29 [237] 



Pierre Chouteau, to the confluence of the two rivers, are in the ratio of 

 45 to 85 : in other words, the average rapidity of the Missouri is nearly 

 twice that of the Mississippi. 



These rates are far from being the limits of navigation by ordinary pow- 

 er, which I believe to be laid down within a fallof two feet to the mile. 

 This explains, in reference to the Mississippi, how it is that steamboats of 

 great power are now able to ascend in five or six days the great distance of 

 1,286 miles between New Orleans and St. Louis, which formerly required 

 more than two months to eifect by human labor. The fatigue was then so 

 great, that it is not v/onderful that the rapidity of the current should have 

 been greatly exaggerated, so as to have suggested the epithets of powerful 

 and terrible Mississippi. 



As to the Missouri, there are other difficulties that present themselves to 

 its navigation, even by steamboats, besides the rapidity of the current ; and, 

 among these, the principal and most insurmountable are the constant shift- 

 ing of its sand-bars. If, in this respect, the Missouri is to be deemed un- 

 improvable, this is not the case with the Mississippi along a very extensive 

 portion of its course. It is evident that, in alluding to the obstacles in the 

 navigation of these rivers, I have no reference to accidental accumulations 

 of drift-wood, or the occurrence of snags, that are entirely within the con- 

 trol of man, and will completely disappear with the progress of civilization. 

 The Mississippi is one of the easiest navigable rivers in the world, as it is 

 one of the longest ; and its course only requires to be a little more studied, 

 to render us perfect masters of it. 



Referring once more to the table of geographical positions, the difference 

 of level of the valleys of the two rivers under consideration may be deter- 

 mined. Thus, if I take the level of the Missouri at Council Blufis, and 

 that of the Mississippi at Rock islands, the localities differing but slightly in 

 latitude, (41 ^^ 30',) we obtain for respective elevation of each above the 

 Gulf of Mexico, 1,023 feet for the former place, and 528 for the second. 

 In the same way, if two other places ^n more elevated latitudes are com- 

 pared — such as Fort Pierre Chouteau on the Missouri, and the lower end 

 of lake Pepin on the Mississippi, both in latitude 44° 24' — we obtain 1,456 

 feet for the elevation of the first, and 710 feet for that of the second. 

 These numerical relations establish the fact, that the average level of the 

 Missouri valley above the ocean is nearly twice more elevated than that of 

 the Mississippi. 



From these considerations alone, we would expect to find the compara- 

 tive vegetation of the country between St. Louis and the above-mentioned 

 limits to exhibit a change, not only on account of a change in the lati- 

 tude and in the nature of the soil, but also a variety due to a difference of 

 elevation. Accordingly, Mr. Geyer has observed that the great luxuriance 

 of the growth in the valleys of the Missouri and Mississippi, and even the 

 uplands, is much diminished on reaching the mouth of the Platte river 

 on one side, and the vicinity of Rock island on the other. Further : that, 

 within the limits of this zone, we find gradually disappearing the most 

 conspicuous members of the forest, as the sycamore, the pekan tree, 

 the shell-bark hickory, pignut hickory, white walnut, pin and overcup 

 oaks, the honey locust, &c., together with many smaller trees and plants : 

 as the buckeye, persimmon, sassafras, truraj^t flower, ginseng, May ap- 

 ple, <fcc. 



