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POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. Divisions. This State is divided into 2 districts, the Eastern and Western. These are subdivided into 33 parishes.*

2. Canal. The Canal Carondelet connects the Mississippi at New Orleans, with Lake Pontchartrain, through the bayou of St. John. It is 2 miles in length, and perfectly straight. It enters the city at an artificial basin, large enough to contain a great number of vessels. This canal affords a direct communication with the sea, for small vessels. There are similar works extending from the city to Lakes Borgne and Washita.

3. Railroads. A railroad from New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain, was completed in April, 1831. It is 4 miles long, perfectly straight, and its variation of level is only 16 inches. An artificial harbor and breakwater are formed upon the lake, at the end of the railroad. The Carrolton Railroad, to Carrolton, above the city, is 6 miles long. The New Orleans and Nashville Railroad, designed to extend through Mississippi to Nashville, in Tennessee, is in progress toward the Mississippi State line, a distance of 88 miles. The Atchafalaya Railroad extends from Opelousas across the inundated lands to Point Coupée, 30 miles. The St. Francisville and Woodville Railroad, 28 miles, is chiefly in this State. The Clinton and Port Hudson Railroad, 28 miles, connects Clinton and Jackson with the Mississippi at Port Hudson. The Alexandria and Cheneyville Railroad extends from Alexandria to the Bayou Boeuf, 30 miles.

4. Towns. New Orleans, the seat of government of the State, and the commercial mart of all the western country, stands on the northern bank of the Mississippi, at a spot where the river makes a great bend to the northeast. It is 105 miles above the mouth of the stream, by its windings, and 60 in a direct line. The ground is level, and the neighborhood a swamp. It consists of 3 municipal divisions; the city proper, the fauxbourgs or suburbs above, and those below it. The streets are straight and regular, generally crossing each other at right angles. In the city, the houses are built in the French and Spanish style, and are stuccoed of a white or yellow color. The fauxbourg of St. Marie and those adjoining it, are built in the American fashion, and resemble one of our Atlantic cities. Some of the public buildings are remarkable for size and architecture. The cathedral is an imposing structure of brick, with 4 towers It fronts upon a large square near the river. The other principal buildings are the State-house, City Hall, Custom-house, Exchange, the branch mint of the United States, several theatres, some of which are handsome edifices on a very large scale, the hotels, &c. The granite of the New England States has of late been much used here. Here are also a college, a convent of Ursuline nuns, an orphan asylum and many benevolent institutions. The spot on which the city is built, although the most eligible which the banks of the river afford in this quarter, has great disadvantages. The ground is soft and marshy, and there are no cellars to any of the buildings. As a place of trade, New Orleans has immense advantages. It is the outport for all the commerce of the Mississippi and its tributaries. It is accessible for ships of the largest size, and its levee is constantly crowded with all kinds of maritime and river craft. cotton season, its streets are barricadoed with bales. There are often 2,000 flat boats in the harbor at a time. Steamboats arrive and depart every hour, and 50 may be often seen together, while forests of masts of the sea vessels stretch along the levee. The yearly value of its exports to foreign countries exceeds 30,000,000 dollars; of imports, 10,000,000, and its coastwise imports and exports probably exceed these amounts. The shipping belonging to the port is 80,000 tons, and that entered exceeds 350,000 tons yearly.

This city was in the possession of the Spanish and French before it came into the possession of the United States, and it now exhibits a striking mixture and contrast of manners, language, and complexion. Half the population is black or mulatto, and there are more French than Americans. It is the most dissolute city in the United States; and swarms of profligate persons are collected here from every quarter. It is but just to add, that the stationary part of the population are not liable to these imputations. The police is judicious and energetic,

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and justice is promptly administered. The insalubrity of the city has always been well known. The endemics of the summer, sweep off strangers by hundreds, and the chance of surviving a season is sometimes considered as only 1 in 3. Notwithstanding this, it has rapidly increased in population, commerce, wealth, and general prosperity. Population, 80,000.

There is no other large town in Louisiana. Donaldsonville, on the west bank of the Mississippi, 90 miles above New Orleans, was at one time the seat of government. Baton Rouge, on the east side, 50 miles further up, stands on the last of the bluffs that are seen in descending the river. It is a pretty village, with houses in the French and Spanish style, and a handsome range of barracks for the United States troops. Population, 1,500. St. Francisville, on the same side, 20 miles above, stands also upon a bluff. It is about the size of Baton Rouge, and has a considerable trade in cotton. On the opposite shore, is Pointe Coupée, a village inhabited mostly by French. Here is the upper commencement of the great levee. Port Hudson is a thriving village below the Pointe.

Alexandria, on Red River, 100 miles from the Mississippi, by the windings of the stream, is a pleasant village in the centre of a rich cotton district, and ships large quantities of that article by steamboats and river craft. Population, 1,500. Natchitoches, 80 miles above, is the frontier town of the United States toward the Texian territories, and is usually termed the "jumping off place" by the traders, adventurers, and fugitives in that quarter. It was settled before New Orleans, and is more than a century old. The population is, like its history, an odd mixture of Indian, Spanish, French, and American. It has been under the rule of all these powers, and has had its war dances, fandangoes, French balls, and backwoodsmen's frolics. It is still a place of much gayety. The trade with Texas centres here; and it transmits to that country manufactured goods, spirits, and tobacco; and receives silver bullion, horses, and mules. Many fugitives from justice and lawless characters resort hither; yet the town has much respectable society, and newspapers in French and English are published in the place. Population, 3,000.

A few miles west of Natchitoches, are the remains of the ancient town of Adayes, founded by the Spaniards, and exhibiting the most complete specimen of an old Spanish town, that is to be found in the country. It consists of houses 100 years old, and a little old church, decorated with coarse paintings. The inhabitants are Spanish. It is about 25 miles from the Texian frontier. Madisonville, near the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, stands on a healthy spot, and is a summer residence for the people of New Orleans. Opelousas and St. Martinsville, west of the Mississippi, are thriving settlements, surrounded by a fertile and well cultivated district. 5. Agriculture. Sugar and cotton are the staples of the country. The sugar-cane is raised chiefly on that tract of the river alluvion called the coast, and upon the shores of the gulf and some of the bayous. It is planted in cuttings, or slips, and is cultivated nearly in the same way as The rows are 6 feet apart. The soil should be of the richest quality, and a foot in depth. There are 4 varieties of cane; the African, Otaheitan, West Indian, and Riband cane. The last is a new variety, and its stalk is marked with parallel stripes. It ripens some weeks earlier than the other kinds, and will flourish further north. After the cane is cut, it lies a few days to ferment, and is then passed through iron rollers, which press out the juice; this is evaporated by boiling, and the sugar crystalizes. An acre well cultivated, will yield 1,200 pounds of sugar. This State produces annually 90,000 hogsheads, of 1,000 pounds each. The capital invested in sugar estates, exceeds 50,000,000 dollars.*

maize.

*The following particulars respecting the cultivation of sugar, are extracted from a report of the Agricultural Society of Baton Rouge, September, 1829:

"The gross product of one hand, on a well-regulated sugar estate, is put down at the cultivation of 5 acres, producing 5,000 pounds of sugar, and 125 gallons of molasses; the former valued on the spot at 5 cents per pound, and the latter, at 18 cents per gallon, together, $297.50. The annual expense of each hand, including wages paid, horses, mules, and oxen, physicians bills, &c., is $105. An estate with 80 negroes, annually costs $8,330. The items are as follows: salt, meat, and spirits, $830; clothing of all sorts, $1,200; medical attendance, and medicines, $400; Indian corn, $1,000; overseer's and sugar-maker's salary, $1,000; taxes, $300; annual loss on a capital of $50,000 in negroes, at 2 per cent, $1,250; horses and oxen, $1,500; repairs of boilers, $550; do. of ploughs, carts, &c. $300. Total, $8,330. Fifteen acres are required for each hand, 5 for cultivation in cane, 5 in fallow or rest,

and 5 in woodland. The annual consumption of wood, on an estate of 80 negroes, is 800 cords. Two crops of cane are generally made in succession on the same land, one of plant-cane, the other of ratoon; it then lies fallow 2 years, or is planted in corn or peas. One hand will tend 5 acres, besides cutting his proportion of wood, and ploughing 2 acres of fallow ground.

"The capital vested in 1,200 acres of land, with its stock of slaves, horses, mules, and working oxen, is estimated at 147,200 dollars. One third, or 400 acres, being culti vated in cane, yields 400,000 pounds, at 54 cents; and 10,000 gallons of molasses, at 18 cents; together, 23,800 dollars. Deduct annual expenses as before, 8,330 dollars, leaving an apparent profit of 15,470 dollars, or 10 3-7 per cent interest on the investment." In a report made the following year, however, it appears the Society were misled by the abundant and extraordinary crop of 1827, and they give it as their opinion, that the rate of income is not more than 6 per cent.

The cotton plant grows 6 feet high, with stalks as large as a man's arm. It bears large, yellowish blossoms; and a cotton-field in flower, has a very brilliant appearance. The cotton is formed upon the cup of the flower, and is the down which envelopes the seed. The planting is performed in drill-rows, 6 feet apart; the growth is thinned to a proper quantity, and is kept perfectly clear of weeds. The cotton is picked from time to time, as the pods open. It is passed through a gin, which detaches it from the seeds, and is then packed in bales. The cotton crop of Louisiana, is about 210,000 bales. Maize is cultivated to a considerable extent, and the sweet potato grows in the sandy soil to the utmost perfection. Rice yields abundantly, but the cultivation of indigo is nearly abandoned. here, but the trees are often killed by the frost. the labor is performed by slaves.

Oranges of the finest quality are produced Agriculture as a science is in its infancy, and

6. Commerce. All the commerce of the State centres at New Orleans. It is chiefly transacted by vessels belonging to northern and foreign ports. The shipping of the State amounts to 92,000 tons, of which about 56,000 are in steamers. The annual value of imports, is about 12,000,000 dollars; the exports of domestic produce, 26,000,000 dollars; total exports, 30,000,000 dollars; these consist of all the agricultural and manufactured products of the val ley of the Mississippi, but the chief articles are sugar, cotton, tobacco, pork, and flour.

7. Government. The legislature is called the General Assembly, and consists of a Senate and House of Representatives. The senators are chosen for 4 years, and half the number are renewed every second year. The representatives are chosen for 2 years. The governor is chosen by a joint vote of the two Houses, and must be taken from the two highest previously balloted for by the people. His term of office is 4 years, and he is ineligible for the succeeding term. The clergy are excluded from office. The right of suffrage depends upon the payment of taxes. Louisiana sends 3 representatives to Congress.

8. Religion. The Catholics are the prevailing sect, and their ecclesiastical divisions, extending over the State, comprise above 20 parishes, most of which have priests. But the Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Episcopalians, are numerous.

9. Education. There are three colleges in the State; Louisiana College, at Jackson; Jefferson College, in St. James; and Franklin College, at Opelousas. There is also a medical college in New Orleans; and 40,000 dollars are annually appropriated by the legislature for the education of the poor.

10. Population.

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11. History. The Mississippi was discovered in 1673, by two French missionaries, named Marquette and Joliette, who proceeded from Quebec by the way of the lakes to the Mississippi, and down the stream to the mouth of the Arkansas. A few years afterwards, the country was further explored by La Salle, and named Louisiana, from Louis the Fourteenth. A settlement was attempted by him in 1684, at the bay of St. Bernard, on the Gulf of Mexico, about 100 leagues west of the Balize or mouth of the Mississippi. The first permanent settlement was at the bay of Biloxi, in 1698, within the present limits of the State of Mississippi. The next year, a fort was built on the Mississippi, about 50 miles above its mouth. In 1722, New Orleans was founded by Bienville, the commandant of the colony. Two years afterward, 500 negro slaves were imported from Guinea. About this time, the patent of the colony passed nto the hands of the Mississippi Company, in France, and was made instrumental in promoting the celebrated stock-jobbing bubble of John Law. At the treaty of peace, in 1763, Louisiana was ceded to Spain, and it was taken possession of by that power in 1769. In 1800, it was ceded to France. In 1803, it was purchased by the United States, from the French republic, for 15,000,000 dollars. The territory thus acquired, included all the possessions of the United States west of the Mississippi, of which the present State of Louisiana forms but a small portion. The remainder constitutes the States of Arkansas and Missouri, the Territory of Iowa, and the vast regions west of these divisions. In 1812, Louisiana, as defined by its present limits, was admitted into the Union as a State. The constitution was formed the same year.

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CHAPTER XXVII.

GENERAL VIEW OF THE WESTERN STATES
AND TERRITORIES.

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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, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and the Mexican Territories; and W. by the Mexican Territories and the Pacific Ocean. It extends from 33° to 54° N. lat. and from 80° 35' to 130° W. long., and contains about 1,272,000 square miles.

States.

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Ohio,

Indiana,

Illinois,

Michigan,

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2. Mountains. The western ridges of the Appalachian chain limit a portion of this territory on the east. The Ozark and Masserne Mountains 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 A great number of parallel ridges occupy the territory on feet above the level of the sea. both sides of the main range with a mean breadth of 200 miles. The mountains present generally a very rugged and sterile appearance, and oppose a very formidable barrier to any interTwo routes have generally been course between the Western States and the Pacific Ocean. 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 which and the want of food, and but for an occasional meal of horse-flesh, the whole party must have perished. At their return in the middle of May they were unable to pass for the snow,

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* We are indebted to the Missouri Advocate for the following account of General Ashley's discoveries in this quarter. He considers it quite possible to form a route across this formidable barrier to the Pacific Ocean. The route proposed after leaving St. Louis, and passing generally on the north side of Missouri river, strikes the river Platte, a short distance above its junction with the Missouri; then passes the waters of the Platte to their sources, and in continuation, crosses the head waters of what General Ashley believes to be the Colorado of the West, and strikes for the first time, a ridge or single connecting chain of mountains running from north to south. This, however, presents no difficulty, as a wide gap is found, apparently prepared for the purpose of a passage; after passing this gap, the route proposed falls directly on a river, called by George Ashley the Buenaventura, and runs from that river to the Pacific Ocean. The face of the country in general is a continuance of high, rugged, and barien mountains, the summits of which are either timbered with pine, quaking ash, or cedar; or, in part almost entirely destitute of vegetation. Other parts are hilly and undulating; and the valleys and table lands (except on the borders of water-courses, which are more or less timbered with cotton-wood and willows) are destitute of wood; but this indispensable article is substituted by an herb called by the hunters wild sage, which grows from 1 to 5 feet high, and is found in great abundance in most parts of the country. The sterility of the country is almost incredible. That part of it bounded by the

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was 10 feet deep. Captain Pike and his company in attempting to explore the southern parts were completely bewildered among snows, torrents, and precipices, and many of the party were lost.*

Little is known of the geo logical structure of these moun tains, but they seem to be chiefly granitic. Whether they contain any volcanoes is uncertain; when Lewis and Clarke's party were above the falls of the Missouri, they heard remarkable sounds among the mountains, which are described in the following language. "Since our arrival at the falls, we have repeatedly heard a strange noise coming from the mountains, a It little to the north of west. is heard at different periods of the day and night, sometimes when the air is perfectly still and unclouded, and consists of one stroke only, or of five or six discharges in quick succession. It is loud and resembles precisely the sound of a six pounder at the distance of 3 miles. The Indians had before mentioned this noise like thunder, but we had paid no attention to it. The

three ranges of mountains, and watered by the sources of the supposed Buenaventura, is less sterile; yet the proportion of arable land even within those limits is comparatively small, and no district of the country visited by General Ashley, or of which he obtained satisfactory information, offers inducements to civilized people sufficient to justify an expectation of permanent settlement. The river visited by General Ashley, and which he believes to be the Rio Colorado of the West, is at about 50 miles from its most northern source 80 yards wide. At this point General Ashley embarked, and descended the river which gradually increased in width to 180 yards. In passing through the mountains the channel is contracted to 50 or 60 yards, and so much obstructed by rocks as to make its descent extremely dangerous, and its ascent impracticable. After descending this river about 400 miles, General Ashley shaped his course northward, and fell upon what he supposed to be the sources of the Buenaventura, and represents those branches as bold streams, from 20 to 50 yards wide, forming a junction a few miles below where he crossed them, and then emptying into a lake called Grand Lake, represented by the Indians as being 60 or 70 miles long, and 40 or 50 wide. This information is strengthened by that of the white hunters, who have explored parts of the lake. The Indians represent that at the extreme west end of this lake a large river flows out and runs westward. General Ashley, when on those waters, at first thought it probable they were the sources of the Multnomah, but the account given by the

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