OHIO. 



3.51 



though in every other part it Ls navigable for boats. Towards the end of the year it begins to 

 rise, and in March it reaches its highest point. A sudden flood will sometimes raise it 12 feet in 

 a single night. At Pittsburg, it is commonly frozen for several weeks in the depth of winter, 

 and even for 400 miles below. At the breaking up of the ice, immense damage is sometimes 

 occasioned, in the destruction of all kinds of river vessels. For about half the year, it is na- 

 vigable by large steamboats through its whole course. At Louisville, is a fall or rather a rapid, 

 which is the only obstruction of that kind from Pittsburg to the sea ; this is avoided by the 

 canal described in the preceding chapter. The Ohio is a very beautiful stream, and was de- 

 nominated by the French discoverers, la belle riviere. It contains more than 100 islands, 

 and its banks are varied with rich, cultivated intervals, and bold, towering blufi's. Its current 

 is commonly gentle, but varies from 2 to 4 miles an hour In autumn, its waters glide calmly 

 between broad and clean sand-bars. In the spring, it rolls in full current, and inundates many 

 of the islands between its banks.* 



The Muskingum rises in the northeastern part of the State, and flows southerly into the 

 Ohio. It is 200 miles in length, and is navigable for boats 100 niiles. It is connected by a 

 canal with Lake Erie. The Scioto rises in the western part, and flows southerly into the Ohio. 

 It is about 200 miles in length, and is navigable ISO. There are rich and beautiful prairies on 

 this river, and its valley is wide and fertile. The Oliio canal passes along this valley, and ex- 

 tends northeasterly into the Muskingum. The Great Jlliami rises in the western ])art, and 

 flows southerly into the Ohio ; it is above 100 miles in length, and has a rapid current, but is 

 difficult of navigation. The Litllc Miami flows nearly parallel to the former, into the Ohio. 

 Both these streams water a pleasant, healthy, and fertile country. The rivers of the Erie basin 

 have a shorter course, and are more obstructed by rapids and falls. The Maiimee rises in the 

 northeastern part of Indiana, and flows through the northwestern part of this State into Lake 

 Erie ; it is broad and deep, but has an obstruction, from shoals and rapids, 20 miles above its 

 mouth. It is connected with the Miami by a canal. The Sandusky rises in the northern part, 

 and flows northerly into Lake Erie ; it is 100 miles in length, and is navigable. The Cuya- 

 hoga is a small stream in the northeast, falling into Lake Erie. The Ohio canal passes along 

 its valley to the lake. 



3. Bays and Harbors. This State has above 150 miles of coast upon Lake Erie. This 

 extent embraces several harbors. Sandusky Bay., in the west, is 20 miles in length, and from 

 3 to 4 wide ; it communicates with the lake by a narrow strait, and affords an excellent haven. 

 Maumee Bay^ in the northwest, a small basin, also affords a capacious and commodious harbor 

 for ships. Several islands in Lake Erie belong to Ohio, among which is Put in Bay Island, 

 with a good harbor. The harbor of Cleveland, at the outlet of the Ohio canal, and those of 

 Ashtabula, further east, and Huron to the west, are frequented by steamboats and other lake 

 craft. 



4. Climate. The general temperature of the air is some degress colder than in the Atlan- 

 tic regions, in the same parallel. The winters are often severe, and the Ohio has been frozen 

 at Cincinnati, for 2 months. The summer is subject to tornadoes, but the autumn is always 

 temperate, serene, and jjleasant. Along the valley of the Ohio, the weather is more equable 

 and mild than in the interior. In the southern part there is little snow ; in the north, the snows 

 are deep, and there is much sleighing in the winter. Near marshy spots, and stagnant waters, 

 fevers and agues prevail, especially among the new settlers ; but in general, the State may be 

 pronounced healthy. 



5. Soil. Nine tenths of the surface of this State are susceptible of cultivation. The in- 

 tervals of the rivers are highly fertile. In the interior, are the largest tracts of rich level plain, 

 in any settled portion of the United States. The prairies produce no timber except a few 



" " No river in the world rolls tor 1 ,000 miles a cur- 

 rent so smooth and peaceful as tlie Ohio. Its tributa- 

 ries wind through as many valleys in ]0 ditTerent States. 

 The Tennessee, the first in size, liaving passed a navisja- 

 ble course through 3 Slates, for more than 1,000 miles, falls 

 into the Ohio River 50 miles above its mouth ; the Cumber- 

 land, 62 miles, being navigable for steamboats to Nashville, 

 and for keelboats 300 miles further; the Wabash 200 

 miles ; Green river 280 miles from the mouth of the Ohio, 

 — navigable 200 miles, and 200 yards wide at the mouth ; 

 the Kentucky 504 miles, and navigable ITiO miles; Great 

 Miami 482 miles ; Great Kanawha 8r>() miles. — navigable 



04 miles to the Salines, wiiere annually are made from 500 

 to 700 busliels of salt; Great Muskingum li.'jO miles. These 

 are the principal auxiliaries which give substance and 

 strength to the Ohio. In its course of more than 1,000 

 miles, it washes 6 States, and, with its tributaries, has more 

 than 5,(100 miles of navigable waters. Its mean width is 

 (iOO yards, with the exception of its lowest 50 miles, the 

 average width of which is 1,000 yards. The average ra- 

 pidity of its current is 3 miles an hour. It rises 50 or more 

 feet. At low water, its surface at Cincinnati is supposed 

 to be 130 feet below the level of Lake Erie, and 430 above 

 the tidr v.'ater of the Atlantic. Pucli is t!;c Ohio." 



