Emily Stehr

Interesting History of the Mississippi, Missouri and Jefferson Rivers Emily Stehr

Edmund Dana; Geographical Sketches on the Western Country: Designed for Emigrants and Settlers; Being the Result of Extensive Researches and Remarks; to which is Added, a Summary of All the Most Interesting Matters on the Subject, Including a Particular Description of All the Unsold Public Lands, Collected ...; Looker, Reynolds & Co Printers; 1819 Edmund Dana writes: "THE MISSISSIPPI river rises in latitude 47 degrees 47 minutes from Turtle lake, from thence to the falls of St Anthony is about 600 miles, latitude 44 degrees. Its junction with the Missouri is in latitude 38 degrees 50 minutes. It flows into the Gulf of Mexico through several mouths, of which the principal is the Balize. This river by overflowing in the spring freshets, lays the country for many miles in extent under water - is from one to two miles in width, and of a great depth. Boats of 40 tons burden can ascend to the falls of St Anthony. Ships seldom proceed further up than Natchez. The application of steam to the propelling of boats has furnished peculiar facilities to the navigation of this river, on which and its tributary streams are now (1819) driven by that power, nearly one hundred steam boats, from 40 to 500 tons burden. The length of the Mississippi exceeds 3000 miles; it extends above its junction with the Missouri, more than 1600 miles. - The latter, both in magnitude and length, exceeding the former, may be considered the principal; its navigable waters extending above its confluence with the Mississippi, according to Lewis and Clark, for 3096 miles; its whole meanderings which are navigable to the Mexican Gulf, being 4491 miles."