The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-04

VA8 OOUACE0 OF THE 11UDA0oAExA -
Much hos been said asa awsitten concerning
the Mississippi, since The time Of the fearless
old Father HExsRIH, By explorers of al de-
srees of sasacity, by some who have spent
years upon its banks or waters, and by others
Who have winged their way to the West along
the most rapid and improved systems Of mod-
ern travel in "a hours from some eastern me-
tropolis, and have given A. many minutes to
the contemplation of the great and beautiful
river of the West
A quaint American writer, partaking large
ly of the genius of his codntrymen, for rapid
and extensive observations, says "whirling
swiftly round on the heel" gives one the
completest view of Cosmos, making up inthis
way in universally what is lacking in details
Perhaps much that has reached the public
through our journals Of late years, has at
least, possessed this merit Upon this prin-
cple the writer may be excused, if he makes
few remarks concerning the Mississippi river,
not hitherto expressed, or if not entirely new,
worth repeating.
The Upper Mississippi, as it should be cali
ed, is river sni generis with its own pecu-
liarities, at least, until it is swallowed up, or
overrun, rather, by the Missouri, after which
it is no longer ''lovely in its strength but
Maynard and turbulent stream, its picturesque
features, with few exceptions, having sub
sided into interminable bottoms or the dismal
wierdness of cypress swamps, flooded at
least once year, in which condition it is al
ways mystery to landsman how a steamer
ever finds its way to the shore, or is not lost
in the yeasty waters amidst an endless tangle
of brush and logs, and trees standing and
floating. The Mississippi, however, above the
mouth of the Missouri. is swift and powerful,
but placid and clear, becoming more and
more 80 as we approach its sources among the
reedy lakes Of the North.
The Mississippi, like the Nile, has its origin
inlakes-though receiving in its long journey
to the sea, many mountain streams-it has its
own sources in the great table land Of the
North, which is indeed the Mother Of Wa
tiers. The Upper Mississippi has been visited
by many pilgrims, for pleasure, profit or
health, and all concur in their expressions
of admiration concerning the beauty of
this river, and the picturesque loneliness and
grandeur of its banks, surprising the storied
Rhine, even In its show of ruined castles
overhanging the river. but with far more
ancient story, for are they not written all
over with legends of the past? only to be
, translated by him who has the key and is
read in natures lore. The State OF Mime
sofa has in her bosom the fountains which
nourish and sustain the Mississippi river;
those countless liquid gems which diversity
and decorate the surface of that State with
unrivalled spiendor, and fill the country with
| light, life and beauty, are never failing foun.
tains, to replenish our river and refresh the
world. The Upper Mississippi is perhaps the
most remarkable river in the United States,
mot visited by tide water,) for the general
uniformity Of its water stage throughout the
! season.
The difference between high and low water
mark at St. Paul is only twelve feet, and at
Keokuk fourteen feet; whereas the Ohio at
| Cincinnati has difference Of seventy five
feet between high and low water. The Mis-
souri, is also mountain stream, and is pecu-
liarly subject to such great contrasts of water
stages, rendering the river so extremely I'M
certain in its navigation. At st. Louis the
difference between the high and low stage OF
water is thirty FIVE feet. Upon the Missouri
it cannot be any less. Two causes combine
to keep up the even stage of water in the
upper Mississippi. First, the river crossing
SO many degrees of latitude is not exposed
TO the same climatic influences to produce
low water throughout its extent, as river
flowing along nearly the same parallel of lati-
tude would be- There is a cause of more
! Importance, however, which consists in the
Mississippi river having its sources not
among mountains, but table land-amonp
numberless lakes, all strung together by
/ watery communication, which operate as
! temporary detergents to the water, and forms
an extensive system of feeders to the river.
Thus nature anticipated the celebrated
scheme of Mr.. Elicit. who proposed to keep
up the stage of water in the Ohio river by a
series of great artificial reservoirs or feeders
along its course, to receive the excess Of water
during freshets, and distribute the same to
the river in the low stages of summer
The great table land of the North embraces
a country of from FIVE to six degrees
of latitude and longitude, constituting
nearly the whole of Minnesota, por-
ton of Wisconsin, and the eastern por-
ton of Dacota Territory-has for its
highest elevation above the sea on the ex.
IRENE Western border, about 1000 feet. This
country, only extending over few geograph.
ical degrees, probably sends more water to
the sea than any other portion of the earth s
surface of equal extent not characterized by
a great mountain chain. From Minnesota
spring the waters which form the Red river
of the North flowing to Hudson's BAY, also
Lake Superior, with its tributaries. the
Mississippi, and two very considerable rivers
which flow to the Missouri, viz: the Big
Sioux and the St. Jacques rivers. The eli
mate Of this phole region is remarkably drv.
The amount of rain falling in Minnesota is
about one-half the quantity which falls in
this vicinity. Nor is this all throughout this
whole region, owing TO the peculiar dryness of
the atmosphere, there is remarkable alb
sence of nocturnal dews, which diminishes
the atmospheric source of moisture by a
very considerable amount. The meteoroloe-
| ical tables relied upon in this statement wore