GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. 227 
finally into the Frozen ocean. Again, this domain has within itself the sources of the Missis- 
sippi, which, with its numerous tributaries, has a long course to the southward before joined 
by the waters of the Missouri; the Red River of the North, having its source in the very heart 
of Minnesota, not far from that of the Mississippi, and finally, with its numerous streams, some 
coming from the east, some from the south, and some from the west, flows more than four 
hundred miles northward within our own borders, and three hundred and sixty miles northward 
still, until it joins the waters of Lake Winnepeg. Except the immediate field of my own 
explorations, of which a minute description will be given, I propose to describe only in general 
terms the country from the parallel of the city of Washington and San Francisco to Hudson 
Bay, the region alluded to, and to which the northern route is central. Whenever it may 
become necessary, I shall avail myself of other sources of information which may seem to me to 
be reliable. 
The western slope of the continent, on this extended field, has but one large navigable river, 
the Columbia—a name most grateful to the ears of the American people, from the fact of its 
having been discovered by an American shipmaster. The Columbia, with its great southern 
tributary, the Snake river, drains an immense country, stretching from the 42d to the 534d 
parallel. It has several tributaries, each affording more continuous navigation than any other 
stream on our western coast, except the Sacramento and the Colorado. Northward the rivers 
generally are unnavigable; for Fraser’s river, flowing to the ocean in about parallel 49° 07’, is 
navigable only 120 miles. The upper half of this distance is difficult at all seasons of the year. 
Now, these two great rivers, the Columbia river and the Missouri, are on the direct line of the 
northern route, are central to the great regions under examination, and are navigable by 
steamers to points only from 450 to 500 miles apart. If this great provision of nature be 
seconded by other auxiliaries and other bounties from the same hand, we have, added to the 
advantages of central position, a combination of natural gifts, which cause the route to be 
already almost prepared for the enterprise, the occupation, and the accomplishment of the 
great movements of the world. I have referred to the great lakes. The importance of 
these great lakes has now become second to that of no inland sea, either of the New or of 
the Old World. The extraordinary growth of cities on both their shores; the great grain 
ports, far exceeding the old grain ports of Europe; the great lines of railroad now in 
progress and rapidly approaching completion; railroads stretching through the. Canadas, and 
now seeking their eastern terminus in the waters of the northeastern British Atlantic; the 
great lines of railroad stretching through the States, and already having termini at every 
point of commerce on our coast; the parallel lines in progress, still further to facilitate business 
and exchange—all show the vast, growing, commercial, and business interests around this 
great water line. This water line, moreover, has been improved by the people on both sides 
of the boundary. The genius of Clinton gave to New York her great canals many years ago. 
The Welland canal has enabled the Canadas to turn the Falls of Niagara, and the Sault St. 
Mary’s canal has connected Lake Superior with the chain of lakes to the eastward; so that at 
this moment this water line, stretching halfway across the continent, has placed the extreme 
western parts of Lake Superior and Michigan in connexion with the ports of Europe. Vessels, 
without breaking bulk, can pass from those points to European ports; and yet new lines of 
canals are being projected to shorten the connexion between the Georgian bay and the waters 
of the St. Lawrence. This brief description of the general character of the region, as 
affected by water communications and in connexion with great existing railroad lines, is 
