TABLE SHOWING SOME OF THE LEADING ARTICLES OF IMPORT AND EXPORT AT CHICAGO AND THE AMOUNT OF EACH ARTICLE BY LAKE, CANAL, AND RAILROAD, RESPECTIVELY.

TRADE WITH CANADA. The value of articles imported into Chicago from Canada, during the year 1851 is $5,811 14. And the total amount of duties collected at this port on foreign merchandise, during the year was $2,353 23. The value of exports to Canada during the same time was $116,185 51. The arrivals from Canada were 7, and the clearances 13.

CITY IMPROVEMENTS. The improvements which have been erected in Chicago during the vear 1851, both as respects style and extent, very far surpass those of any previous year. The total number of buildings erected will not vary much from 1,000. A large number of spacious brick stores, from four to five stories in hight, are among them. The amount expended in building alone, cannot fall much, if any, short of $750,000.

Improvements of a public character have also been prosecuted with energy. Two miles and 3,688 feet of planking has been done upon streets and alleys, which, added to the amount previously completed, gives us 12.28 miles of planked streets and alleys. The cost of the year's planking was $9,213 64. Two miles and 2,987 feet of sewerage hås also been constructed during the year, at a cost of $8,907 55. The work of lake shore protection, in consequence of the unusual hight of water in the lake, had to be done over during the year, at a cost of about $12,000. Two public school houses have been erected and furnished at a cost of over $10,000. A market house in the North Division partially completed at a cost of $9,295. A city bridewell, at a cost of $2,851 21. A magnificent court house was also commenced, which will be completed during the ensuing season; it is being built of cut stone from Lockport, New York. The work of excavating the river has also been prosecuted to some extent during the year, giving more room for the large amount of shipping which, during the season of navigation, crowds the harbor.

Nothing was done during the year in the way of improving the entrance to the harbor, the unusual stage of water rendering it almost unnecessary. Something was done towards the erection of an iron light-house at the end of the north pier, but further appropriations from Congress are necessary to its completion.

RAILROADS. It is a significant fact of the times, that railroads have become essential to the prosperity of cities. It matters but little how great may be the natural advantages with respect to a location upon navigable water, if they fail to

avail themselves of this new element of power, a decline is inevitable. Chicago is fortunate in the first respect; the enterprise of her citizens and the necessities of Commerce and travel, are rendering her equally fortunate in the other. A brief notice of the various lines of road in progress and in contemplation will not be out of place in this connection.

THE GALENA AND CHICAGO ROAD is now completed to the distance of about eighty miles. It was originally designed to make Galena its western terminus; an arrangement has, however, been effected with the Illinois Central Railroad Company, by which it will connect with the Galena branch of that road at Freeport, by which means the former company gain access both to Galena and Dubuque. The history of this company is one which should be studied by all Western railroad companies, as it furnishes a forcible illustration of what perseverance, aided by judicious management, can accomplish in the face of obstacles seemingly insurmountable.

The company have declared a dividend of fifteen per cent on the net earnings of the road for the last fiscal year. In the meanwhile the road is being pushed forward as rapidly as possible, in order to reach Freeport by the time the Central Company shall have completed that portion of the Galena branch lying between Freeport and Dubuque.

THE ROCK ISLAND AND CHICAGO RAILROAD is completed six miles from Chicago, at which point it is intersected by the Michigan Southern Road. It is expected that the road will be completed to Joliet by the month of July, 1852, and at Rock Island will be reached in from two to three years.

THE CENTRAL MILITARY TRACT RAILROAD is to intersect the Chicago and Rock Island Road, some fifteen or twenty miles southwest of Peru, and taking a direction a little west of south, will run upon the table lands between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, passing through Galesburg, and possibly through Macomb and Augusta, to Clayton in Adams county, where it will intersect the Northern Cross Railroad from Quincy to Decatur. This road, from the point of intersection with the Rock Island and Chicago Road, to Galesburg, has recently been put under contract.

THE AURORA EXTENSION ROAD branches from the Galena and Chicago Road at Junction, thirty-three miles from Chicago, and is completed to Aurora, fourteen miles. It is to be continued about forty miles further, to intersect the Galena branch of the Central Road, some thirteen miles distant from La Salle.

THE BELOIT BRANCH ROAD is to be constructed by the Galena and Chicago Railroad Company, branching from their road, at a point not yet determined, and running direct to Beloit, in Wisconsin.

THE CHICAGO AND WISCONSIN ROAD, for which a charter was obtained at the last session of our State Legislature, is to run in a north-westerly direction from Chicago, via Woodstock, to Big-foot on the Wisconsin State line, and from thence to Janesville, where it will intersect the Rock River Valley Railroad, which runs from Fond du Lac on Lake Winnebago, down the valley of Rock River to Janesville.

THE CHICAGO, Milwaukee, anD GREEN BAY ROAD. Charters have been obtained from the Illinois and Wisconsin Legislatures, for a railroad between the above points; and measures are now on foot in both States, to organize companies for the purpose of carrying the object into execution.

CHICAGO BRANCH OF CENTRAL RAILROAD. Of all the railroads connected with Chicago, we anticipate the largest benefit from this one. It is to intersect the main stem in township two north, one west of the third principal meridian, in Clinton county, the entire rout being in almost a direct line from Chicago to Cairo. The company has recently disposed of four millions of its bonds, and will commence the construction of this branch immediately.

RAILROADS TO THE EAST. While we write we are listening for the shrill whistle which will announce the arrival of the cars of the Southern Michigan Railroad. It is probable that the Michigan Central will not be many weeks behind it. By means of these two roads, and their connections, the whole NorthEastern seaboard will be brought into railroad communication with Chicago.