APPENDIX. 563 



relied on. Could the waters of this river be conducted in a canal 

 along its valley from tlie portage to the bend at Arena, they 

 might, from this point, be deflected in a direct line to Galena. 

 This route would cut the mine district centrally, and afford the 

 upper tributaries of the Pekatolika and Fever Elvers as feeders. 

 Such a communication would open the way to a northern market, 

 and merchandise might be supplied by the way of Green Bay, 

 when the low state of water in the Mississippi prevents the 

 ascent of boats. It would, at all times, obviate the tedious voy- 

 age, which goods ordered from the Atlantic cities have to perform 

 through the straits of Florida and Gulf of Mexico. A railroad 

 could be laid upon this route with equal, perhaps superior advan- 

 tages. These things may seem too much like making arrange- 

 ments for the next generation. But we cannot fix bounds to the 

 efforts of our spreading population, and spirit of enterprise. Nor, 

 after what we have seen in the way of internal improvement, in 

 our own day and generation, should we deem anything too hard 

 to be accomplished. 



I set out from Galena in a light wagon, drawn by two horses, 

 about ten o'clock in the morning (August 17t)i), accompanied by 

 Mr. B. It had rained the night and morning of the day previous, 

 which rendered the streets and roads quite muddy. A marly 

 soil, easily penetrated by rain, was, however, as susceptible to the 

 influence of the sun, and, in a much shorter period than would 

 be imagined, the surface became dry. Although a heavy and 

 continued shower had thoroughly drenched the ground, and 

 covered it with superfluous water, but very little effects of it were 

 to be seen at this time. We ascended into the open plain coun- 

 try, which appears in every direction around the town, and di- 

 rected our course to Gratiot's Grove. In this distance, which, on 

 our programme of the route, was put down at fifteen miles, a 

 lively idea of the formation and character of the country is given. 

 The eye is feasted with the boundlessness of its range. Grass and 

 flowers spread before and beside the traveller, and, on looking 

 back, they fill up the vista behind him. He soon finds himself 

 in the midst of a sylvan scene. Groves fringe the tops of the 

 most distant elevations, and clusters of trees — more rarely, open 

 forests — are occasionally presented. The trees appear to be almost 

 exclusively of the species of white oak and rough-bark hickory. 



