NORTH-WEST TERRITORY

NORTH-WEST TERRITORY, a vast tract of country in North America, situated between 42. 30. and 49. north latitude, and 87. 30. and 95. 30. west longitude. It is bounded on the north by the British possessions and Lake Superior, on the east by Lake Michigan, on the south by Illinois, and on the west by the Mississippi, and a line drawn from the source of that river to the northern boundary. In length it extends about 500 miles, and in breadth about 400 miles. In some of its physical features this territory resembles that of Missouri; but a greater proportion of it is covered with wood. It is, generally speaking, a hilly country, with the exception of extensive levels of prairie land. At the western extremity of Lake Superior are the Cabotian Mountains; and near the mineral district are the Smoky Mountains. The chief rivers, with the exception of the Mississippi (see the article MISSISSIPPI), are the Ouisconsin, Fox, Chippeway, St Croix, Rum, St Francis, and Savannah of the Mississippi. Grand Portage, Ontonagon, Montreal, Mauvaise, Boisbrule, St Louis, and nearly fifty smaller streams, discharge themselves into Lake Superior. Riviere la Pluie falls into the Lake of the Woods. None of the lake rivers have a course of more than a hundred and fifty miles, and few of them more than fifty miles. The Ouisconsin, the largest tributary of the Mississippi in this territory, rises in the northern interior of the country, and interlocks with the Montreal of Lake Superior. It has a course of between three and four hundred miles, with a shallow and rapid current, which is, however, generally navigable by boats in good states of the water, and is 800 yards wide at its mouth. There is a portage of only half a mile between this and Fox River. It extends over a level prairie, across which, from river to river, there is a water communication for periogues in high states of the water. Fox River has a course of 260 miles,

flowing through Winnebago Lake, and into the Green Bay of Lake Superior. The country on its banks is very fine, and the climate is salubrious. Another considerable tributary of the Mississippi is the Chippeway, which enters it immediately below Lake Pepin. It is half a mile wide at its mouth, and has communication, by a short portage, with Lake Superior. This is one of the very best regions for hunters. In the upper part of the country, buffaloes, elk, bears, and deer, are common. Beavers, otters, and muskrats, are taken for their furs. The trappers, and also the Indian tribes, pursue their prey over an immense extent of prairie. The soil is fertile in some parts, and no doubt the enterprise and industry of civilized men will ere long bring a great portion of it under cultivation. White and yellow pine and white birch are common amongst the forest trees. All the water courses, ponds, and marshes, are covered with wild rice, which the inhabitants use as one of their chief articles of food. The elevation of the head waters of the Mississippi is estimated at 1330 feet above the level of the sea.

This country abounds in minerals, and rich veins of valuable ore have been discovered and wrought to considerable advantage. Great quantities of terre verte or green earth, lead, iron, and copper, are also found in it. The lead-mine district is situated in the lower part of the country, between Rock River and the Ouisconsin. The chief establishments of the present miners are on Fever River, and the mines are reckoned as rich and productive as any in the world. The following are the quantities produced in each year from 1823 to 1832.

The great increase in the years 1828 and 1829 reduced the price so low as to render the working of the mines in a great measure unprofitable. For upwards of half a century it has been confidently asserted that great quantities of native copper may be found along the northern shore of Lake Superior. On the Outogon there is a vast abundance of pure copper in detached masses. One of these masses is estimated to weigh 3000 lbs. The common reports, however, of the existence of large veins of copper, have not been confirmed by recent travellers; but there are nevertheless sufficient indications that mines of this metal are to be met with in this territory. Besides lead, iron is found in various places, and in great abundance.

In the southern portion of this large territory the climate is comparatively mild, and not unlike that of the northern belt of Missouri. At the Falls of St Anthony, on the Mississippi, the summers are temperate, whilst the winters are extremely cold. The sources of the Mississippi are in a region extremely inclement. At St Peters, in 1820, the mean temperature of January was zero, a degree of cold which is never experienced in any part of the United States that has been extensively settled. The summer, however, was temperate, and the atmosphere beautifully serene. Even at Prairie du Chien, although much more temperate, the winters are extremely severe. At the Falls of Packagama, on the Mississippi, about 1200 feet above the level of the sea, water has been known to freeze to a considerable extent in the middle of July. The following table, extracted from the work of an American writer, will convey the best idea of the nature of the climate in different parts of the North-west Territory:

The North-west Territory is divided, or rather marked off, into four counties, which have been named and partially settled by whites; but there are still a number of Indians in it. Prairie du Chien, Cassville, and Green Bay, are the largest villages; and the whole population has been estimated at 16,000. Green Bay settlement is situated at the outlet of Fox River, and contains 952 inhabitants. A few miles up Fox River, in a most romantic position, there is an interesting Episcopal missionary settlement. Prairie du Chien is of importance as a place of outfit from the Lower Mississippi to the upper waters. It is situated near a beautiful prairie, and there are flour-mills in its vicinity. Most of the permanent settlers here are a mixed race of Indians and whites. Frequent voyages are made from St. Louis to Prairie du Chien in keel-boats. The richest copper mines, and the largest masses of pure copper, are said to be found here. One third of the land is capable of being farmed, and about one sixth is well timbered.

The whole of this vast region has been for some time politically connected with Michigan for the sake of convenience, but it must ultimately constitute a state by itself. Most of the lands are owned by Indians, or by the United States; the latter having recently made a purchase from the former of a very considerable tract of country. The following description of the Indian territory is from Flint's Geography: "The tract reserved to the Indians, of 500,000 acres, is also a fine body of land, containing very extensive and fertile meadows along the Fox River, with woodlands of good timber, in which there is no underbrush. The writer proceeded thirty-eight miles from Green Bay, up the Fox River, to Winnebago Lake, passing rapids whose whole descent is about 100 feet. The river is ninety yards wide, its bed a limestone rock, the banks from fifty to 150 feet high. The water is of course adequate to move any machinery. Doty's Island, in the outlet of the lake, contains 400 acres heavily timbered. The bank of the lake itself is covered with trees of a height and diameter indicating the nature of the soil, which is a black loam, rich and deep. The Cliff, so called, is a mountain 300 feet above the level of the lake, presenting a picturesque prospect. The main roads leading from Green Bay to Chicago, Ouisconsin, Portage, the Lead Mines, and Galena, will probably pass this point. Beyond this the mountain recedes three or four miles from the shore, forming a valley fifteen miles in length, of as fertile land as can be found in the United States, terminating to the south in a dry prairie called Cass Plains. These plains contain 25,000 acres of rich land, which are already cleared by nature for the plough, and they extend to the Manitowoc River. Soon

after begin the prairies, which run, with scarcely any timber, to the Mississippi. In the whole distance, near 100 miles, passed by the writer, the land seems to be of the kind and aspect just described, namely, rich prairie, with occasional growths of fine timber, equally indicative of fertility. A road from the mouth of Fond du Lac River to Galena would be of great advantage to the mines, and a direct route for one might be followed at a trifling expense. It would facilitate the transportation of property from New York by the canal and the lakes."