366 



MISSOURI. 



River to Lake Superior, traversing the central part of Wisconsin. Their elevation in some 

 parts is estimated to be about 2,600 feet. There is a ridge of low hills between the sources of 

 the INlississippi and the Red River from 1,200 to 1,500 feet above the level of the sea, but 

 not more than 200 or 300 above that of the surrounding country. A similar ridge stretches 

 round the western end of Lake Sunerior, dividing its tributaries from those of the Mississippi. 



3. Rivers. The Mississippi washes the western boundary and receives the principal rivers. 

 The Rock River passes into Illinois, but is navigable within the limits of Wisconsin. The Wis- 

 consin is one of the most important tributaries of the Upper Mississippi, and has a course of 

 about 500 miles, rising near the sources of the Montreal of Lake Superior and the Menomonie 

 of Lake Michigan, and approaching at the great bend within a few miles of Fox river ; its naviga- 

 tion is obstructed by shoals and bars, except in high stages of the water. The Chippeica is also 

 a large stream entering the Mississippi. The St. Louis flows into the Fond du Lac or head of 

 Lake Superior, and may therefore be considered as the source of the St. Lawrence ; it is 

 much broken by rapids and falls. The Fox River of Green Bay, is a fine navigable stream, 

 with some rapids. 



4. Climate. Soil. The cHmate scarcely differs from that of the corresponding parts of Mich- 

 igan. In the southwest are extensive tracts of good soil with some swamps and marshes ; the 

 prairie or unwooded land prevails, except on the borders of rivers. In the south there are 

 some sandy and some rugged tracts, and extensive marshes and lakes. On the Upper Missis- 

 sippi are valuable forests of white pine. 



5. Minerals. The most valuable mineral product has hitherto been lead, and copper is 

 also found, but there has been no examination of the mineral resources of the earth. The 

 lead district is a part of that which occupies a portion of Illinois and Iowa. 



POLITICAL gp:ography. 



\. Divisions and Population. Wisconsin is divided into 19 counties.* The population is 

 about 30,000. 



2. Toivns. The towns in an agricultural district which has been settled for only a few 

 years, must necessarily be small. The capital is JWadison, recently founded on the Four Lakes, 

 with about 500 inhabitants. Milicaukee, on Lake Michigan, with the best harbor on this coast 

 of the lake, has about 2,000 inhabitants. Sheboiegan, further north, has an advantageous situ- 

 ation for a trading town. JS'^avarino, at the mouth of Fox River, has also a good harbor, and 

 will become important as the country becomes peopled. Fort Howard., a military post of the 

 United States, stands opposite to Navarino, and at the mouth of the Wisconsin is Fort Craw- 

 ford. Prairie du Chien, the most northern village on the Mississippi, is on the site of an 

 old French village, and has a population of 600 souls. 



3. Canals. The Portage Canal 1 1 mile in length, connects Fox River with the Wiscon- 

 sin, and therefore the Mississippi with tlie lakes, and completes a steamboat navigation from 

 Ogdensburg and Buffalo to New Orleans. The junction of the Rock and Milwaukee by a 

 canal, is projected. 



4. Indians. The Menomonies occupy a tract on the river that bears their name. The 

 Chippewas are thinly scattered round the heads of the Rlississippi and the coast of Lake Su- 

 perior. There are some bands of the Six J^ations from New York on Green Bay. 



CHAPTER XXXV. MISSOURI. 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. This State is bounded N. by Iowa, W. by the Indian Territo- 

 ry and the Missouri, E. by Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and S by Arkansas. It ex- 

 tends from 36° to 40° 30' N. latitude, and from 89° to 95° 30' W. longitude. It is 300 miles 

 in length and from 220 to 300 in breadth, and contains 68,000 square miles. 



2. Mountains. The Ozark Mountains extend from the central parts of this State south- 



' Brown Fond du Lac Manitniiwoc Rock 



Olunipt Grant Milwaukee Sheboiegan 



Crawford • Green MarqueUe . ' Washington 



Dane Iowa Portage Walworth. 



Dodo^e Jefferson Racine - • 



