Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-07-15
[rRoM NC roRrIco.l
FROM the rORrICo.
A Bid'S-epG rie'c Of the Missouri Territory.
In Il letter To the Editor.
ST. LOUIS, M. T.)

| The boundaries Of the Missouri Territory
| appear to have been defined by most geogra-
| Pliers, who have treated on t,e subject, in
very vague and unsatisfactory manner.
From the best Information / obtain, it is
] bounded on the south, bN an east aud west
| line, drawn on the latitude OF 81 dee North
| separating II from the State of Louisiana: on
| the East by the mississippi river on the North
| ny the British possessions, or according to
| somc, by the i5th deg. North latitude and on
/ the West nv ulcul;ivated regions extending TO
| the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
| Within this immense range, it is to be pre-
sumed, great varieties OF climate and soil will
| present themselves. The climate is think
more pieaSau than that of similar ATTITUDES i'm
| the Atlantic States. is to he Obsery ed how
ever, that III consequence OF the very open and
| level character Of the country; or from some
other cause, the variations OF temperature are
extremely sudden. From tltis fact il would
naturally 5e concluded. that Pulmonary Con
sumption would he common disease: hat il
reality, IT is extremely rare will, the native ia
habitanis nor rs il as common among the emf
grants, as have observed IL 10 be, in other
parts OF the United States. The genera! char
acter OF tie territory is healthy in the extreme
during the autumnal months, those who reside
on the water courses, or who are cnirapcd in
I navigating boats, are liable 10 be attacked by
bilious ana iBtermitting feyers but the seasons
| OF winter, spring aud summer. are rarely mark.
ed by tie occurrence ofany disease of a serious
character.
The large bodies OF open, or orairie land ION
inc borders OF which the farmer generally set
lies and SncioseS his fields cat off one fruitful
source Of disease in all new countries
For here, hei not. as in a thickiv liubered
country, surrounded for the first two or three
years, with an atmosphere heavily charged
with vegetable putreiactiOn; hut is as il were
IN the situation of person settling on an i'm,
proved estate.
10 the mind Of superficial observer, the
pr',pect OF me immense prairies. destitute at
timber. land loaded with the most luxuriant
crop of grass presents the idea that this dcs.
ciption of land can Rever be peopled: but as
those immense meadows were in the FIRST in
stance formed by the action of fire. so daily
experience proves, that nothing is requisite
to their being speedily covered with heavy
timber again, but that this fire should be kept
off. -
The upland of the territory has generally its
Ease on stratum OF lime stone, and is exceed
lnSiy fertile; the bottoms on the rivers. which
are commonly very extensive and well timber
ed, are composed OF the richest loam
Springs OF fine water are abundantn most
parts OF the country, and are generally strong
stone ~
The mineral riches of this country, are high.
y CeSeI, ~. u OF notice; and although we have
led the Spanish and French TO explore his re-
gon; sill we have not been disappointed in
hnd'nS that which is no doubt of much greater
iatl3ha' Importance, than silver gold, viz
ineAhauStl,ie beds CT lead and iron ore aud
lnNumerabie sources of the strongest salt wa.
ter lhe numerous caves, which exist in all
hnie stone countries, present us also with inn
meDse quantities of Salt petre. aud ti,rs no
ture seems - have rendered This countrv In
dependent OF the world, both in a tate OF peace
and war.
But although thus formed by nature. to
live in Il stale OF Chinese secn>ion from the
rest OF the wUTid-perlaps no inland portion
tages.
bounded rs we are, OH the east. by the Mis-.
sisSippi river, a constant and nninterrunteI
outlet Tor Surplus produce Is always offered
This enables the farmer here. to be in marker
at Orleans, long before those OF the States
bordering on the river Ohio, can leave home.
On the other hand, the illinois, and Oiscon
sing rivers, which empty into the Mississipp
above this, afford at many seasons of the wear
a direct communication with the chain of north
ern lakes.
The Mississippi and its waters. thus afford
a northern and southern outlet; the territory
is also pierced ny a lumber of the finest navi-
gable rivers.
To commence al the Southern extremity of
the territory, we first meet with the Arkansas
large, deep and gentle stream which affords
a navigation OF four or five hundred miles and
washes an excessive and fertile country: and
| one abounding IN Salt and other minerals So
much so, that the river, though large one is
| at point, some hundreds of miles above its
mouth, very strongly impregnated with Saline
and metalick substances
The general course of the Arkansas. Is mar.
| ly East.
The next stream of importance VIC meet
| with IS w hite River. This rs fine large course
| aiiOrding navigation of some hundred r.les
and after watering most valuable and fertile
district OF country, runs a South East course
and enters the Mississippi, near the month OF
the Arkansas, and is in fact connected with
| that river by Bayou a short distance from,
their entry into the Mississippi
We next come to the River ST. Francois
ms, although not so large a stream as either
OF the first mentioned, affords very considera-
BILE navigation. We meet with no other stream
of consequence after tlrs, for nearly two INN
dTed miles ~
The megrimac, then presents itself. This is
beautiful river abOnt two hundred wards
wide, and affords good navigation for Isrge
boats for some hundred miles. Tie Meyrimac
and ITS waters run through am extremely rich
mineral country. The finest banks Of Iron ore
are to be seen on IT, and on one Gifts branches.
the lead mines IN the county of Washineton
(now IN operalion) are situated.
The mcrTlmac emptes into the Mississippi
about ifteenmies below st. Louis.
We now approach river, which as well nm
account OF IFS length, depth, aud the rapidity
OF ITS current. as OF the fertile tract of country
which IL waters, is without parallel believe
IN the world. The Missouri, to which aIlnde
emptes into the Mississippi about thirty miles
above the Merriinac. It's breadth at the
mouth, and for many hundred miles above. is
between three fourths and half a mile It's
waters are well known to be Of a singular.
muddy nature, and IL Is this stream which i'm,
presses on tie Mississippi its characteristic
turbid and turbulent features: for prcyious ia
the junction of that river with the Missouri
itisavery remarkable, clear and gentle though
deep stream; resembling very much in its az.
pearauce the river Ohio.
The Missouri t1king its rise in the Rocky
Mountains, and running nearly an east course.
Is joined III IT'S progress, by an immense mum.
Der of FINE navigable streams; but ~ the settle
mrnts have not set proceeded higher up than
Grand River, il will be sufficient 10 mention
that river and tie Usage and GascOnade
They are all three large navi.able streams
the first coming IN from tic north, aud the two