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INDIANA TERRITORY. 



Boundaries, extent and situation. ...This territory is separated 

 from Ohio on the east by a meridian line, extending from the mouth 

 of the Great Miami to the south boundary of Michigan territory. On 

 the south it is bounded by the Ohio river, dividing it from Kentucky ; 

 on the west, it has the Illinois territory, from which it is divided by 

 the Wabash river, from its mouth as far up as Vincennes, and thence 

 by a meridian line to the boundary between the United States and 

 {Janada. On the north it is bounded by Michigan territory and lake 

 Superior. It is situated between 37° 45' and 41° 50' north latitude, 

 and 82° 42' and 85° 45' west longitude, and contains about 37,000 

 square miles. 



Divisions, population, government, face of the couNtrV, 

 soil and climate, rivers, &e. The territory is divided into four 

 counties, and at the census of 1810 contained 24,520 inhabitants. In 

 1800 they amounted to 5641, including Illinois territory. The pre- 

 sent population is about 40,000. There are besides several tribes of 

 Indians inhabiting tbe northern part of the territory, from the Wa- 

 bash to lake Michigan, but they are rapidly decreasing, either by 

 disease, war, or emigration, and in a few years the whole country 

 will doubtless become the property of the United States. The ter- 

 ritory is governed by a governor, secretary, three judges appointed 

 by the president of the United States, and a legislature chosen by 

 the people. The legislature appoint the other civil officers of the 

 territory, and enact such laws for its internal government as they 

 may think proper, subject to the controul of congress; they also 

 elect a delegate to congress, who has the right of debating but not 

 of voting in that body. When the population amounts to 60,000, it 

 will be entitled to an admission into the union as an independent state. 

 The face of the country resembles very much the state of Ohio; 

 there is much uneven country, though not mountainous. The 

 savannas or prairies are extensive and numerous. The soil is in 

 general rich and well adapted for the cultivation of hemp, wheat, In- 

 dian corn, tobacco, &c. The climate is represented as being fine, 

 excepting in the vicinity of some of the low grounds adjoining the 

 rivers, but this evil will no doubt be overcome when the settlements 

 become more numerous, and the country drained by the extension of 

 agriculture. The Wabash river rises in the north-east part of the 

 territory near the boundary line of Ohio; its course is about south- 

 west, almost equally dividing the territory. It is a large stream, and 

 receives several important tributary waters, the largest of which is 

 White river. The Wabash enters the Ohio about 150 miles above 

 its junction with the Mississippi, and is above 300 yards wide at its 

 mouth. It is navigable for boats of fifteen tons burden near 300 

 miles, and for those of a lesser draught 200 miles further; one of its 

 head branches connects, by a short porterage, with the Miami of the 

 lakes emptying into lake Erie. Salt springs are numerous; iron and 

 v,oal are also found. 



Towns, commerce, Sec. ...The principal town is Vincennes, the 



beat of government. It is situated on the Wabash river, about 150 



miles above its mouth, latitude 38° 50' north, longitude 87° I0 f 



west. It contains 120 houses and 700 inhabitants ; the town was 



Vol.. II. SR 



