Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-10-13
01NNrUXIOA! EIONSo


Mcssrs Editors:-!n nv last commanicai ion,
furnished You with synopsis Of merely Wayne
County, since which, | have determined upon
MAKING an effort to present the public with a brief
sketch OF a much greater extent of country in
the prosecution of which l will have become in
oeoteo 10 Samuel Cummings, a scientific gentle
man OF the city of Philadelphia, for MANY valua-
pie statistical facts, and such as are appropriate
nave taken the liberty to incorporate in these
structures. deem II proper, also, to inform the
reader In advance, the source from which have
been supplied with suitable data, in order to cs-
cape the charge OF plagiarism.
mere Is scarcely any subject within the reach
OF human thought, or iii the sphere of finite com
Prehenslon. that affords more nipple materials To
excite IN the mind greater variety OF pleasing e.
motions; or which Is calculated I" feast the i'm
ag'nation to greater extent than the one OF
which we are about to take cursory view
merely an outline of a subject which would
qnire a portion of time much greater than my
leisure moments would with propriety admit
'hoeed Its elements are so extensively interviewer
WIN the wants and interests of society, thai their
oeVeioPements to that extent of which thew are
susceptible would prove prolific source from
which the erudite pensman might write volumes
upon the subjects Of Geology, Mineralogy, and the
Inexhaustible variety which the study of The
science of Ply tology would yied.
The subject then is no less than a descriptive
view of that portion of the Western Continent,
which IS partially circumscribed by the grand and
Immutabe boundaries of nature, the gigantic
ranges Of the Corderas and Appalachian noun
tains. The former of these describe the Western
! and the latter the Eastern verge. Their position
regards each other forms nearly a right angie
This extensive district of country possesses base
reposing on the guph of Mexico, between paral-
lels Of Latitude % and 81 deg. extend north,
spreading its crescent lap to such expansive de-
gree the angles of those range of mountains
would at once Indicate, until it presents I'M
Z along q n
chain Of Lakes, which stretch as far north Lat.
/ AZ deg. Its mean length which is about in Lat.
40, is not less than ZOO, and it. width 800
statute miles, embracing near 30 deg. of Latitude
and % OF Longitude, and includes an area of one
million eight hundred thousand square miles Of
surface equal to eleven hundre millions of acres
The greatest depression of this basin formed tract
- found to be at that point where the plane is
traversed by the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers,
which divide it into unequal proportions, the
greater Of which lies on the Western side
This extensive district of country is perhaps
unequalicd both regards the fertility of the soil,
the salubrity OF its climate, in the length.
Der, and volume OF ITS rivers, Ut We except the
Amazon of South Amerca.) in the known world.
What vast field is here presented to view,
and one upon which we might speculate al infni-
tam. What an immense sphere for action. a
magnificent theatre upon which millions Of hu-
man beings destined to perform their part and
''f the niche that each was ordained to fill,'' hut
which has only commenced being peopled tn
vized society. Its surface, at the present time
exhibits great void, in comparison with the as
pcct which it will present at the period of its
having become densely populated. a few spots
only upon its varigated surface, which to any very
considerable extent -L-i--- y. - - -
| Tnere many districts which have, however,
become popuious by recent adventurers, but how
sparsely, compared with that OF which they ;re
susceptible. Some of those divisions contain h,,
a thousandth part Of population they caIs,-
BILE of sustaining, aud these embrace not more than
one third part of the whole region. The picture
before is one which presents a scene anala
gous to the dawning OF cloudless morn, after q
> night which exhibited nought but the continue
> Of elements and the clash of discordant sounds
echoed throughout the dark abyss of unseem!i
ness-the king of the day he gradually advan
ces from beneath the eastern horizon, dspels viii
his reftIlgent beams all the dreiui features an,
e the morose appearances of nature, by degrees a
e he ascends sheds ustre, and by his viviiyIng raw
u whole hemisphere IL lighted up. inspiring all L
e action that possess the vital spark, and by who's
II agency all the aspen features of nature sub
= dued. Thus, as regards the country which is tn
;, subject of these remarks, that after protracte
it night in which all the mental and much of tn
= physical powers experienced considerable deter
d Grafton. At last day has dawned and is no,
l, shedding its benign influence the face of ihi
once unrcgenerated on,and the ferocious lir
e eaments which the charac teristIcs of all
n tries, destitute ofcvized society, are graduali
e giving way to those of more noble and sublim
5. character Thus will the genius of the science
= like the sun, impel onward TO the zenithic poir
,, and infuse spri, of iaudabc enterprise, and
f. nance the value of intrinsic worth, bringing in,
Is requistion those latent germs of the moral an
E. physical world which only await the hand of tn
t. artist to give them life and usefulness.
l. THIS district Is amply provided with materia
c. for making great nation prosperous and ind
n pendent Its mineral wealth consists of irol
e, coal, lead, and copper ores, besides inexhausih
n fountains of the muriatc of soda, all of which al
n. articles Indispensable and enter largely into gel
'g eral use By all classes of society. As yet the:
q minerals deposits have been but partially expo
to ed. Still further Developments will be made
n these rich stores. the number of inhabitants i
g crease, and interests or avarce shall urge them
n search for hidden treasures Most of its surfas
I'd Is yet covered with dense forest, is occupit
I by extensive savannahs When they come
lie be reduced by the sturdy pioneers, and broug
Is into susceptible culture, it will be capable
lie sustaining population of one hundred millo
he What grand asylum is here presented TO We
as bright prospect on which the philan,hropist c;