were built in the passes across the mountains, and settlements sprang up in the places where gold was found. Since then the entire region has been settled. Manufacturing, farming, lumbering, and stock raising are now carried on, as well as mining. The western part of the United States is noted for its wonderful scenery. It is entirely unlike the plains of the Central Section, and consists almost wholly of plateaus and mountains. The Rocky Mountain ranges extend across the country |