The  principal  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  which  flow  into  it  from  the
eastward  are —

Chippeway  River,  which,  after  a  course  of  more  than  200  miles,  enters
the  Mississippi  at  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Pepin.  It  is  navigable  for  canoes
150  miles.  On  the  Menomonie  branch  of  this  river,  about  45  miles  from
the  Mississippi,  settlements  are  forming  on  a  tract  of  8  or  9  million  acres
of  land  belonging  to  the  New  York  Mississippi  Land  Company.  A  town-
ship of  6  miles  square  has  been  laid  out,  and  the  towns  of  Fairport  and
Bloomingport  founded.  Much  of  the  land  in  the  vicinity  is  of  a  good  quali-
ty, and  the  climate  salubrious.
The  Ouisconsin  River  joins  the  Mississippi  about  4  or  5  miles  below
the  town  of  Prairie  du  Chien.  In  part  of  its  course  it  approaches  so  near
the  Fox  River  of  Green  Bay,  as  to  leave  a  portage  of  only  1^  miles.  It
is  one  of  the  great  natural  channels  of  communication  between  the  lakes
and  the  Mississippi.  Though  rapid  in  its  current,  it  is  unimpeded  by  dan-
gerous cataracts  or  shoals.
The  Elinois  River  enters  the  Mississippi  1 8  miles  above  the  Missouri,
after  a  course  of  more  than  400  miles.  It  is  near  a  quarter  of  a  rnile  wide
at  its  mouth,  and  has  a  remarkably  smooth,  gentle  current.  It  is  ascended
by  steam-boats  200  miles,  and  small  boats  have  frequently  passed,  especial-
ly in  wet  seasons,  from  the  Des  Plaines,  one  of  its  branches,  to  the  Chica-
go river,  and  thence  into  Lake  Michigan  !  A  canal  is  about  to  be  com-
menced for  the  purpose  of  connecting  this  river  with  the  waters  of  Lake
Michigan.
