After the treaty of 1815, the State grew with unparalleled rapidity. We have already shown the condition of Ohio at present, and can add nothing to the simple statement that this great and flourishing commonwealth but little more than half a century ago was "a howling wilderness."

During the Rebellion this state contributed 317,133 men to the service of the United States.

CITIES AND TOWNS.

Besides the capital, the principal cities and towns of Ohio are, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo City, Zanesville, Sandusky, Chillicothe, Hamilton, Springfield, Portsmouth, Steubenville, Brooklyn, Newark, Xenia, Piqua, Mansfield, Circleville, Marietta, Lancaster City, Mount Vernon, and Canton.

COLUMBUS,

The capital and third city of the State, is situated in Franklin county, on the east bank of the Scioto River, 90 miles from its mouth, 120 miles northeast of Cincinnati, and 350 miles northwest of Washington. Latitude 39° 57' N.; longitude 83° 3′ W.

The land on which the city is built rises gradually from the river, and the streets are laid out at right-angles. Broad street extends from the river along the National Road to the east of the city, and is 120 feet wide; and High street, 100 feet wide, crosses Broad at right-angles. This is the principal business street. At the intersection of the two thoroughfares is a handsome public square of 10 acres. The streets are shaded with trees, and are well paved. Street railways connect the various points of the corporate limits. The city is well built, and many of the buildings are handsome and spacious.

The State Capitol stands in the centre of the public square. It is a splendid edifice, 304 feet long by 184 feet wide. It is built of a fine white limestone resembling marble. The interior decorations are very fine. The State Penitentiary is located immediately upon the bank of the river, and is built of Ohio marble. It is one of the most imposing structures in the State. The State Institution for the Blind, the Ohio Lunatic Asylum, and the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, are handsome buildings.

The city contains a number of public and private schools. The Starling Medical College is a flourishing institution. The Lutheran Church has a theological seminary here. There are about 26 churches and several newspaper offices in Columbus. The city is lighted with gas and is supplied with pure water. It is governed by a Mayor and Council. It is one of the principal railway centres of the State, and is the seat of a large and active trade with the surrounding country. In 1870, the population was 33,745.

In 1812, Columbus was selected as the site of the State capital. At this time it was a wilderness, but it grew rapidly from the first, but was still a small inland village when the State Government was removed to it in 1816. In 1820, it had 1400 inhabitants. The completion of the National Road to the city brought it into more direct communication with the rest of the country, and greatly accelerated its growth.

CINCINNATI,

The metropolis of the State, is situated in Hamilton county, on the right or northern bank of the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the Licking River. It is 120 miles southwest of Columbus, 476 miles by water from Pittsburg, 529 miles from the mouth of the Ohio, 1520 miles from New Orleans, 280 miles southeast of Chicago, and 610 miles. west of Washington. It is the eighth city in respect of population in the United States, and the third city in the West.

The city is beautifully located. It is in the centre of a lovely valley, surrounded by hills. It occupies the whole of the first and second planes above the Ohio River, and extends over the greater part of the third, or still higher elevations of Mount Adams, Mount Auburn, Mount Washington, etc. The first of these planes or tables, called "the bottom," is at an elevation of 50 feet above low-water mark; the second, called “the hill," about 60 feet higher, and is densely built upon, being the thickest settled portion of the city. Above this are the hills of Mount Auburn, etc., 200 feet higher. Viewed from one of these last hills, the city appears to occupy the centre of an immense basin, the view being in every direction terminated by swelling hills. The grade of these planes or terraces has for years been changing to conform to the general improvement of the city, and now affords the regular and facile ascent required by heavy draughts, as well as to permit the safe drainage of water from the upper terraces of the city.

The city is regularly laid out, the streets crossing each other at right-angles. They are generally about 66 feet in width; are well graded and paved, and are in many cases lined with beautiful shade trees. Those running east and west are denominated Water, Front, Columbia, Pearl, Third, Fourth, etc.; while those running north and south are named Broadway, Sycamore, Main, Walnut, Western Row, etc. Main street extends from the steamboat landing on the river northwardly to the northern bound of the second plane. The steamboat landing covers an open area of about 10 acres, with a frontage of 1000 feet. The shore is paved from low-water mark, and is provided with wharfboats or floating wharves, which rise and fall with the river; in the height of which there is a great variation, the mean annual range from high to low water being about 50 feet. Pearl street, parallel with the river, is the great jobbing mart. Fourth street is the "Fifth Avenue" of the town, a long, wide, elegant, fashionable promenade upon the crown of the First Terrace, following the course of the river. Fifth street contains the markets, and displays a scene of busy life through an extent of three or four miles.

Cincinnati is one of the best built cities in the country, and in its business portions especially will compare favorably with any American city. The improvement in this respect has been very marked during the last ten years. Many handsome residences lie within the city limits, and in the suburbs. The suburb of Clifton is one of the