Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-10-10

This is the most important river in
North America, and with the world.
Il extends 800 miles, and il We re-
ard the Missouri - IT. continuation II
is $500 miles long. II would reach
from New York across the Atlantic
and extend through France, Germany,
Austria and Turkey in Europe, and
penetrate the remote Caspian sea in
Oriental Asia. The average width
from the Falls Of st. Anthony, in Min
ncsota, to its delta on the Gulf a mic;
its average depth llO feet. 1t is al
ways navigablc to ync mouth Of the
Ohio, and the upper part for seven or
eight months in the year. Its course
is from north to sonth, and the trap
per descending the river may take him
the furs Of the animals that inhabit its
source, and exchange them for the SUI
gar, tropical fruits that are gathered
on its banks below.
Again, the floods produced by win
ter SHOWS and spring rains cannot be
simultaneously discharged. Spring
advancing in reverse direction to the
current OF the stream, releases in sue.
cession the waters Of the lower vally,
then in the middle section, and finally
Of the remote sources of its tributaries
in the Rocky Mountains and hills Of
the North. II takes over a month 70,
the floods to travel from its source 10
its delta.
The total value Of steamboats, afloa,
on this mighty river and its tributari.
cs, is estimated at 100000, and
their number 1900, with an aggregate
burthen Of more than twice the entire
steamboat tonnage of Great Britain
and probably equal to that Of all Other
parts Of the world. 1t drains an area
of 100000 square miles, which, from
its unexampled fertility, has obtained
the title, The garden Of the New
World In extent, fertility, variety O
scenery, and diversity Of climate, it,
valley surpasses any other on the globe
1t receives score of tributaries tho
least of which is larger than the vaun
ted streams of mighty empires. Il
might furnish natural boundaries for al
Europe, and yet leave for every count
~ a river greater than the Seine.
1t engulis more every season thsr
the revenue Of many petty kingdom
and at speed unknown to any othc1
great river il rolls volume in who's,
depths the cathedral Of st. Paul NIGH
be sunk out of sight. 1t flows from
the country OF the savage to that o
civilization and refinement, and in III
descent are the gradation Of thickon
ing fields anG glowing cultivation which
line its course, until it reaches its cul
mination-a crowded city.
1t discharges IN one year more watel
than has issued from the Tiber in tiv,
centuries; it swallows up nearly fifty
rivers that have yet no names, each o
which is larger than the Thames. TIL,
addition Of the waters Of the dark rol
ling Danube would not swell it half
iathom; and in single bend the nav
les of the world might safely ride Al
anchor in the heart Of the Republic
800 miles from the sea.
| washes the shores of twelve pow
full States, and between its arms liz
space for twenty more. The rain which
falls upon the Alleghanies, and tho
SHOWS that shroud the slopes and cay
the SUBMITS of the Rocky Mountains
are borne upon its bosom to the region.
ct perpetual summer, and poured into
the sea. 1t has formed a larger trac
of land by the alluvial deposits of it
inundation, than is contained in Grca
Britain and Ireland. and annually bear
away more acrcss than it wonld rcquir
to make a German principally.