Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-06-04

pamies in which the latter will be exter-
m mated ; aud will produce a revolution
=. the East lndiaira,e bv which the tea
anud silk oi China, and ih- gold and silver
Of eastern Asia NIL enter the valley OF the
Mississippi by The direct route oi the
Columbia anil Missouri, rivers: revoiu-
ton which will make 81. Louis the Mem.
pins OF The American Nile; winch will be
followed by coo,nercial consequences
equal 10 those Which followed the discov-
cry Of the Cape of Good Hope; and by
moral effects beyond comprehension, as
no man can divine The consequences of a
close neighborhood aud intimate corres-'
pnndence between America aud Asia.-
But the interpretations of an American
Far Company Is a delicate subject, and
REQUIRES The guidance OF Il masters hand
10 prevent It's whole power and influence
from going 10 the British whose numerous
emissa,ies wiil be on the watch I'D monOp-
Objects stock. 10.
w. have had iae satisfaction TO obtain
from Messrs. Phillips and Graham IA CO.
nv of their report 10 The Secretary OF
War lpon the praciicabillty OF canal com-
uuuiratious between the lake Michigan cS
the Illinois river. II Is published IN tins
davis paper, and we hope Will have the
effect of exciting the American statesman
10 finish the great work winch nature has
almos, accomplished III that place. The
ground between the lake aud the river
+ within the limits Of The slate OF Illinois,
but the disposition Of the soil belongs TO
tbr ILn,ed States. The lRdian title be-
ING .xtiugushed, The next thing is TO sur
vey and sell the land. But wouli il not
he riubt for the Uniied States TO open The
canal first and Eeli The lands a!ierw ards +!
4 town scite also selected and sold
out m lots might be part OF the Uaiional
policy. The objection thai this would be
dioying a canal in the wilderness, would
moi lie :: for New YORK and New Orleans
are not wilderuesses, and II Is these cities
and all between WHICH require tins canal
In fact the CGAai CLINTON t.or by that name
uos,er,y Will call iV will have but hall ITS
value unli the Michigan ana ILLINOIS, are
united. ANS while the Havana belongs
to foreign power, We can only nope ~
lime of war To communicate between
New York and New Orleans 10y This route.
Inamercaniile point Of view ttor there are
some politicians who can decide no ques.
tions witliou, taking IL into the c@mpting
housed il would be better tnr The United
States lo opcn The canal FIRST, and sell
I'm, ground afterwards. The difference
in HE urice would certainty pay for the
canal. and leave proiii to The GOVERN
meni. Town lots, in tins age OF Town ma
King. would also have their attractions
Merchants and statesmen would see IN
This ooiu, The Bysantiun, o! North Ameri
ca. n CITY which, commanding lie outlet
from The northern SEAS INTO tile val ey OF
the Mississippi, Is tn have prodiSious
influence ia future itmes upon me com
MERGE and the policy vi tins great repub-
lie.
This interesting report confirms fact
well known in this country, but hardly
credited in the atlantic states, to lct, thai
vessels now pass ~ high water between
TIE Illinois and Michigan and states
that which has not before been seen in
print; 10 wit, that the waters OF the lake
are driven bv the eastern Wind across the
portage into the Illinois river, and hence
to tn gulf of Mexico! This astonishing
fact is given y gentlemen whose iniorma-
ton was obtained on the spot and whose
crrdil is above suspicion.
Here follows The report
SIR,
In addition 10 the notes Of Mr.. Sul!i-
van The Surveyor, which describe Tie
face Of The country over which The lines
acre run, We beg leave To Suggest some
views which 0ccurred 10 us sn HE sub
lcct of communication between The river
Illinois and-ihe Michigan lake.
By reference TO the map herewith tor
>warded il will be seen that the little river
Piein coming from the northwest APP
breaches within ten miles and quarter
of lake Michigan, and then bending 10
the south wesi uuIies with the 1heahtE' AT
The distance Of about tity miles, ana
forms The river Illinois. The country be-
tween the lake aud Tie Plein al this point
of approach is prairie (naiural meadow
ni,hou, trees, covered with grass, and TO
the eve a perfect level. From the bank
OF The Piein, standing on the ground, tn !.
trees are distinctly seen, with the make
eve al Fort Dearborn, on HE shore OF ne
lake: from Fort Dearborn they are III f<t
manner seen OH The bank ct the Pfe' a.
Standing on any intermediate pom be-
tween the lake and the river, All 4 The
Judgment is al IA loss 10 say To whIc side
the ground declines and whether The ie-
vel of the Piein or the lake Is the highest.
II was however determined tron cert3in
data tina, the level Of the river was iSo
feet or liereab nuts. above the level Of lAe
lake. From this view il would seem that
the cutting of a canal in flis place be
tween the PieiH and the lIhe would be a
work Of neither skill, difficulty, or ex
pence. Small however, as The labor
would be under Ibis view, il is still dimi-
nished upon closer examination aud
bv finding that an arm OF The lake called
Chicago puts out III the direction Of the
Plein, and that an arm of tie Ptein also
called Chicago, puts ort in The direction
OF the lake. they approach within two
miles of each other so That in common
water there is only dry ground I" that ex.
tent between thgm.-Ihe character Of
their two arms Is essentially different !;
that OF the lake being about 60 feet wide
and from 10 10 feet deep; that of the
river bring i'm hjgh water from tO feet