228 
BAKER. 
world, of the continents, and of the United States. For the 
most part, therefore, it is clear that our grandparents got 
vague and crude ideas of geographic situation, extent, and 
relation, since clear views of these are not gained without 
maps, sometimes indeed not even with them. The points 
emphasized by Morse are the points which were of command¬ 
ing interest and importance in his day. 
Fertile soil, healthy climate, hut especially transportation 
routes, are described in general and in particular, and are 
dwelt upon. The facilities which the rivers and lakes afford 
for commerce impressed our forefathers much more forcibly 
than even today the water routes to the Klondike impress 
the imagination of the gold-hunter. 
You will recall that on the old maps the Ohio river ap¬ 
pears as La Belle Riviere —the beautiful river. To the French 
voyageurs La Belle Riviere was more than a mere name. Its 
deep and placid waters, affording an easy and delightful nat¬ 
ural highway for a journey almost a thousand miles long, 
unbroken by falls or rapids, were to them indeed beautiful. 
Of it Morse says: 
“The Ohio is the most beautiful river on earth. Its gentle current is 
unbroken by rocks or rapids except in one place. It is a mile wide at its 
entrance into the Mississippi, and a quarter of a mile wide at Fort Pitt, 
which is 1,188 miles from its mouth.” 
This distance, 1,188 miles, has now shrunk to 965 miles. 
As to the Mississippi he says: 
“The principal river in the United States is the Mississippi, which 
forms the western boundary of the United States. It is supposed to be 
3,000 miles long and is navigable to the falls of St. Anthony.’’ 
In the numerous lakes and rivers scattered over the land 
Morse saw a bond of union between the future settlers. He 
points out the ease with which a complete network of water¬ 
ways might be constructed and its effect. He says: 
“By means of these various streams and collections of water the whole 
country is checkered into islands and peninsulas. The United States, 
and indeed all parts of North America, seem to have been formed by 
Nature for the most intimate union. For two hundred thousand guineas 
