The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-06-23
EARLY GEOGRAPHY.
SURPRISING STATEMENTS IN
OLD GAZETTEER OF iTsS.
When Indiana Was Territory In
Virginia and All Its Towns
Were Forts--Richest
Copper Mine.

The old volume OF Moree's American
Gazetteer, bearing the date OF January
/, 1897, is yellow with age, but it's paper
is still firm and its printing admirable.
black and distinct and perfect, TO the
last quaint long s, The seven inclosed
maps are marvels of fine steel engrav-
ing. such as one would not find In
modern map says the indianapolis Jour-
nal.
One finds surprising statements on
every page OF the old book II is mar
velous 10 see how much they knew then
and how little they understood the sig
nifieance Of their knowledge, one Is
impressed more and more as one studies
the book, with the great Transforming
power Of railroads. On the old maps
every tiny water course is laid down
with precision and care. In the text.
every little stream that would carry q
canoe, every water route, every port
age. Is described as feature Of the ut
most importance. No present-day geog-
raphy contains a map Of the West In
dies that would bear comparison for
completeness and accuracy. Any spot
that could be reached by water was so
important
New York, at that time the second
city In the country In population, is de-
scribed as one mile wide and. on the
East river side, two miles long. was
esteemed the most eligible situation for
commerce in the United States. II i'm
ports most OF the goods consumed be-
tween line 80 miles east OF the Con-
necticut river and 20 miles west Of the
Hudson. strip 100 miles wide. extend
ing north 10 Canada" Think Of that
now! And Il commanded the trade Of
half OF the state OF New Jersey. tool
The coast line Of the United States at
that time was only on the Atlantic. and
stopped at the southern end Of Georgia.
Spain still owning east and west Flor
ida. which. together. covered all the gulf
coast to the Mississippi West Of the
Mississippi. Of course, oil belonged 70
Spain.
Indiana. AZ that time. was a territory
In Virginia. lying between Pennsylvania
and the Little Kanawha, and containing
3.50o 900 acres II had been ceded by
certain Indian tribes 10 a number Of
private gentlemen. as reparation for d.
stroylng the property Of said gentlemen,
10 the amount Of eS5000
The present state of Indiana vas az
unnamed part Of the great northwest
territory. bat Is laid down on the map
with about rs present boundaries as the
II state That portion Of It's lands 70
which the Indian title had been exiln-
gulshed congress had named Knox
county There were five counties In the
northwest territory. organized with
the proper civil and military officers"
Settlement Of the region had been de-
laysd on account Of Indian troubles.
which had been finally settled. Il was
hoped. BY Gen. wayne's treaty In 1895.
II Is significant, however. that all the
towns In Indiana at that time were forts
Fort Wayne. Fort Adams. Fort Oniat-
avian, Musquiio Fort, Fort Jefferson.
Fort 81. Clair and Fort vlneents Win
cennesl. The White river tigures as the
east fork Of the Wabash The wabash
ie beautiful naviFable river. possible
for bateaux and barges drawing three
feet Of water. 4i2 miles. 70 onIatavan.
and for large canoes i97 miles further"
where a carry Of nine miles Tin high va
teri connected with the Miami. thence
with the great lakes and the world.
THE land on this river ls remarkably
fertile A silver mine has been dlfeov-
cred abou, 2s miles above Oniatawan.
on the north bank Of the wabash Tie
copper mine on this river Is perhaps the
richest vein Of native copper in the bow
els Of the whole earth"
Fort Vincents was erected IN 1857. 70
repel inoursions of The Wabash Indians
II has four small brass cannon and 10
Farrlsoned by major and two compan-
les The town contained. in 1872. about
| 500 souls They raise Indian corn and
wheat. and tobacco Of extraordinary
good quality" Hemp grows wild All
through this region the settlers make all
the wine they can use of wild grapes.
Il iE said % be Of excellent quality,
lacking only age to make It equal 70 the
best wines Of Europel
Indiana Il described as being partle-
ularly adapted 10 the culture of rice. and
also an excellent country for raising
cotton. The beautiful forests on the
White and Wabash rivers are we'll de-
scrited. with 4 pretty accurate list Of the
principal trees OF these "the sugar
maple II the most valuable By resrv-
ing ten trees. every family can supply
themselves with excellent sugar In per-
petuity." az each tree will produce ten
pounds of sugar year. and the labor is
,fiainK.
That the forests could ever disappear
and timber become scarce and precious.
o. that any family could be 20 luxurious
and extravagant as 70 use more than
100 pounds Of sugar In a year. we're prob
ably equally ineohsiderable ideas In
1895.
A Valuable Dog.
Prince O shepherd dog. saved the
life Of Richard Fleming while in peril
beneath the hoofs d an infurlated bull