New-York tribune., 1904-09-03

Macmillan Company.
The story OF the discovery. exploration and
exploitation Of the Mississippi River forms
OF the most important chapters in the history
OF the growth OF civilization the North
American continent Three great nations. Spain,
France and England. contested for its control.
which passed from hand TO hand until the in
creasing power OF the United States enabled it
20 step IN and TO remove the bone of contention
by absorbing the territory both sides Of the
river, from it's source TO its mouth.
Mr. Ogg has evidently entered upon his task
with enthusiasm and has carried il to completion
with painstaking research. The references to
authorities IN his 6ootnotes are copious, and
where they differ in their conclusions he gives
the opposing views and his reasons for inclining
10 one more than 10 another. It may be said
generally that, while in places his enthusiasm
may lead him into certain hamboyancy Of style
and reclIlessness of statement that hardly
consistent with judicial presentation OF his
tOrie facts his careful ana conscientious weigh
ing OF authorities and his evident wide grasp
OF his subject have resulted in the production
OF a volume that reflects credit the author
and viii oecupy unique place in the litera-
ture OF American development. Beginning
with the discovery Of the river by the
Spaniards fn the early years of the sixteenth
century. the author follows it's history down TO
the time OF its coming unreservedly into the
hands OF the United States through the closing
events Of the War of 1872. when it ceased TO be
factor IN international schemes fer territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The credit for the actual discovery Of the
Mississippi is not easy to assign. Mr.. Ogg
gives many reasons in categorical array for
doubling that the river mentioned by Pineda
was the great Father Of Waters" and, al
though Cabeza de Vaca unquestionably sailed
into its easternmost mouth on October 80. 1925
leading the way for the I'll fated expedition
of Narvaezs none OF the Spaniards were able TO
set within a mile and half of land or 10 re-
alize the importance or significance of the great
waterway. 1t was fernando De Soto who COM
ing upon the river in his Land expedition crossed
It and followed it up TO a point probably not far
from the mouth of the Ohio. Disappointed in his
search for gold, DE Soto and his countrymen
failed to recognize the far more valuable nat
ure OF his actual discovery, and for two hun
dred years no further efforts were made by
Spain 10 utilize its boundess facilities for pro-
Enoting exploration, trade and colonization 'Ex-
cept for a basis for subsequent territorial
claims. the discovery of the Mississippi by the
Spaniards might as well never have occurred"
The opening OF the Mississippi TO the knowl-
edge and use OF the world remained TO be ac-
complished from another direction and by an
other people. '"fhe glory OF revealing to the
world the nature and extent OF the Mississippi
and its great drainage system remained for the
fur trader and missionary of New France"
The Spaniard stumbled upon the river by
merest accident The Frenchman sought it out
being drawn to it by a desire for more extended
trade routes and to carry the Gospel TO the re-
moter Indian tribes. The search for the river
by the French began as early as 1884. when
Champlain dispatched Jean Nicolet TO find the
sea OF China" which he supposed must~be the
of hy +he TOdi if
was not rewarded until June IL. 1673 when the
missionary Marquette and his companion Joliet
5ourneying down the Wisconsin, 'fioated out
upon the placid waters OF the Mississippi" La
Sale, who knew that the great water" was
not the Pacific ocean, but believing that the
river flowed into It through the Gulf OF Cali
sornia, named his Montreal settlement ia
Chine" .as IL II were but the stepping stone TO
his ultimate goal" completed the work OF
Marquette He explored the river TO its mouth,
and on April 9. 1852. named the Mississippi Val
ley Louisiana" taking possession Of il In the
name of the King of France. In the mean time
the Flemish friar Hennepin and two compan-
ions, detached from La Salle's expedition, had
ascended the river from the mouth OF the Lii
nos to that OF the Rum-from 80 degrees TO
45sk degrees north latitude.
The control of the Mississippi and the St
Lawrence gave Erance the mastery OF the CONT
board east of the Aleghanies. but she neglected
her opportunities. The French were explorers
and traders rather than settlers, and used their
great waterways trade routes rather than as
avenues 20 new colonies In consequence there
was not a sufficient population from which TO
draw force strong enough effectively TO resist
the sea power OF Great Britain when it was d.
rected against the French settlements on the ST
Lawrence; and when they were lost. disheart-
ened France raadily parted with her interior do
main west Of the Mississippi 20 Sysip for the
sake Of defensive continental alliabce Unable
TO hold her territory east of the river against
the steady encroachments of the English col
onies. France had been forced TO yield this. too.
TO England
Thus the close OF the Seven Years War brought
empire in America Though the great Pitt had not
been able 70 maintain himself al the British helm
was Substantially what he had planned and hoped
1oT-eneeRt that ne mlsht have contriyed 70 secure
English speech and blood. instead of allowing the
sTds By TIE treaty y Of FL iss the plans az and is scev
sneats OF scores OF PATRIOTS and ambitious French
Gaiissonniere celoron and many OF lesser fame
We're brought 20 nanght Missionaries. coureurs de
bored. in all more than a hundred years. with
% s s In aS the aT 5S o 4a 5e
They had been the pathanders Of the Mississippi
With hostile natives and primeval nature: they had
revealed 70 the world the resources and prospective
value OF the great region: but In the laying OF
foundations for an abiding political power they
and support from the home government too penny
wise and pound foolish" They could have main
lara or any other possible European Competitor eR
nept the very one with whom they had TO contend.
too shrewd a his methoas OF obtaining IT, as well
dong resfsted with such force as the French could
eommand 10 ,Arneraca,; A. the best i was but