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Moingonan and its tributaries, below this point, have been purchased frona 

 the Sac and Fox Indians, who continue their destined westward progress, 

 closely followed by the white man, eager to possess so beautiful a country. 



The hydrographical relations of the Des Moines with the Mankato, St. 

 Peter's, and Mississippi rivers, present a geographical incident of some in- 

 terest. By referring to the map, in lat. 43° 45', long. 9.5'^ 12', it will be 

 seen that there is a lake very near the Des Moines named Tckanshetcha, 

 or Dry Wood lake. The V/atomcaii river, which is a tributary to the 

 Mankato, that empties itself into the St. Peters, has its source in this lake. 

 INow the tongue of land separating the Des Moines from Tchan shetcha 

 lake, is not more than a mile to a mile and a half broad ; so tha't, were a 

 canal cut across, the waters of the Des Moines would be made to commu- 

 nicate with those of the St, Peter's. 



The importance of this communication may be made sensible by a 

 knowledge of the fact, thnt the Indian traders dependent on the American 

 Fur Company have frequently spent the winter at the head waters of the 

 Des Moines. On one occasion, Mr. Joseph Laframboise, failing in his means 

 of transportation by land, had a large canoe built, which he loaded with his 

 peltries, took water upon the Tckanshetcha, descended the Watrmwan and 

 the Mankato, and arrived safely at the St. Peter's station. I mean only to in- 

 dicate at present, however, what will at a future day form an obvious fea- 

 ture in the system of internal improvement of these regions, so new in the 

 geography of the United States, by which this extensive and beautiful ter- 

 ritory might be rendered circumnavigable. I hasten to get back to the 

 Mississippi. 



The LoiDcr or Des Moines Rapids, on ascending the Mississippi, are 

 Lower or ^^^ hundred and four miles above St. Louis, and beyond the 

 Des Moines month of the Des Moines, whence they derive their name, which 

 Rapids, ^yjjs given to them by tlie first French settlers who opened the 

 fur-trade in this part of the Mississippi, long before it was known that the 

 Des Moines had any places in its course that could be considered as rapids. 



The spot at which the first difficulties in the navigation of the rapids are 

 encountered, is about three quarters of a mile beyond Keokuk, and four 

 miles above the mouth of the Des Moines ; thence the rapids ascend nearly 

 up to Montrose, where, but a few years back, was situated Fort Des Moines, 

 and opposite to which is Commerce, which has but lately changed its name 

 to Nauvoo, and has become a Mormon settlement. 



In .lanuary, 1838, Congress ordered a survey of the rapids, which was 

 intrusted to Captain R. E. Lee, of the corps of encjineers. By his estimate, 

 the length of the rapids is eleven miles, with a foil of twenty-four (24) feet. 

 Here the Mississippi tumbles over ledges of a blue limestone, at all times 

 covered with more or less water, and through which many crooked chan- 

 nels have been worn by the action of the current. Durins: low stages of 

 the water, the passage of the rapids is very difficult, as well in consequence 

 of the shallowness of the water as the narrowness and tortuousness of the 

 channel ; so that the time of practicable steamboat navigation is shortened 

 by nearly three months in the year, which is about the duration of low 

 water in the river. 



Captain Lee had commenced a system of improvements, that has, un- 

 fortunately, been suspended, to the great detriment of the country ; for 

 without the completion of such improvements as had been so judiciously 



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