WATER COMMUNICATION HISTORY. 425 



by civilisation, a steam-boat belonging to the American Fur 

 Company having sailed 1400 miles up the river, from its junc 

 tion with the Mississippi. So little is known about the western 

 sources of the Missouri, that the limits of navigation, in this 

 direction, must at present be conjectural ; and it does not seem 

 to require a stretch of imagination to conceive, as population 

 advances, a communication opened between the head waters 

 of this river and the Pacific ocean. Should such an event take 

 place, the empires of China, Japan, and Russia will be brought 

 near, and Illinois become one of the most central and favour 

 able trading situations in the world. 



Illinois was originally discovered by the French, who pene 

 trated by way of Canada, in 1673. They founded the villages 

 of Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and others in 1683. When the country 

 became part of the United States, it formed part of the terri 

 tory north-west of the Ohio. In 1801, it was included with 

 Indiana as a territory. In 1809, it was made a separate terri 

 tory. And became one of the United States in 1818. 



In so recent a settled country, large towns cannot be ex 

 pected to be found. Vandalia is the capital, and, like other 

 capitals, situated near the centre of the state. It stands on the 

 western bank of the Kaskaskia, and was founded in 1821. The 

 population is stated at 500 souls. 



Shawneetown on the Ohio, about nine miles below the mouth 

 of the Wabash, is the largest town in the State. A number of 

 thriving villages are rising in every direction, and will acquire 

 population according to their situations for trade. Galena, 

 situated on Fever river, a few miles above its junction with the 

 Mississippi, and in the northwest corner of the State, will rise 

 into importance, from the manufacture of lead in the neigh 

 bourhood. One hundred steam-boat arrivals at this place are 

 said to have occurred within the year. Chicago on lake 

 Michigan, and Ottawa on the Illinois, from being situated at 

 the termination of the communication connecting these waters, 

 will become important places. Alton, situated on the Missis 

 sippi, one mile above the mouth of the Missouri, and sixteen 

 below the entrance of the Illinois, is centrically situated for 

 trade, and is soon likely to become the chief shipping port of 

 the State. 



