TOPOGRAPHY. 123 



ascertained population of one year may be scarcely more than 

 a moiety of the succeeding. They are the points of landing 

 for the great mass of emigration by tlie northern route, and 

 the quarters, consequently, of a temporary and fluctuating 

 population, which drifts thence over the whole surface of the 

 territory, and into Illinois and Iowa. The business of these 

 towns depends upon the prosperity and increase of the agri- 

 cultural population in the interior. 



Milwaukie county is washed on its entire eastern boundary 

 by Lake Michigan, on which, at the mouth of Milwaukie 

 River, is situated the city of Milwaukie, which has become 

 in about ten years from its foundation one of the first class 

 of towns in the west. The population of the city exceeds 

 8000, or as some suppose, is not much less than 10,000. 

 The growth and prosperity of the country may be inferred 

 from the fact that in 1834 there were but two or three build- 

 ings on the tract which is now covered by the dwellings of 

 its numerous residents. The country contains a wide tract 

 of timber land, which lies immediately back of the city, and 

 is now well peopled with hardy and industrious farmers from 

 the northern States. The surface of the country is undulat- 

 ing and its soil very good. The eastern portion of this ter- 

 ritory has a great advantage in its connection, by the Lakes, 

 with the eastern markets, and being in all the essential attri- 

 butes of soil, timber, and water, not inferior to the country 

 west of the Missisippi, it is a most desirable country for 

 emigi'ants. 



Proceeding north to Green Bay, the country is more tim- 

 bered, and undergoes a radical change of soil. In the neigh- 

 borhood of the Bay the soil is sandy, and following the river 

 to Fort Winnebago, at the Portage, the country is hilly and 

 well timbered. Between Green Bay and the Lake is a 

 northern vegetation of white pine, spruce, birch, &c. Near 



