The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-07-18

IN SOVtIuIlitut Has ulduG
some inadequate appropriations for i'm
proving this navigation, and some of the
ledge has been removed. We shall no
doubt give them loud call to make thor.
ough work Of it, and remove SO much as
TO make the passage over these rapids safe
and commodious for all boats navigating
the upper Mississippi. The wealth that
goes down over them requires it. The
wants Of the population crowding I'LL
nois, Iowa and Wisconsin above them on
both sides will require it: and it r,ust be
done.
l stated the principal source Of the Mis-
slssippi to be in lake Winnipeg. Some
geographers give the name Winnipeg to
different body of water being a large
lake into which Red river flows. From
thence its course is 700 miles to the falls.
For 500 miles below the falls it has banks
gradually descending to the stream and a
handsome landscape. Below this the Dor
der of the river is deformed by low bot
toms, and broken by szues, so called here,
which, before knew them, took to be
sloughs. But the word slue seems to be
rather corruption of sluice, by the same
whimsical mistake which puts shay for
chaise: a slue being narrow run by
which the water goes off at one side and
unites again with the stream; or it may be
applied to mean turning aside, correct
ly perhaps, though oddly, as it is applied
to a sled that slips off the track.
With the Missouri we have at present
less concern: its course being nowhere
within the settled parts of the territory.
The time may be not far however when
this will be the most important of the two
streams to US. You know that it is navi-
gable from an immense distance above It's
junction with the Mississippi, steam boats
having gone to the Yellow Stone: and
that its valley is more than double the ex
tent of the Mississippi above their juno
ton atiording an immense region in the
WEST, whence are yet to be drawn treas
ures of wealth hitherto unknown to the
enterprise of the country. 1t washes with
navigable wafer our whole western bor-
der; except a fraction of a degree at the
north. The current of this river is rapid,
being usually at its height or 5 miles an
hour, which makes it difficult of ascent
except by means Of steam.
The Des MONIES is a beautiful river
running on a rock bottom and nowhere
overlooking its banks. 1t runs through
the most populous part Of the territory,
and is navigable in two broken portions
the aggregate of which exceeds one hum
dred miles. With some Improvements
that are feasible it may afford uninterrupt-
ed navigation for $50 miles or more.
The Cedar river has rapids in Linn
county about 100 miles from the Missis-
sippi, to which point it is supposed to be
navigable. 1t is broad stream, and few
weeks from writing this had ten feet Of
water in depth; but with sandy bottom,
liable to be INSTRUCTED with bars.
These two streams are the only ones
in the settled part Of the territory, whose
course is wholly within it, that are consid-
cred navigaole to any considerable extent
for steam boats. Probably the large riv-
ers in the northern and western parts how
ever are navigable. For description Of
them / refer you to the published &C.
counts of travellers. But the territory is
watered by great many smaller streams
some of which [ have before named which
furnish good water power for mills. The
northern portion is also finely diversified
with lakes which afford some of the mos
/ splendid lake scenery in the known world
They are Lake Pipin, Lac quiparle, Big
stone, Elk Buffalo, Ottertail, Itasca, Plan
tagenet, Cass, Leech, Winnipeg, Turtle
Red, Lake of the Woods, Pembina, Devil
and innumerable smaller lakes and ponds
unnamed.
/
The whole extent OF navigable water
in this territory not including lakes vii
at the lowest estimate exceed twenty five
! hundred miles:
Mississippi GOO
Missouri (about) 1900
Des i..oines $50
! Iowa and, Cedar 100
To which add for all others
1 includingSt Peters, Red
and James, 500 at least
j s570
yT,4or. ~ ,,,4 fro,,, Nv moss orr limit