IMPORTANCE OF THE ST LAWRENCE. 237 



been fully explored. The eastern portion of its surface 

 appears, however, to consistof sandstones and magnesian 

 limestones, forming sandy soils and naked prairies. The 

 western part is an extensive chalk formation, forming 

 prairies, in many places rich in pasture. 



In connection with the lake-traffic which will neces- 

 sarily arise out of the prosecution of the copper-mines 

 of Michigan, the existence and rapid growth of these 

 new States ought to be borne in mind. Their inter- 

 course with Europe will be chiefly through the lakes, 

 the Erie Canal, and the St Lawrence. The Erie Canal is 

 already overloaded with traffic, and can never be enlarged 

 to meet half the growing demands upon its means of 

 transport. The St Lawrence, therefore, must become a 

 great continental thoroughfare, a source of great wealth 

 to Canada ; and if the Canadians would only exercise as 

 much reasonable patience in the development of their 

 natural resources as they have lately shown of political 

 rashness, they may obtain from the United States any 

 proper equivalent for a right of way through their canals 

 and private waters. 



Of all the wonders in rural economy with which this 

 New World is pregnant, there is none with which the 

 traveller becomes acquainted, in these lake-bounding 

 States, which is more wonderful than the history of what 

 is called the hog-crop of Ohio. This State, one of the 

 most prosperous in the Union, and containing now a 

 population of nearly two millions, is bounded on the 

 north by Lake Erie, along w^hich it has a coast line of 

 upwards of 200 miles. Though this State possesses 

 much wheat-land, and raises in some places large 

 breadths of this grain, yet both its soil and its climate 

 adapt it more generally to the growth of Indian corn. 

 This latter grain, therefore, may be considered the staple 

 of the State. The general fertility of the land, in com- 

 parison with that of the States of New York and Michi- 



