DETROIT.

IN preceding chapters of this work, we have given the incidents connected with the history of Detroit more in detail than space will allow at this place. It is our purpose in this sketch to follow, very briefly, the outline of its history, and then to notice its growth, improvements and future prospects.

Established in 1701, by the French, Fort Detroit soon came into rivalry with its older and distant sister, Michilimackinac. Previous to the date mentioned, the latter place had been regarded as the central western outpost of New France, but the establishment of a fort and trading post on the Detroit river drew largely from that place. Its advantages in climate, government and the liberality of its commandant were all that was needed to divert the tide of settlement from Michilimackinac.

Three years after the establishment of Fort Detroit, the English influenced the Indians to set fire to the town, which was, however, but partially destroyed.

In 1712, the Fox Indians made a desperate attempt to destroy it, but after a bold and determined siege of nineteen days, they were repulsed with great loss.

In 1749, the settlement was extended by emigrants sent out at the expense of the French government, but the policy of the new commandant was such as to prevent the rapid growth of the town.

In 1763, Fort Detroit, with all Canada, was transferred to the British Crown. This change was not only distasteful to the French settlers at Detroit, but to the Indians in the surrounding country, who had learned to respect and love their brothers, the French." This savage dissatisfaction, goaded on by the French, resulted in what is known to history. as the Pontiac war, a full account of which has already been given in this work.

In 1796, the American army entered Detroit. The British had previously left the town, and their authority was thus peacefully transferred to the United States.

The Territory of Michigan was organized in 1805, at which date General William Hull was appointed its first Governor. He formed a government at Detroit, in July of that year. The town of Detroit had been entirely destroyed by fire a short time previous, and now advantage was

taken of this circumstance to widen the streets and lay out the future city on an entirely new and enlarged plan.

The growth of Detroit, for many years, depended on the fur trade and the disbursement of public moneys. There was yet needed that impulse which is only produced by the settlement of the surrounding country.

The old town of Detroit was situated a little west of the heart of the present city of Detroit and was built entirely of wood. The streets were narrow, and the place presented a rude, uninviting appearance.

Passing on from 1805 to 1815, we find the "new town" or city of Detroit considerably improved. It had one commodious dock, called the "public wharf." It consisted of a pier, formed by a crib of logs, filled in with stone and gravel. It was about one hundred and fifty feet from the shore, with which it was connected by a bridge, or plank-way. All vessels, whether public or private, were then accustomed to load and unload at this wharf. The rest of the water front was in a state of nature. A second wharf was built in 1826.

There were six or seven stores, for general business, in the town at this date, but not a vessel which then navigated the lakes was owned in Detroit.

The military grounds were occupied by Fort Shelby and the Infantry cantonment. This fort was erected in 1777, by Major Le Noult, the British commander, and was thrown down in 1827. The cantonment was built in 1815, occupying nearly the whole square between Fort Wayne, Lafayette and Cass' line. It consisted of a group of log buildings about one hundred feet long. The court room used in 1834 was, in 1820, used by the court-martial, and as the dancing hall of the can. tonment.

The city of Detroit was incorporated by an act passed by the Governor and judges, on the 4th of October, 1815. By this act the municipal authority was invested in five trustees, a secretary, an assessor, a collec. tor and a city marshal, who were to be chosen on the first day of May, annually, by the householders of the city, paying an annual rent of forty dollars.

General John R. Williams was elected the first mayor of Detroit, in 1824, and in 1836, the legislature passed an act extending the limits of the city. This opened the way for that influx of immigration and advancement of commercial enterprise which has made Detroit a great city.

Until 1827, Detroit was the only municipal corporation in the Territory of Michigan, and at that time it contained a population of about two thousand souls, which was about one-tenth of the population of the Ter ritory. Even at that late date, the city was but little else than a military and fur trading post. The inhabitants were principally native French, with a few families from the eastern States. Then only three or four

steamboats a week arrived in Detroit; now a craft of some nature passes it every six minutes on an average, and nearly all the steamers on the upper and lower lakes make it a stopping point. Then there were but four wharves at which vessels could unload; now its docks extend for miles on the river front. Then there were but three turnpike roads leading from Detroit; now there are plank roads and railroads in almost every

direction. Then the eastern mail arrived once a week; now we have four mails from that quarter daily, and the telegraph wires extend to all points in America and Europe. The latter means of communication was opened to Detroiters on the first day of March, 1848.

Among those institutions whose growth has rendered Detroit famous in the nation, may justly be mentioned the public schools. It is true that the schools of Detroit-where every child in the city can obtain the elements of a good English education free of charge-are the pride and boast of the city. The free public schools were first established in 1842. But little interest had been manifested in the subject of education previous to this date, and the citizens of Detroit are indebted to Dr. Zina

Pitcher for the first step towards establishing a general system of education. While mayor, in 1841, he called the attention of the common council to the great need of public schools in the city; and a report was subsequently made to that body, showing that there were twenty-seven English schools, one French and one German school. The whole number of pupils reported was about seven hundred, while there were over two thousand children of school-age in the city.

Measures were then taken for the establishment of common schools, and, in a short time, seven new schools were opened. In 1842, the Legislature passed an act incorporating the schools of the city into one district, under the charge of the Board of Education of the city of Detroit. Since that date, this board has had the management of the school system, which, to the credit of its several members, is one of the most efficient in the United States.

The first house for public worship erected in Detroit, was built by the Roman Catholics, in 1723. This building stood on the present site of Jefferson avenue, and directly opposite the Masonic Hall. It was, of course, destroyed by the fire of 1805. The Cathedral of St. Ann was commenced in 1817, by the Rev. Gabriel Richard, but was not completed until 1832.

The Methodists organized a society in Detroit in 1812, and the Episcopal society was organized in 1824. The first Presbyterian church was organized in 1825, and the society erected a church on the corner of Woodward avenue and Larned street as early as 1826. This building was destroyed by fire in 1854.

The Second Presbyterian church was organized in 1849, with the Rev. R. R. Kellogg as pastor. The membership of this church then consisted of only twenty-six members. Public worship was held in the old capitol building until April 7, 1850, when the society took possesion of their new edifice, on the corner of Lafayette and Wayne streets. There they continued until November 18, 1855, when they removed to their present place of worship, with one hundred and sixty-seven members.

In the month of February of the same year, Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, then of Waterford, New York, was called to the vacant pastorate, which he still (1873) occupies.

In the spring of 1860, it was determined by the trustees to go forward with sundry extensive improvements upon the church edifice, long contemplated, and felt to be essential to the completion of the original design. The work was begun in July, 1870, and completed within the year, the re-opening and re-dedication services being held January 1st, 1871.

From corner stone to cornice, the whole building was remodeled and refitted, especially as to its interior, furnished with black walnut pews and pulpit and a crescent gallery, and also with carpets and cushions.