and the exploring party under his command, it is considered expedient again to notice it here. The Arkansas was explored to a point called Bell's Springs, north lat. 38° 32', west long. 280 45'; and from the best information it appears to rise about north lat. 400 10', west long. 30° 10'; the course being nearly north-west from Bell's Springs, and the distance about 150 miles.From Bell's Springs it runs about 350 miles, in an east by south direction. It then turns N. E. and runs in that direction about 80 miles. It then turns to the S. E. and runs in that direction about 200 miles to where it passes into the Arkansas Territory; in which it runs a winding but generally S. E. course of about 450 miles to the Mississippi; the whole course being by this view twelve hundred and thirty miles. The principal tributary streams in this territory are the Negracka and Grand Saline, both falling in on the south side. The Negracka rises near the Spanish Peaks, and runs above 350 miles, nearly an east course. line is nearly 250 miles long. Grand Sa Geological Formation.-The eastern part of this territory is secondary. The exploring party found the western limit of limestone and coal strata to run nearly north and south, about a degree of longitude west from Council Bluff; and the eastern limit of argillaceous sandstone to run nearly north and south, between the parallels of 250 and 260 west. The same party formed an estimate of the elevation of the country on the parallel of 38°, and the following are some of the results. Osage River, near the eastern boundary of the territory, 750 feet; Neosho River, 1000 feet; Arkansas River, first crossing, 1500 feet; 2d crossing, 1750 feet; 3d crossing, 2000 feet; base of James's Peak, 2500 feet. Summit of the Peak, 11,000 feet above the level of the sea. Soil and Natural Productions.-The eastern and southeastern parts of the territory are rich and fertile, the produce being similar to the contiguous states and territories respectively. Along the Missouri and other rivers there is also good soil and abundant vegetation; but the central part of the district is a great desert, frequented by roving bands of Indians, who have no fixed place of residence, but wander about from place to place in quest of game.* "The soil, during the whole length of the Missouri below the Platte is, generally speaking, very fine, and although the timber is scarce, there is still sufficient for the purposes of settlers. But beyond that river, although the soil is still rich, yet the almost total absence of timber, and particularly the want of good water, of which there is but a small quantity in the creeks, and even that brackish, oppose powerful obstacles to its settlement. The difficulty becomes still greater between the Muscle Shell River and the falls, where, besides the greater scarcity of timber, the country itself is less fertile."+ Among the mountains, many of the valleys are fertile and productive. Minerals.-The most valuable mineral that has yet been discovered in the territory is lead. Dubuque's lead mines are situated on the west side of the Mississippi, about sixty miles below Prairie du Chien; and extending along the west bank of the Mississippi, seven miles in front by three in depth. The ore found is the common sulphuret of lead, with a broad foliated structure, and high metallic lustre. It is said that these mines will become very valuable. About St. Peter's, on the Mississippi, blue and green clays are found, with which the Indians paint themselves. * Major Long. † Lewis and Clark. Schoolcraft's Journal. There are some mineral springs near this place, and other valuable mineral substances. In the S. E. part of the territory there is coal, salt, and other minerals, and there are no doubt valuable minerals in other places. Climate. In such an extended country this is a fertile theme. Embracing twelve degrees and a half of latitude, and 220 of longitude, and passing from an elevation of 750 to above 12,000 feet, there must be very great variety in the climate. Accordingly we find that in the general view the climate is fourfold. The S. E. part, bordering upon the state of Missouri and Arkansas Territory, is temperate; the middle part, to about the 43d degree of latitude, and 28° of longitude, has the middle climate; beyond that to about the 47th degree of lat. the climate is the coldest; and above that it is very cold. It appears, however, that the great cold is only in the winter season; for even at Fort Mandan, the northern extremity, the summers are warm and pleasant. The following table, made up from the observations of the celebrated travellers, Lewis and Clark, will convey a good idea of the climate of this extensive region. September 23. The air remarkably dry. October 5. Slight frost. 18. Hard frost. 27. Went into winter quarters at Fort Mandan. November 9. Strong frost. 13. Much drifting ice. 30. Indians cross the river on the ice. December 5. Excessive N. W. wind. 7. River closed. wind. 28. Strong January 3. Snow nine inches deep. S. Snow ten inches. 19. Ice three feet thick on the most rapid part of the river. March 2. River partially open. 26. Ice broke up, and descended in immense shoals. 30. Ice floating in great quantities. April 1. A fine shower of rain, the first since the 15th of September. The air dry and remarkably pure. April 4. Hard gales; scarcely any timber to shelter the country, and the winds blow with astonishing violence, April 7. Left Fort Mandan. April 11. Vegetation appears. 18. A heavy dew, the first since the 15th of September. 21. White frost. May 2. Violent wind; snow and vegetation intermixed. May 26. The air warm, fine, and dry. June 27. Thunder, lightning, and hail so large that one stone was seven inches in circumference, and weighed three ounces. July 6. Rain, thunder, and hail; a black bird killed by the latter. July 7. Near the sources of Missouri. 21. A sudden cold caused a difference of 599 in the thermometer in eight hours. At Council Bluffs in 1820, the greatest heat was 1050, and the greatest cold 220 below zero; the mean heat was 490 2. At Saint Peter's the greatest heat was 930, and the greatest cold 30° below zero; the mean heat being 43° 9'. Historical View.-This immense territory is a part of the original Louisiana, and its general history is included in the account of that state. Lewis and Clark explored it, as we have seen, in 1804, 5, and 6; and their researches have added much to our stock of knowledge regarding this vast country. Population.-The United States have a garrison at Council Bluffs, and another at St. Peter's; a military expedition was sent up the Missouri in 1825 to near the Yellow Stone River, and large parties of the American Fur Company have penetrated to the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains, and returned with valuable cargoes of furs. The country is principally occupied by various tribes of Indians, of which the largest are Arrapahays and Sioux. The number north of the Missouri is estimated at 41,350; and south of the Missouri 105,021; total 146,371. OREGON, OR WESTERN TERRITORY. General Remarks.-This extensive territory, though little known, is an exceedingly interesting country; having soil, climate, and natural advantages equal, if not superior, to any other portion of the United States territory. By the late treaty with Spain it is now indisputably in possession of the United States, and that treaty clearly defines the southern boundary. The northern boundary remains to be adjusted with Britain, but in that it is presumed there will be no difficulty, as the Spanish claim to the North West Coast is understood to have extended to |