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circuit. It has no harbour, and is neither so pop-
ulous nor fertile as the islands to the N. of it; but
its manufactures are of a superior kind, the cloth
is of a better dye, and the spears and clubs are
better carved and polished. The people are lus-
ty and well made, and rather browner than those
of Tahiti. Long. 150. 47. W., lat. 22. 27. S.
Ohio, a river of the United States flowing into
the Mississippi, from the N. E. It is formed by
the junction of the Allegany and Monongahela
which rise in Pennsylvania and Virginia, and
unite at Pittsburg in the former state. Its gen-
eral course to the Alississippi is S. W. but it has in-
numerable sinuosities ; its length in a straight
line from Pittsburg to the Mississippi is 614 m.
and by its windings 908. In the lower part of its
course its width is about a mile. There is no ob-
struction to the navigation except the falls at
Louisville, which are avoided by a canal. See
Louisville. In winter and spring it is 50 feet deep-
er than at the end of summer, when it may be for-
ded at the falls. The rains at the end of the year
raise the water sometimes 12 feet in a day. Their
highest elevation is in March. For half its length
in the upper part, it is frozen in the winter, and
the breaking up of the ice in March often occa-
sions immense damage. In the spring of 1:32 an
uncommon flood of the river inundated a great
part of Cincinnati, overflowed many'other towns
upon the banks, and destroyed a vast amount of
property.
The Ohio is a very beautiful river, and the in-
terval lands upon its borders are highly fertile. It
embosoms more than 100 islands, and the scenery
along its course is diversified with abrupt eminen-
ces, and extensive alluvial tracts covered with
thick forests of sycamore, dogwood, and other
beautiful trees. It is of great importance in the
navigation of the western states and is connected
with Lake Erie by a canal. See the following ar-
ticle.
Ohio Canal, unites the Ohio with Lake Erie.
Beginning at Cleveland, on the lake, it proceeds
southerly along the Cuyahoga, to the portage be-
tween this stream and the Tuscawaras; here it
strikes the latter stream,and passes along its valley
southwesterly. It then passes off to the Scioto and
descends the valley of that river to the Ohio at Ports-
mouth. It is 3axc2xbb m. in length, besides a lateral cut
to Columbus of 11 m., and the Dresden-cut with
slack water navigation of 17 m. It has 11,185 ft. of
lockage. TLis canal was projected by the state of
Ohio. It was begun in 1:25. and is now nearly
finished. It nas cost less than 10.000 dollars a
mile. Anotner canal joins the Ohio with the
Miami, it haves the Ohio at Cincinnati and ex-
tends northerly to Dayton on the Miami. It is
70 m. irs ier./tu. A further communication is
projected from tins point to Lake Erie and the
Ohio canal br rai-n acs. |
Ohio, one of toe Untied States ; bounded N. hv
Michigan Territory and Lake Erie, E. by Penn-
sylvania and Virg in!. S. by Virginia and Ken- '
tucky and W. by Indiana It extends from 38. 30.
to 42. N. lat.. ar.c front 35. to 84. 47. W. long.
220 m. in length ar.c breadth, and containing 40,
000 sq. m. It is washed on the whole southern
limit by the Ohio, and is intersected by its tribu-
taries the Muskingum. Scioto and Great and Lit-
tle Miami. The Maumee. Sandusky and Cuya-
hoga flow into Lake Erie. In this part, the state
has 150 m. of coast, containing several harbours,
the chief of which are those of Sandusky, Cleve-
land and Ashtahula. There are no mountains in
71
the state, and hardly any hills. Most of the soil
is susceptible of cultivation. In the north it is
somewhat marshy; the banks of the rivers are
highly fertile : in the interior are extensive plains
of excellent soil, and the stale altogether may be
pronounced equal in fertility to almost any region
of the earth. The forests.consist of walnut, various
species of oaks, hickory, sugar maple, and other
sorts; beech,birch,poplar,asli, sycamore, paw-paw,
buckeye, cherry, dogwood, elm, hornbeam, &c.
With the exception of a few cypress tress, this
state produces hardly any evergreens. Many
sorts of medicinal roots are’ found here, as ginseng,
valerian, columbo, snakeroot, and bloodroot
Coal is abundant in the eastern parts, as also iron,
but there are few mines. Marble is plentiful, and
salt springs furnish water nearly as strong as that
of the sea. Near the falls; of the Little Miami, are
the Yellow Springs, the waters of which are a
strong chalybeate, and in considerable esteem for
their medicinal qualities.
The agricultural products are maize, wheat, rye
barley, oats, spelt and buckwheat. Fruits are
abundant, and the soil is thought to be the best
for garden vegetables of any in the western coun-
try. Tobacco has been lately introduced. Hemp
is cultivated in some parts.
Ohio enjoys the most active commerce of all
the western states. The northern and eastern
counties export to Montreal and New -York by
the lake, great quantities of agricultural produce.
But the chief of the exports are to New Orleans.
The articles are flour, grain, porli, bacon, lard,
whiskey, horses, and cattle.
The domestic manufactures are considerable,and
there are some large manufactories of woolen, cot-
ton,and paper, at Cincinnati. Zanesville, Steuben-
ville, Dayton, and other places. The manufacture
of steam machinery, and oilier articles from iron,
is considerable. To these may be added linseed
and castor oil.whiskey, cabinet furniture and salt.
The number of counties in Ohio is 73. The
Pop. 937,637. Slavery is prohibited. The leg-
islature is called the General Assembly, and con-
sists of a Senate and House of Representatives.
The senators are chosen for two years and the
representatives for one. The Governor is chosen
for two years. Suffrage is universal and elections
are popular. Columbus is the seat of government
and Cincinnati the largest city. The other towns
of importance are Zanesville, Steubenville, Chilli-
cothe, Dayton, Marietta and Circleville. There
are 4 tribes of Indians in the state; the Wyan-
dots, Shawnees, Delawares, and Ottawas. The
Senecas have recently removed west of the Mis-
sissippi. The four tribes number about 1,500 souls,
and own 336,341 acres of land, which is secured
to them by treaty. Considerable annuities are
paid them by the United States government. |
