OCT. 9 ISSUE ANSWERS: In 1837, Detroit had quite a port. There was a variety of ships available for immigrants who traveled to Detroit and up river to Mt. Clemens. This painting by William J. Bennett illustrates the possible collection of vessels. The primary route of immigration from New York to Michigan was across Lake Erie between Buffalo and Detroit. The water route was faster easier and safer. The trip across the lake in a sailing vessel took 3 to 4 days. Soon after 1822 more steam powered boats made the trip even faster. The United States, The Michigan, The Erie soon made the trip to Detroit by steam power. Passengers would be able to travel through Lake St. Clair (Mt. Clemens ports to Romeo), Lake Huron around the straits and arrive in Chicago by 1834. A description of a trip on the steamship Michigan was printed in the New York City paper The Evening Star in 1834: “I’ll not trouble you with reading, or myself writing, a minute description of this noble vessel, except so much as to say that, with two immensely powerful engines, promenade decks, enlivened with the finest music and most brilliant company, splendid cabins and state