156 



ELEMENTS OF GENERAL SCIENCE 



near the western limits of the present city. A short carry, 

 or portage, brought him to the Des Plaines River. Indeed, 

 in times of flood it was often possible to travel almost the 

 entire distance by canoe. Once in the Des Plaines River, 

 he might easily pass with the current down to the Illinois 

 River, to the Mississippi, and even to the Gulf of Mexico. 

 The short portage at Chicago and the importance of the 

 French posts on the Illinois River made this a favorite route. 



When sailing ships 

 began to be used 

 on the Lakes, it 

 was natural that 

 the traveler should 

 wish to go as far 

 as possible on the 

 ship and as short 

 a distance as pos- 

 sible in the canoe. 

 Ships brought trav- 

 elers and goods to 

 the south end of 

 the lake, and the 

 mouth of the river 

 afforded a safe 

 harbor for the vessels and a landing place for the goods. 

 The French lost possession of the country, but the routes 

 of travel and commerce did not change. 



When travel and commerce had increased, people began 

 to settle at the point where the ships came to unload. A 

 fort was built to protect the settlement and to defend the 

 route of travel. This was known as Fort Dearborn, and its 

 location was in the center of the present city of Chicago. 



170. Extension and improvement of waterways. As popu- 

 lation increased, the need for good transportation facilities 

 increased also. Steamboats abounded on the larger rivers, 



FIG. 79. Early routes of travel 



The map shows the headwaters of rivers and the lakes 

 which were important in determining the courses taken 

 by early hunters and settlers. Portages shown by 1 1 1 1 



