326 



WESTERN STATES. 



CHAPTER XXVIL 



GENERAL VIEW OF THE WESTERN STATES 

 AND TERRITORIES. 



T'^ieic of the. Rocky Mountains, 



1. Boundaries and Extent. This portion of the United States is bounded N. by Russian 

 and British America ; E. by British America, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and 

 Mississippi ; S. by Georgia, Alabama, IMississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and the Mexican Terri- 

 tories : and W. by the Mexican Territories and the Pacific Ocean. It extends from 33° to 

 54° N lat. and from S0° 35' to J 30° W. long., and contains about 1,272,000 square miles. 



States and Territories. 



States. 



Tennessee, 



Kentucky, 



Ohio, 



Indiana, 



Illinois, 



Michigan, 



Wisconsin T., 



Capitals. 



Nashville. 



Frankfort. 



Columbus. 



Indianapolis. 



Springfield. 



Detroit. 



Madison. 



States. 



Iowa T., 

 Missouri, 

 Arkansas, 

 Indian Territory, 

 Western District, 

 Oregon District. 



Capitals. 



Iowa City 

 Jefferson City. 

 Little Rock. 



2. Mountains. The western ridges of the Appalachian chain limit a portion of this territory 

 on the east. The Ozark and Masserne JMountains are branches of the Mexican chain which 

 extends into the southeastern part of this country. But the most important are the Rocky 

 Mountains., whose numerous ridges intersect this territory from north to south. In extent, 

 height, and breadth, they far exceed the Appalachian Mountains. Their base is 300 miles in 

 breadth. The central chain is covered with perpetual snow, and the peak of the Great Wind 

 Mountain between the heads of the Arkansas and Platte rivers, has been calculated at 18,500 

 feet above the level of the sea. A great number of parallel ridges occupy the territory on 

 both sides of the main range with a mean breadth of 200 miles. The mountains present gen- 

 erally a very rugged and sterile appearance, and oppose a very formidable barrier to any inter- 

 course between the Western States and the Pacific Ocean. Two routes have generally been 

 followed, the northern by the Missouri, and the southern by the Platte. The latter is so easy 

 that wagons have been carried through. The former is impassable during the greater part of 

 the year, but may be crossed from June to September, although with great difficulty. Lewis 

 and Clarke's party, in their outward journey by this route, suffered every thing which cold, 

 hunger, and fatigue could impose upon them for 3 weeks. They were compelled to melt the 

 snow for drink ; their horses were lost among the precipices ; the men became feeble from toil 

 and the want of food, and but for an occasinal meal of horse-flesh, the whole party must have 

 Derished. At their return in the middle of May they were unable to pass for the snow, which 



