The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-04-16
Our Western Region.


States, on the 23d Of February last:
Resolued, That the map Of the country
west of the Mississippi, made, under the
direction Of the War Department, by
J. N. Nicollet, and the report in reference
to the same, be printed for the use of
Congress, under the direction of the chief
of typographical engineers ; and that 200
copies thereof be delivered to the War
Department and to the bureau of topogra-
phical engineers for distribution, and 800
additional copies for the use of the senate.
Mr. WALKER said the report of Mr..
Nicolet and accompanying map of the
region of the Upper Mississippi, prepared
under the direction of congress, and the
supervision Of the department of war,
would be found among the most interest
ing, accurate, scientific, and instructive
ever made in this country. 1t common
ces at the city Of ST. Louis, as its south
eastern point of departure, and terminates
at our northern boundary. east of the
Rocky Mountains, extending from the
seth TO the 49th parallel Of north latitude,
and from 90 to 100 degrees Of longitude
west of Greenwich. Stretching from near
lake Superior on the east to the great
western bend Of The Missouri river on the
west, and embracing the entire basin of
the Upper Mississippi, it included a re-
gion more extensive than several Of the
largest states of the Union. 1t was a
most salubrous region, and unsurpassed
in beauty and fertility. In mineral wealth
it was unequaed in the world, and was
inlerspcrscd with timber prairie, and
many hundred lakes, BOZ, ssh and salt,
that might well challenge comparison
with those of any other country. This
survey embraced 245 geographical posi-
tons, deduced from more than ten thous-
and astronomical observations. An en-
larged system of barometrical observations
had been carried on for several years, in
which Mr.. Nicolet had been aided by
many scientific gentlemen and by these
means the Typographical features Of the
whole region, and the absolute elevation
above the sea, will be represented with
the greatest accuracy. The report will
represent the geology and botany of this
vast region-its vegetable and mineral re.
sources. The report and map will be
highly honorable to their unassuming
but able and scientific author, to the coun.
try by whom he has been employed, and
to the secretary of war, who, with SC
much zeal and energy, has pressed for.
ward this important work. The rivers
Mississippi and Missouri, for severa
thousand miles, are surveyed and define
|, ated with the greatest accuracy, with al
their physical features and incidents, their
, hills and valleys, their channels, shoal.
and sandbars, with the velocity of curren
and depth of water.
To the emlgrant, the farmer, the mer
chant, the navigator-to the Topographic
! and gcographer, the mineraIogsl and geo
: logist---lo the scholar and statesman, ant
to the whole country, this was a work o
i the highest importance. To the Ameri
can patriot also, whose love Of the Uniol
,! embraced his whole country and all it
o parts, this report and survey would afor
S abundant materials for delightful contem
}, plation and animated hope, in markin
the onward progress Of this great nation
n He would here, in this hitherto alInos
5 unexplored region of the west, behold
e country larger than any empire in En-
: rope, save one, where in few years wi
l. be three new states, among the larges
If and most fertile in the Unicn-Wiscor
c sin, Iowa, and another embracing tn
beautiful fountain lake near our norther
IS boundary, deinea,ed on this map, wher
y the great Mississippi commences il
re southern course to the gulf. AS mer
e. money question, the publication of ,h
e map and report would be most importai
i. in aid of the final settlement of the gre;
n subject OF selling our mineral lands, here
IN tofore referred by the senate to the con
{, mitt:c on public lands, and would, h
lie hoped, be decided upon at the next Sc
n, sion. Unless importan. Improvements
TT mining and smelling were introduces
N and the utmost facilities afforded in Il
he acquisition Of these lands, there was re
err son to fear that lead, when the tart
reached its minimum in 1912, could n
be brought from the west to the cas-:
$ successful competition with foreign lei
al LA result rha, by due attention to mimi
&c smelling, and the utmost facilities in o
tanning these lands, might be prevented