Latitude, elevation, and rainfall all combine to render every part of the Mississippi Valley capable of supporting a dense population. Conceptions formed from the river-basins of Western Europe are rudely shocked when we consider the extent of the valley of the Mississippi nor are those formed from the sterile basins of the great rivers of Siberia, the lofty plateaus of Central Asia, or the mighty sweep of the swampy Amazon more adequate. It would contain Austria four times, Germany or Spain five times, France six times, the British Islands or Italy ten times.
It exceeds in extent the whole of Europe, exclusive of Russia, Norway, and Sweden. The valley of the frozen Obi approaches it in extent that of the La Plata comes next in space, and probably in habitable capacity, having about 8/9 of its area then comes that of the Yenisei, with about 7/9 the Lena, Amoor, Hoang-ho, Yang-tse-kiang, and Nile, 5/9 the Ganges, less than 1/2 the Indus, less than 1/3 the Euphrates, 1/5 the Rhine, 1/15. In extent it is the second great valley of the world, being exceeded only by that of the Amazon. Exclusive of the Lake basin and of 300,000 square miles in Texas and New Mexico, which in many aspects form a part of it, this basin contains about 1,250,000 square miles. All the other parts are but members, important in themselves, yet more important in their relations to this. The First Arrival 3 The "Body of the Nation."īUT the basin of the Mississippi is the BODY OF THE NATION.
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