The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-23
WIS t LKUI Sun, TSV,
" iimington, DetauGe.
Mr.. Ferguson 10 Mr.. Webster.

.uf. ferguson 10 .Nf. Vt0Sttf.
WASHINGTON, July IS, 1892
SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your note of to-day, desiring to be informed of the
character of the region northwestward of Lake SUI
peror which comprehcnds the several practised and
customary routes between the lake and the Lake of
the Woods.
in reply, | ubmit the following statement, which
viii give, as far as | am able, the desired inlorma-
ton:
At the mouth of the Pigeon river there is proba-
bly, about three hundred yards in length of alluvial
formation but the river above that far as
Fort Charlotte, between steep cut rocks Of ba-
saltc primitive formation, and succession of falls
and rapids for nearly its whole lengthhc last caa-
rac which is within about mile of its mouth being
almost hundred feet in height. You will perhaps
understand the formation Of the country better when
mention that nearly the whole of the northern
shore of Lake Superior lists of these sheer rocky
cscarpments from six hundred TO nine hundred feet
high, and that the of most of the rivers which
have cut their channels into the lake lie within thirty
or forty miles o. its verge.
There is, really, not much difference in elevation
between South Fowl Lake and the lakes of the height
of and The character have given of Pigeon river
will serve also for the Arrow river excepting that
the latter has reach of about two miles of still
water.
have no doubt that tho bay of the Pigeon river is
the Long Lake of the treaty of 1888. 1t is dcsigna
ted by that name on Aitchells map, which, at that
time, the only map existing of these regions and
was proven, by the evidence of Mr.. John Adams and
Mr. John Jay, TO have been the only geographical de-
ption before the negotiators of the first treaty.
Though evidently defective and erroneous il is but
fair TO take it evidence of the Intention In add
ton 10 this evidence of the construction of the treaty
of 1888, at the time 1t was concluded we have this
fact further that, Immediately after the peace, the
traders of the Northwest Fur Company destroy cd
their forts and warehouses at the Grand portage and
removed themselves to Fort William, ten leagues on
the other side Of the Pigeon rivera course which
could only have been adopted for the that they
supposed their previous location would be on
foreign territory. In addition, have never heard
this construction Of the treaty of 1888 questioned by
any of the partners Of the British Fur Company
whom have met in that quarter.
TO your query, as TO the character of the country
between the mouth Of the Pigeon river and the Rai-
ny Lake, it is more difficult to give distinct answer
I than TO any Of the others The rivers here are al
rapid those running towards Lake Superior are o.
small size. The Pigeon river and Arrow river vary
in width from 60 to 300 feet and, as have said pre-
yiously, are almost continued rapid.
| But the rivers running northward-the outlet Of
Lake Saisagnegau, the river Maligne, the river Ma
mecan, and the Rainy rver-are all bold and stronj
| rivers, and of much greater width and volume, car
ryng with them, through gentler slopes the dranag
OF a more extended surface On the plateau whic
makes the height Of land, and which | would dehn
as lying between the Fowl Lake and Lake Namecan