'o 



SOURCE OP ST. PETER S RIVER. $1 



lation of fifteen hundred inhabitants is seen enjoying all the 

 comforts, and carrying on all the business of an old settle- 

 ment. The situation of Columbus is, however, far from pre- 

 senting advantages that can compete with those of many 

 other western settlements. Much difficulty and division ap- 

 pears to have prevailed in Ohio previously to the location of 

 the seat of government; and this spot was probably selected 

 by a sort of compromise, rather with a view to its central 

 situation than from any great local advantage. It stands 

 on the left bank of the Scioto, at about half a mile from 

 Franklinton, whose site on the right bank was thought 

 too low and unhealthy. 



The party were here joined by Mr. Colhoun, who had 

 travelled from Washington city by the national road to 

 Wheeling, and thence proceeded to Columbus, where he 

 waited for the arrival of the Expedition. Some further ar- 

 rangements required to accommodate ourselves to the coun- 

 try through which we had to travel, occasioned in this town a 

 delay of one day, during which we experienced a remarkably 

 heavy thunderstorm, which was accompanied by a wind 

 apparently like a hurricane, its direction shifting at every 

 moment; this produced much damage in the town, and 

 among other things carried off both the gable ends of a 

 house, the wind forcing a way for itself under the roof. 



The banks of the Scioto are covered with pebbles, ap- 

 parently from primitive formations ; no rocks were visi- 

 ble in place, but the limestone used in the town, and 

 which is filled with organic remains, is said to be found in 

 the vicinity ; it appears to be similar to that observed at 

 Zanesville. 



The wealth of Ohio has been so often the subject of dis- 

 cussion, that we felt an interest in ascertaining how far the 

 reports circulated were correct. We found that, in fact, 



