CLEVELAND,

The second city of the State, is situated in Cuyahoga county, on the southern shore of Lake Erie, at the mouth of Cuyahoga River, 135 miles east-northeast of Columbus, 255 miles northeast of Cincinnati, and 195 miles by water southwest of Buffalo.

The city is beautifully located on an elevated gravelly plain overlooking the lake, at an elevation of from 60 to 100 feet above it. The Cuyahoga River flows through the city, its tortuous course adding to the picturesque character of the scenery and affording an excellent harbor for several miles. From various points excellent views are obtained of the lake, which in summer seems a shoreless sea studded with the white sails of vessels, and in the winter resembles the Arctic Ocean, being a vast solitude of ice.

Cleveland is justly considered one of the handsomest American cities. It is regularly laid off, the streets, with a few exceptions, intersecting each other at right-angles. They are generally from 80 to 120 feet wide, and are so thickly shaded with maple trees-with the exception of the heavy business streets--that Cleveland has been named "The Forest City." In the centre of the city is a handsome public square of 10 acres, in which stands a marble statue of Commodore Perry, the hero of Lake Erie. The Nicholson or wooden pavement is used on all the principal streets. Superior street is the principal shopping thoroughfare, and contains the hotels. River and Merwin streets, on the east bank of the river, are the heavy business. streets; and Euclid and Prospect streets are the favorite localities for residence. They are beautiful avenues, and are lined with handsome dwellings.

The principal public buildings are, the United States Building, containing the Custom House, Post Office, and United States Court; the United States Marine Hospital; the County Court House; the City Police Court and Prison, and the County Jail. These are built of stone. The public schools of Cleveland have long been noted for their excellence. There are about 74 in all, including 2 high schools. Besides these, there are a number of private schools and seminaries in the city. The principal establishments of the higher class are, the Cleveland Medical College, Charity Hospital Medical College, and the Homœopathic Medical College, all of which are flourishing institutions. The Cleveland Library Association possesses a fine library, and holds an annual course of lectures.

There are about 32 benevolent societies in the city. The principal establishments are, the United States Marine Hospital; the Cleveland Orphan Asylum; 3 Roman Catholic orphan asylums; the Home of the Friendless (Episcopal); the City Infirmary; the House of Refuge; the Charity Hospital.

Fourteen newspapers, 5 of which are daily, and 9 magazines, are published in Cleveland. The city contains about 43 churches, and 7 hotels. It is lighted with gas and is supplied with water, which is forced by steam from Lake Erie into an elevated reservoir, from which it is distributed through the city. It is provided with an efficient police force, a police and fire alarm telegraph, a steam fire-engine department, and a system of street railways. It is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 92,846.

The position of Cleveland on Lake Erie has placed it in possession of an important trade. It is next to Buffalo the most important port on the lake. The harbor is good, and has been greatly improved by the United States Government. During the season of navigation daily lines of passenger steamers ply between Cleveland and the Lake Superior ports, and about 20 lines of steam propellers maintain a busy trade with the principal towns on all the great lakes. There is direct communication between Cleveland and Liverpool, England, by

sailing vessels, via the lakes, the Welland Canal and the St. Lawrence. The lake trade is very large and valuable, and is increasing. The Ohio Canal connects the lake with the Ohio River at Portsmouth, and, by means of a branch at Beaver, seven lines of railway, one leading direct to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, connect the city with all parts of the Union. These have added greatly to its trade. The lake trade alone is estimated at about $225,000,000 per annum.

Cleveland is largely engaged in ship-building. Many vessels have been constructed here for ocean service as well as for the lake trade. The manufactures of the city are growing rapidly. It is especially favored in this respect, owing to its proximity to the coal fields, its daily receipts from the mines, and its great facilities for distributing its products over the country. Iron, machinery, nails, copper, wooden ware, paper, furniture, woollen goods, flour, oil, and beer are the principal articles. The surrounding country is the famous Western Reserve, one of the richest dairy regions in the West, and its products find a market in this city.

Cleveland was the first settlement within the limits of Cuyahoga county. It was laid out in October, 1796, and was named in honor of General Moses Cleveland, a native of Connecticut. In 1836, it was incorporated as a city. In 1840, it contained but 6071 inhabitants.

DAYTON,

The fourth city of the State, is situated in Montgomery county, on the eastern bank of the Great Miami River, at the mouth of the Mad River, 67 miles west-by-south of Columbus, 52 miles north-northeast of Cincinnati, and 460 miles west-by-north of Washington.

Dayton is a noticeably handsome city. It is regularly laid out, with streets 100 feet wide crossing each other at right-angles. The public buildings are elegant, and great taste has been displayed in the construction of the private residences. The County Court House is built of pure white marble, and its architecture is somewhat in the style of the Parthenon. It is said to be the most elegant structure of its class in the western States.

The city contains over 34 churches, a public library, several hotels, 8 public and several private schools, and 4 newspaper offices. It is lighted with gas, and supplied with water. It is provided with a police force and steam fire department, and is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 32,579.

Seven railways centre at Dayton. The city is one of the most im

portant manufacturing towns in the West. There is abundant waterpower, which is derived from the waters of the Mad River, brought into the city by means of a hydraulic canal. The manufactures consist principally of railroad equipments, iron ware, paper, cotton and woollen fabrics, etc.

The city is the seat of the Southern Lunatic Asylum of Ohio.

Dayton was settled on the 1st of April, 1796. In 1805, it was incorporated. It grew slowly, however, until the close of the war of 1812.

TOLEDO,

The fifth city of the State, is situated in Lucas county, on the western bank of the Maumee River, 4 miles from its mouth, and 10 miles. from Lake Erie. It is 134 miles northwest of Columbus, 100 miles west of Cleveland, and 246 miles northeast of Cincinnati.

The city lies on an elevated plain. It is regularly laid out, but is indifferently built. The principal buildings are the Public School houses and the churches. The site of the city was unhealthy, until within the last ten years; but it is now said to be as healthy as any city on the lake. The city contains about 20 churches, several public and private schools, 4 newspaper offices, and a hotel. It is lighted with gas, is supplied with water by means of artesian wells; possesses a system of street railways, and a steam fire department; and is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 28,546. Toledo is just entering upon its manufacturing career, and offers

great inducements to capitalists. Wooden ware, iron, flax, tobacco, flour, cotton fabrics, and chandlery are made here in small quantities. It is an important commercial city, however. It has railway connections with all parts of the State and Union, and the river furnishes a safe and commodious harbor for vessels navigating the lakes. It is the northern terminus of the Miami and Erie Canal, which, starting from Cincinnati, traverses the fertile valleys of the Miami and Maumee. The Wabash and Erie Canal connects it with Evansville, Ind., on the Ohio River, traversing in its course the valley of the Wabash. The lake, the canals and the railways annually pour a large and growing trade into the lap of Toledo. The city is an important grain and timber market, and is destined to become of greater importance with the development of the surrounding country. Several grain elevators are in operation along the harbor.

Toledo covers the site of a stockade fort, called Fort Industry, built in 1800, near what is now Summit street. It was originally divided into two settlements, Vistula and Port Lawrence, both of which languished till about the year 1833. In 1836, the two villages were united in one corporation as the city of Toledo. The completion of the canals, about the year 1845, marks the beginning of its commercial importance; since which time, it has grown with great rapidity in population and in wealth.

SANDUSKY,

The sixth city of the State, is situated in Erie county, on the southern shore of Sandusky Bay, 5 miles from Lake Erie, 110 miles north-byeast of Columbus, and 210 miles north-northeast of Cincinnati.

The ground on which the city is built rises as it recedes from the lake, and commands extensive and charming views of it. It is regularly laid out, with wide streets shaded with trees, intersecting each other at right-angles. A handsome public square occupies the centre of the city; and around it stand the principal churches. The city is well built, many of the buildings being constructed of a fine limestone, taken from the inexhaustible bed of this stone on which the city is built. Large quantities of this stone are exported.

There are in Sandusky about 18 churches, several schools, several newspaper offices, and 2 hotels. The city is lighted with gas, and is supplied with water. It is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 13,000.

Sandusky is engaged in manufactures to a limited extent. It is