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Chapter The 'Body Of The Nation'
BUT the basin of the Mississippi is the BODY OF THE NATION. All the other parts are but
members, important in themselves, yet more important in their relations to this.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.In extent it
is the second great valley of the world, being exceeded only by that of the Amazon. The
valley of the frozen Obi approaches it in extent; that of La Plata comes next in space,
and probably in habitable capacity, having about eight-ninths of its area; then comes that
of the Yenisei, with about seven-ninths; the Lena, Amoor, Hoang-ho, Yang-tse-kiang, and
Nile, five-ninths; the Ganges, less than one-half; the Indus, less than one-third; the
Euphrates, one-fifth; the Rhine, one-fifteenth. It exceeds in extent the whole of Europe,
exclusive of Russia, Norway, and Sweden. IT WOULD CONTAIN AUSTRIA FOUR TIMES, GERMANY OR
SPAIN FIVE TIMES, FRANCE SIX TIMES, THE BRITISH ISLANDS OR ITALY TEN TIMES. 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. Latitude, elevation, and rainfall all combine to render
every part of the Mississippi Valley capable of supporting a dense population. AS A
DWELLING-PLACE FOR CIVILIZED MAN IT IS BY FAR THE FIRST UPON OUR GLOBE.
Editor's Table, Harper's Magazine, February 1863
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