Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1843-07-25


our view. TO the rapids. presenting every form
OF the most picturesque objects. TO the banks
clothed With deep ,crdurc. and 60 tie rich
bottoms. dcnudcd OF timber a. though invit-
ing the labor and enterprise OF the settler.
In a subsequent journey. led By official ddtv,
assembled the rivcril a birch canoe. There
Is something romantic associated with that
mode Of conveyance, but it soon pals upon
the traveller. During many weary mi.
and hour. have been borne by this aborigi-
nal xiii over the lakes and rivers OF tie
north west. and seen il carried through dense
forest, across wild porta@cs. and tlicn loat-
ing upon some little stream, winch gradually
sWelicd BY successive tributaries. became a
large river. It was thus passed irom Lake
Superior TO the Mississippi. launching my
trail bark upon 4 mere rYulct, and descend
Ing before tue peculiar characteristics OF the
stream announced that We were upon that
mighty river which flows from its fountains in
the north to the tropical seas.
Bul have found the Canal boat more
comfortable conveyance than the bark canoe:
and this change IS not the least Improvement
whicl has accompanied The march of the white
man. Your valley was then thinly occupied.
The settlements were sparsclv scattered over
it. The pioneers were moving on. but their
task was a hard one. IL was met. however.
with an energy which deserved the success It
gained. tnd il, fruits now greet the travel
Ter in all those evidences OF a fertile country
and Il prosperous people, which meet him
wherever he moves from The OHIO 70 Lake
Erie.
Here where your Canal prepares 20 leave
the basin of the Lakes for tha OF the hIi>-s-
sippi; elt the river with my birch canoe.
and placing i. upon wagon. II was trans
ported to Lil.!c river, where my faithful voy-
ageur, rc-cmbarkcd in it. and joined me at
The White Kaccoon's village. 10 which ! rode
and where passed the night. Ny friend.
the i,accoon, treated us with great hospitali-
ty; but he was little too' hosptablc to hm-
self and his kindred. lie produced the kcg
of iire-watcr to DO honor TO thc Chc-mo-kcc-
MAIN, but unlortunatcl, hc was too free ut
his own feast. One of these scenes OF intoXi-
cation followed which are at once The banc
and the attendant of Indian life, and retired
to my blanket. leaving my host and his friend,
at their orgies. In the morning embarked
upon the ~ abash and descended that river
to is mouth, stopping occasionally % examine
and admire thc beautiful country through
which it flows. unsurpassed probably upon
the face oi thc globe. | revert 70 these lnci-
dents OF frontier L!:. to place IN boider relict
The change which has rescued this REGION
from tie indian, and la, crowned il viii tae
precious work OF civilization.
IAc two sister and contiguous Stats o.
Ohio ana Indiana, have projected and COM
plcted t.lis great communication. 10 cntcr
INTO The statistics Of It's cost or product would
no. b. suited 20 tic present occasion. TIA,
i no. day tor figure, bat results. >no~.
and We all know. that great enterprise has
been accomplished. and wc nave come toge-
thcr to rejoice at It. We have come 10 feel.
no. 10 calculate. \ stupcndou, undertaking
has been brought TO Il fortunate tcrmnatlOa.
amid many difficulties. and bv t4c cncr@. and
perseverance, OF two new States. the oldest OF
which has lu>l seen IL forticth anniversary.
Another routc ha, been opened b. which tic
TWO grca. issue, o! oar Republic are united
together, giving to The fertile country along
it Il choice OF markets. AMI a chance q a
better prize and quicker sale i. tae
cond lningiing OF tie water, OF the Lake
and OF thc Mississippi. \ third route i IL.
progress. which We may trust viii Gre tong
be completed. tnd there are other formed
by nature. and which require but lit.lc AID
from man to render ,Acn, useful. They, too.
will be undertaken and accomplished. anI
the table land which divides these great III
tcrnal sea, from tie OHIO and Mississippi viii
be iurrowcd by canal- wherever thc coua.n
permits and II, want, require.
That region Is peculiarly favorable lof
these works of Internal Improvement. Stream.
which find their outlets in opposite directions.
have their sources intcrloched. and MAJ be
united with little labor. and upon dividing
ground. elevated bus level. presenting 10 for
midablc obstruction to these enterprises. !
have travelled along four Of these line,
OF communication: one from lake Superior
to tic head OF tie Mississippi. one from tic
Fox TO the Oui-con-in river. one from tie T.
linos TO Chicago. and another where your
canal has t..kon the place OF the portage path.
Over three OF them my canoe VA. carried
from one extreme nasi gable po.nt - tie Other.
but kept along Il fourth without di,emb,ri-
ing, and thu, passed ~ wat l3om the iis-
-i,>ippi into Lake Michigan. Near the head
OF the de- plainc-, one 81 tlc principal
sources OF the Illinois. sc toanl an EXTENSIVE
marsh. which W. entered and followed. but
too lac 10 reach its termination
before the night closed upon u. and prevent
Cd our farther progress. l-wa, covered y ia
the large wa.cr llv. and il vs. impossible 10
proceed on our route in darnnc,. and equally
impossible TO find the shore. We pas,cG :.
comlortlcss night in our irail lod@m-nt. WITH
the Accompaniment OF MOSQUITOES and "a
thunder storm. and the next ~ ring labori-
ousIv made our va. Ia thf. nort horn t,r,.:,,.,