The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-22


vast amount of matter illustrative OF the productions
natural history, and statistics of the country.
There was another expedition, we think, in 1920,
under Governor Cass, assisted by Mr.. Schoolcraft,
and by Lieutenant Allen of the army. This expedi-
ton visited the head-waters of the Mississippi,
and furnished the best map then extant, Of the
country adjacent 10 Lake Superior, and south of
it. In 1888 Captain Garfield, of the corps Of
typographical engineers, made survey Of road
from the vicinity of Fort Lcavenworth, on the Mis-
souri,, to the vicinity of Fort Smelling, ON the Mis-
slssipp The boundaries of certain Indian reserva-
tons had been surveyed by Mr.. Mccoy, OF Mis-
sosri, afterwards revised in part by the late Captain
Hood, of the corps of Typographical engineers; and
there had been surveyed, under commissioners, the
trace OF road from the frontier OF Missouri to our
frontier adjacent to Santa Fe; and, also, the Treas
ury Department surveys had become gradually ex-
tended west, from the banks of the Mississippi.
| We believe these expeditions and surveys which
we have enumerated, together with some isolated
observations cf particular places constitute all the
materials possessed by the government as late as
1888, Of character sufficiently accurate to be intro
duced in map referring 10 that immense region Of
country belonging to the United States between the
Mississippi and the Pacific, and beyond the known
boundaries of a State.
! In 1888 il became matter of public interest 10 be
better acquainted with the region west of the Up
per Mississippi and il so happened, about that
time, that Mr. Nicoet, French gentleman of
high scientific attainments, had returned from a
tour IN that quarter, in which he had spent the bet
| ter part OF about five years. IL was known to the
government that Mr.. Nicolet had been there, that
he was a skillful astronomer, that he seeking
geographical information, and that he was animated
with romantic desire of determining the "true
sources OF the MssIssippi''-a matter which had ex
cited more interest and curiosity IN Europe than In
our country. In fact, on his arrival here in 1888,
he made known his objects TO the War Department.,
presented letters of recommendation from distin-
guished and eminent men, and obtained letters of
protection and hospitality from the War Depart
ment to its various Indian agents, and to command
ing officers Of distant military posts. He had also
obtained the loan Of several instruments which he
wanted; but, except in this last particular his expe
dition was entirely at his own expense-was pri-
waite, not government affair. During his absence,
he kept up correspondence with the chief of
the Bureau Of Typographical Engineers, that
the government had knowledge of his trav-
els and labors, and was Immediately inform
ed of his return. As before remarked, about
the time of his return the War Department ex-
tremely anxious to possess more accurate know
ledge than 1t then had OF the country in which he
had been travelling. He was Immediately invited
to call upon the Secretary Mr.. Poinsett,) to whom,
4 at various interviews, he communicated what he had
seen and observed, and to whom he also had shown
the map he had made. The map was full Of in
| formation, and sustained by excellent series of
numerous astronomical observations. His various
journeys were carefully traced upon it, all his as
Economical stations protracted with exactness, and
all information collected, carefully digested and
~, I'D axiandad thsnnab aho,,, e. daaress nf
ionn;,,,d. and fonr aeareoso or la,,nd r, ,as ~
tremely desirable to possess the map but as 1t was
private property, and made at private expense, il
clear that it could be obtained only by fair pur
rsn,,,nera,e - NJ .N;coile1 lie .xnsnsas m.
| s,l;a., - roe.n.aJ IL NJ p;su.,, - ~ h;ac 80
ne earns of tonoaranbcaI ena;nasrs .,hn a,as Al.
rec,ed - ex.n,ne IN mar ranor, nor !, .nd ,non
| ~ 49, -, h;I :, mfti, ~ ~ - ny 80
~, 80. axn.auad "a ~ ~ aaa -
thero as saI,o r,a,,er ,,et y, h. aIaa - H., 49,.
NJ N,ooia, u,as !, sado.ato ~. msI
nn,;l !, ,,as con,nle,ad -
-, = 80
Inc iaea now occurred 70 the department, that II
would be oil great value TO the government to extend
similar scientific reconnaissance to all that extern
sive region north OF the Missouri, and between the
Missouri and the Mississippi; and the Bureau OF
Typographical Engineers received Its orders accord
ngy. Mr.. N,coliet was consulted, and readily
- u"u .'a.a NJ NJ Msai,. Low Geeane
s. - III .t ~ "a' put ~ pay 90
an aseh' anu suPPneu wnn me o Necessary lis1ru
49," ~. s' - cciP,,'i 100, ~. A,i1oie'
reeeveu ms ior t',s more enlareea ex
=: au ~ ~ VIZ neu 1en'' ~ 'o'e
n =, ',,e ~ .e was
ui.su " w tieoie. 10 81 as'is'' Duinis VIC
% una, year ',e =, eopog eng'-
& ien ~ .ie
MI M. o was aue = az u'o'a''a y 'no Ioips
ns was le hs' :, rlenoht as al
nne parry te.urneu 70 ue se..en'ents uurng .hc
W.aeI ~ u,as yeat, a',e1 huvs eAPerienccu :iis
,.os. painful any anu oeeuPeu
,; u.'e m',.ie - lues' ~ an.'l ops:r'
uons anu p'e' ,ogo o,t e M'a a.u
w. P'ins " le9s, 10y. .'o uiieouo'' =, l,oo'e
WIN L'euelan. r'euo'. as asslsu'' anu re'o.neu
" quarters uuihs 'no Wine, VI ''a. year' as
sas' amount ol n'a'erials ior .ne map nau peen COZ
leciea uurng lhesc TWO eAPeaiuos, ana as greater
lacil.''es lor ule iapor vi Pia.ng anu GalGu'als
EXISTED ~ ,he once VI 'he o'leau =. Wasn.'s.on
shan eiseWheie, anu as was aso aesraoie LOT :ne
department. 70 ayaii lsei OF lhe iniormauoh wnich
had oeen Psocureq as curly as PIacucaoie, ue party
was ordeIea 70 " asnnglon: - came mere accofu-
ingly, ana immedase'y pusied 1rseli, WIN grea. m
dosiry, upon It's once laoors ne results OF ,nese
exPeauons 70 Whica was auueu 'iose 81 asicoe.
expeaion, on ms oW' au'uoy' 70 'he sources OF
lne M'sss'ppi, WIN ~ 'ou,u ~ ~. m lorl u
repol. anu ,"ap' prnseu Jy LUZ ~ oons'ess' anu
reprh'ea ny inc same au'no''y aori"s 'ne 'as' se'-