Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-04-12
The Public DQmain--Nsrth and
west.
ALsAsr, Feb. IS, 1916.

I west.
t ALBAsY, Feb. Is, 1916.
E. Crosrell, Esq, Air:--Whiie the ex.
tension Of the Union, on the southwest, i.
under discussion, it may not be inappro.
pirate to offer one Or two suggestions
arising from personal observation, on the
territorial area, north, and west, With q
good map before US, fsay Nicollet's Nv
dro: m. pub. by U. S. Senate1 the area
itself may be readily comprehended, with
its relative attitudes, and the distribution
Of lakes and rivers. '
BY dropping line on this map due
south from the head Of ship and steainboa,
navigation at Fond du Lac Of lake Supe-
rlor, or the point to which this navigation
will reach, at The moment the St. Mary's
canal is completed, II will be found to
cross the Missouri, at the city Of Jeffer-
son, the capital of that State. It is wen
known that the western prairies and forest
lands, in their utmost fertility, reach the
banks Of the left fork Of the st. Louis river
Of the Fond du Lac Of lake Superior. Il
a line be projected due west from. this
point to the Missouri, such line will
cross the Mississippi in let. 46. go, and
strike the former near its great bend, be-
low the Yellowstone, --crossing, in fhis
distance, region Of mixed forests and
prairies, Of highly fertile and sylvan
character, watered by numerous streams,
flowing north and south. Few portions
Of America, afford more inviting region
for the expansion Of our futnre population;
and it is one eminently suited 10 fee la
Dor. Indian corn, and all the cereal gra-
nina, can be proftably cultivated. II
abounds in pure waters, affording abundant
water power, and has pure and health
full atmosphere. No part Of the West ii
better fitted for the construction. Of rail-
roads and canals,s And when the upper
Missouri and Mississippi valleys are filed
with population, the products u their in:
dustry and the supplies cftheir commerce,
could in no manner find soready away ia
9 market, as through the channel Of Snpe.
rior and the great Lakes.
Two states it may be estimated, will be
organized on the right banks Of the Mis-
souri,, above the influx Of the Kon1a, af,c
between that point and the 49th parallel b
latitude, and one, on the Mississippi ane
lake Superior, north Of the state Of low;
and the future state Of Wisconsin. Thes,
five states will, TO great extent, find tllei,
outlet to a market through Superior, d
down the Mississippi from St. Anthony,
falls. 1t is by views of this kind, it is con
ceived, that the value of that large and lit
tie known part Of the public domain, is /,
be realized, and our true duties to poster
ity and the republic fulfilled: At least, III,
propriety may be indicated of dividing il
for the purposes of future government, 4
an early period, and before local and sec
tional interests have been formed, and thu
added to the already existing questions
boundary before Congress- DE- itauno
The history of the action, of convention
for for forming, new States in the WEs1
demonstrates that the people are DISPOSE
to incorporate themselves with immens
limits. which are, in some cases, create
than are required by convenience Of gov
eminent, and in others, have but little res
pect to the value of the remaining domain
Features Of this kind existed in the forma
ton Of Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, and recent
", Iowa. The latter should never, indeed
have extended (if it has been so admitted
north of St. Peters, nor should Wisconsil
be 50 bounded, as State, as to take fror
the fine region above St..Anthony's and tn
western head of Lake Superior; the advan
tage Of free outlet and entrepot, on bot
these prime channels to the Atlantic.s " X
A canal between the Waconda, Grsa
Spirit, as it is called, Rum river of the Mis-
sissippi, which enterstlle latter nine mile
above St. ,Anthony's Falls, and the LEI
fork Of the St. Louis river of Fond 1du Lax
is one Of the NEST easy, natural, and prac
tical routes for connecting tile great gee
logical basins Of the MIssissirII and III
GREAT LAKES, and will doubtless, be mad
in the progress Of settlement. Advancin
settlements viii also designate railroad 0
the same area. 4 1t isla level or undnlatin
prairies, Astounding in waters, and as invi
ing to the agriculturist at this time, as III
oak openings Of Michigan, or the prairie
| of Illinois orIowa. And when such mean
Of transit are furnished, and lines Of steam
boats connect Fond du Lac with Buifal,
a merchant could probobly reach New Yor
from St. Anthony's Fall, by this norther
route, quicker than BY any other know
mode or route ct Communication. .i'l ~
If leisure permits, it is proposed 10 ad
to these remarks. some facts further ind
eating the character and value Of the ItAsc
or trans Superi9r region. NAB sa.nn2
49, Respectfully, -,
- HENRY r. SCHOOLCRAFT.
| F2orida.-Undsr the new. constitution