Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-04-11

eventually become the most important
links In the grand chain that surrounds
the whole.
The Ohio is too well known TO require
particular description. II may not be
improper to remark, however, that the
country on its banks generally is subject
TO occasional inundations, owing 10 ex-
cessive floods wh.c0 annually prevail III
the river.
The Mississippi and Illinois differ ma
teriaiy with the Ohio, as also with most
other rivers falling into the Mississippi,
in regard 10 the width oi the valleys thro'
which they flow, and the heights TO which
the water rises in fine OF foods. The
valleys of these rivers are much broader
than that OF tie Ohio, ano greater extent
OF The adjacent country is consequently
inundated i'll time oFhigh water. The
Whole body OF the vaicr passing Between
the banks of the Ohio, is lii many places
compressed into comparatively narrow
channel, which gives occasion io a range
Ut nearly 90 feet, from extreme low to ex-
,.eme ti, ID water. The waters OF the Mis-
sissppi and Illinois are allowedto expand
over In If yallies TO such degree that the
range is usually between y and 20 feet
seldom more than 20.
The Mississippi, particularly, after re-
CeIying the waters Of the Illinois, mran-
ders tllrougha very broad valley, varying
III width from 80 2 o. II miles. lis val
lev is bounded on both sides by high
bluffs, which iii some places are abrupt
and precipitous III oil ers, Of more
gentle acclivity. IN the bluffs along The
sides ofthe valley Observation-Disclosures ufstone
frequently present themselves, stretching
many miles in nearly straight direction
These strata are generally cleft Perpen-
dicularly Ia The he5gl,t ui,io, 90, and s0nie-
times 100 feet; and exhibit evident signs
OF having been once washed by a torrent
of wafer to much greater elevation than
the river at present ever acquires. These
perpendicular heights are, m many places,
separated from the bed Of the river bv ex-
tensNe tracts fprairie and bottom land.
which are themselves considerably above
high wafer mark.
The Mississippi, after receiving the
Missouri, suffers very material change
Of character. Above tile Missouri its cur
rent is moderate, lis water liquid, and its
channel for the hiosi part sfafionary.-
Below, the Mississippi partakes ofihe cha
acier OF the Missouri: 1t has rapid cur
rent, continually encroa hing upon lis
banks, upon one side or the other; lis
waters are muddy, and its channel is
perpetuailv changing iis position.
The Illinois is formed bv the union of
tlIree considerable rIvers-thc dcS Planes,
tie DePage and tile Kankakee the last
of which is nearly double the size of eth
er ofthe two former. The Illinois is a.
bout 500 miles in length, and is Of varia-
bic widths, from 20 yards 10 one mile. 1t
has avery moderate current, and a depth
ofwater suflicientto rcnder il na,igablc at
all times for boats of considerable bur
aln.,.rt ~ H.
the mouth OF the VermilIon, there are ra-
pids perceivaiie only in the lower stages
OF the water. Further up, .he wafer is not
generally so deep as il is below the Yer
million.
The valley of the Illinois varies in its
width from to l0nIiles-is generally fat
ana marshy, and for the most part sub
Iect TO lnundailnnS, when the river las 10
more than medal height. I'm some parts
OF II, however, prairies and bottoms
OF considerable extent are To he met
with, elevated much above high wa
iermark. In ascending theriver, the bluffs
gradually decrease in height being a
bout 100 fret high at the mouth, ami "a
bout 100 at the head of the river In
Guided IN the butts are strata Of lone stone,
slate and coal, which occasionally make
Their appearance along the surface oi the
| The river DIES Planes is a small stream
rising In the low lands bordering ,,pon w. e
west side of Lake Michigan, and has It's
| general course in south westerly direc-
| ton. The valley of this river has an ave
rage width of about one mile, and is ter
minated on both sides by regular banks
nearly parallel TO each other, cxtcndirr
| along the river about 80 miles from the
head of the Illinois. In ascending This
river, also, the banks or bluffs gradually
decrease in height being, as before men
Toned, about 100 feet high at the mouth,
and only 90 or % at lie distance of ed
mules higher up The river, where. instead
OF maintaining allcIdirection. thcy
form nearly right angles with The course OF
the rIver--tliat on the right taking an
easieriy, AID that on the left a north wes-
terly, course; but being gradually inflec-
ted from these courses, they form an ex-
tenslye curve, enciFclinga large tract of fiat
prairie, IN no part elevated more fhan ~
| or Ii fect above tlIe common level of the
water IN this vicinity. The river, through
Out The above mentioned distance, las
four or five short rapids or rippIes. that
make Their appearance only I'M times Of
very low water. IN every other part. ii
tias tie appearance of being p Chain OF
| stagnant pools and small lakes, afiordinn
sufilcient depth Of water for boats OF
moderate draught.
In tie flat prairie above mcntioned is