GALENA LEAD MINES. 47 



yields annually about thirty million pounds weight. It is a 

 large and thriving town, situated on the banks of Fever river,* 

 which is navigable to the Mississippi, some few miles distant. 

 The river smelt noxiously at night, and the principal trading 

 streets lie along its bank. But the residences of the people are 

 prettily scattered up the hillsides on both banks, and the in- 

 habitants themselves, notwithstanding the ominous name of the 

 river, think there are few places in the State to compare with 

 the town of Galena. From Galena to Dunleith on the Missis- 

 sippi, and near the north-west boundary of Illinois, the country 

 has no interest of importance to a farmer. It is chiefly wood- 

 land, and, where open prairie, it is already " settled " and un- 

 der cultivation. 



* This is Bean river of the French. The name has no reference to any 

 malaria arising from the stream. 



