Excerpt from Routes of the Missouri River, Illinois River, and Northern Lakes: With Descriptions of Towns, General Features of the Country, Statistics, Tables of Distances, &C., &C

The Missouri River, rises in the Rocky Mountains, and takes its name after the union Of three branches, the Jefferson, Gallatin, and Madison. The Springs which give rise to the Missouri river, are not more than a mile distant from some of the head waters of the Columbia river, which run, in a Contrary direction, into the Pacific ocean.

At the distance of four hundred and forty-one miles from the extreme point of the navigation Of the head branches of the Missouri, are what are denominated the Gates Of the Rocky Mountains, which present an exceedingly grand and picturesque appearance. For the distance Of about Six miles, the rocks rise perpendicularly from the margin Of the river, to the hight of twelve hundred feet. The river is compressed to the breadth Of one hundred and fifty yards, and for the first three miles, there is only one S ot, and that only of a few yards, on which a man could stan between the water and the perpendicular ascent of the mountain. At the distance of 110 miles below this, and 551 miles from the source Of the river, are the Great F ails, miles from the egress Of the river into the Mississippi. At this place the river descends, by a succession Of rapids and falls, a distance Of 357 feet in sixteen miles and a half. The lower and greater fall has a perpendicular pitch Of eighty-seven feet, the second Of nineteen, the third of forty-seven, and the fourth Of twenty Six feet. Between and below these falls are continual rapids Of from three to eighteen feet descent. These falls, next to those of Niagara, are the grandest on the continent. Above the falls, the course of the river is northwardly.

The Yellowstone river, eight hundred yards wide at its mouth, and probably the largest tributary Of the Missouri, enters it on the south-west side, miles from its navigable source, and miles from the junction with the Mississippi. The Yellowstone, at the place Of junction, is as large as the Missouri. Steamboats ascend to this point, and could go much farther by either branch.

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