The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-29
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE
From our regular correspondent

ST. Louis, Mo. Aug. 10, 1916.
One OF the most interesting sections Of the North
American continent is the basin of the Upper Mis-
sissipp, being, rs it is, greatly diversified by soil
climate, natural productions &c. II embraces min-
eral lands of great extent and value with immense
tracts Of good timber, and large and fertile bodies
Of farming land. This basin is separated by eleva.
ted land to the northeast, which divides the head
waters Of rivers emptying into the Mississippi
from those that fowinto the lakes Superiorand Mich
gan, Green Bay, &c. To the north and northwest,
1t is separated near the head of the Mississippi, by
high ground, from the watercourses which flow
towards Hudsons bay To the west this extensive
basin is divided from the waters of the Missouri
by immense tracts Of elevated plateau, or prairie
land, called by the early French voysgeurs g Ceieau
DIES Prairies" signifying 'prarie coast" from the
resemblance the high prairieg, seen great dis
lance, bear TO the coast Of some vast or lake.
To the south, the basin of the Upper Mississippi
terminates at the junction of the Mississipp with
the Des Mones river.
The portion Of the valley Of the Mississippi thus
described, If reduced to square form, would meas
9re about 900 miles each way, with ST. Anlhony's
falls near the centre.
For long time this portion of the country re-
maincd UNEMPLOYED except by scattered parties Of
Canadian fur-taders, &C. Its physical and topo-
graphical geography, with notions of its geol-
ogy, have, as it were, but recently attracted aen
ton.
Father Hennepin was no doubt the first white man
who visited ST. Anthonys falls. In reaching them,
however, he passed the mouth of St. Peters river
short distance below, without noticing it, or being
aware of its existence. This was caused by the
situation of island found in the Mississippi
directly in front Of the mouth of St. Peters, which.
in measure, conceals il from view.
After passing the falls Father Hennepn continued
to ascend the Mississippi to the ST. Francis river,
but went no higher.
In the year l7G6, three years after the fall Of
Canada, Captain Jonathan Carver, who had taken
an active part an officer IN the English service,
and was at the surrender Of Fort William Henry
where (he says) 1900 English troops were massa-
cred by the Indians, Che himself narrowly escaping
with his fe,) prepared for tour among the Indian
tribes inhabtng the shores of the upper lakes and
the upper valley of the Mississippi. He LEFT Boston
in June Of the year stated, and proceeding by way
of Albany and Niagara, reached Mackinac, where
he fitted out for the prosecution of his journey to
the banks Of the Mississippi.
From Macknac, he went to Green Bay; ascended
the Fox river to the country Of the Wnnebago In
dans from thence, crossing some portages, and
passing through Lake Winncbago, he descended the
Wisconsin river to the Mississippi river; crossing
which, he to halt at Prairie du Chen, in the
country Of the Sioux Indians. At that early day,
this was an important trading-post between French
traders and the Indians. Carver says; at con-
tans about three hundred families; the houses are
well built, after the Indian manner and well situa-
ted, very rich SOIL from which they raise every
necessary Of life in great abundance. This town is
the great mart whence all the djacent trbes--even
those who inhabt the most remote branches of the
Mssissippi-annuay assemble about the latter end
of May, bringing with them their furs to dispose Of
to the traders" Carver also noticed that the people
living here had some good horses.
Prairie du Chen continues 10 be place of some
note, though, from its present appearance il is not
much larger than it was at the time of Carvers visit
The fur-tradc, which at one time centred here,
and gave il much consequence has been removed TO
Ind trad form u
gave employment to so many agents, traders, trap
pers, &c. comforting wealth upon those prosecuting
it, is rapidly declining this continent in produ-
cling which, several causes conspire The first is,
the animals caught for their furs have greatly dmn-
ished; and the second is, that competition in the
trade has become more extensive and formidable, in
creasing the white settlements continue to be
pushed out TO the West.
At Prairie du Chen is still seen the large stone
warehouse erected by John Jacob Aston, at a time
its by the business The United States have snug
garrison at this place, which mparts more or less
animation to the scene. 1t stands on an extensive
and rather low plain, with high hills in the rear,
running parallel with the Mississippi.
The house in which Carver lodged, when he visit
cd this place, is still pointed out. There are some
men living at this post, whose grandfather acted as
interpreter TO Carver. The Sioux Indians, whom
Carver calls in his journal "the Nadowessies,"
which is the Chippewa appcaiion for this tribe Of
Indians, keep up the tradition of Carvcrs visit
among them. The inhabitants, descendants Of the
first settlers at Prairie du Chen, now living at this
place, firmly believe in the truth Of the gift of land
made TO Carver by the Sioux Indians.
From this point Carver visited st. Anthony's
falls, which he describes with great accuracy and
fidelity, accompanying his description with sketch
of them
From, 81 Anthony's falls, he continued to ascend
the Mississippi till he reached, late in the season,
the mouth Of 81. Francis river; when, returning
from which, he repassed the falls and entered the
mouth Of the St. Peters, up which he assembled to
extensive Sioux village, where he wntered with
them. The following spring he returned TO the
Mississippi with the Sioux, accompanying them TO
an extensive cave not far below the falls TO which
point this tribe of Indians conveyed their dead TO be
buried This cave now goes by the name Of Scar
ver's cave.n Mr. J. N. Nicollct visited it, and has
given description Of il in his valuable Report on
the Upper Basin offhc Upper Mississippi"
From the Mississippi river Carver crossed over
TO the Chippewa river up which he assembled TO its
source and then crossed portage to the head Of the
Bots Brue, which he called "Goddard's river.'
Descending this latter stream TO Lake Superior, he
travelled around the entire northern shore OF that
lake from west TO east, and accurately described
the general appearance of the country including mo-
tees Of the existence Of the copper rock on the On.
tonagon, with copper-minera ores at points along
the northeastern shore of the lake, &c.
He finally reached the Saut ST. Marie, where he
found French Indian trader, monsieur CABOT,
who had built stockade fort to protect him in
his trade with the Indians.
Descendants of this Monsieur CABOT are still living
at the Sault and at La Pointe. We met one of them
returning to the latter place, in the ST. Croix river
as we were descending it. They, no doubt, in
hcri strong claims TO land at the falls Of the st.
Mary's river, which must ere long prove valuable
to them, IL properly prosecuted
From the Saut 81. Marie, Carver went TO Mack
mac, then garrisoned by the English, where he
spent the winter The following year he reached
Boston, having been absent about two years.
From Boston he sailed. for England, with view