OHIO.

THIS state has heretofore been classed among the North-west States of the American Union; but the vast accumulation of territory lying still farther west and north has left Ohio more properly among the Middle States, on the Atlantic side of the continent: indeed, her relative position, considered in regard to the present north-western possessions of the United States, is actually that of one of the Eastern States of this republic. Marietta, the oldest town in the state, was settled, in 1788, by the "New England Ohio Company." The next permanent settlement was at Columbia, in the following year. In 1791, a company of French emigrants founded the town of Gallipolis. Large bodies of New England people, in 1796, settled several towns on Lake Erie. Before the above settlements were undertaken, several of the neighboring states, which, by charter or otherwise, were proprietors of various tracts of unappropriated western lands lying within this territory, had, from time to time, relinquished their claims; and numerous Indian titles were also extinguished by treaty. A territorial government was formed in 1799, in which year the legislature convened for the first time, at Cincinnati, and elected General William H. Harrison as delegate to Congress. A state constitution was formed in 1802, by virtue of

which, and under authority of Congress, Ohio became an independent member of the federal Union.

BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT.

Bounded north by the State of Michigan and Lake Erie; east by the States of Pennsylvania and Virginia, being separated from the latter by the Ohio River; south by said river, which divides it from Kentucky; and west by the State of Indiana. The Ohio River washes the border of the state, through its numerous meanderings, for a distance of over 430 miles. The state contains 40,000 square miles, and measures 200 miles from north to south, by 220 miles from east to west. It lies between 38° 30′ and 42° north latitude, and between 80° 35′ and 84° 42′ west longitude.

RIVERS.

The Ohio River, which gives name to the state, washes its entire southern border. This river is 1004 miles long from Pittsburg to its mouth, by its various windings, though it is only 614 in a direct line. Its current is gentle, with no falls, excepting at Louisville, Kentucky, where there is a descent of 22 feet in 2 miles, which is obviated by a canal. For about half the year it is navigable for steamboats of a large class through its whole course. The Muskingum, the largest river which flows entirely in this state, is formed by the junction of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding Riv

ers, and enters the Ohio at Marietta. It is navigable for boats 100 miles. The Scioto, the second river in magnitude, flowing entirely within the state, is about 200 miles long, and enters the Ohio at Portsmouth. Its largest branch is the Whetstone, or Olentangy, which joins it immediately above Columbus. It is navigable for boats 130 miles. The Great Miami, a rapid river, in the western part of the state, is 100 miles long, and enters the Ohio in the south-west corner of the state. The Little Miami has a course of 70 miles, and enters the Ohio 7 miles above Cincinnati. The Maumee, 100 miles long, rises in Indiana, runs through the north-west part of the state, and enters Lake Erie at Maumee Bay. It is navigable for steamboats to Perrysburg, 18 miles from the lake, and above the rapids is boatable for a considerable distance. The Sandusky rises in the northern part of the state, and after a course of about 80 miles, enters Sandusky Bay, and thence into Lake Erie. The Cuyahoga rises in the

after a curved course of

north part of the state, and 60 miles, enters Lake Erie at Cleveland. It has a number of falls, which furnish valuable mill seats. Besides these there are Huron, Vermilion, Black, Grand, and Ashtabula Rivers, which enter Lake Erie.

CLIMATE.

In general, the climate throughout the state is highly favorable to human health. The summer season, though warm, is regular, with the occasional and some

what rare exception of a whirlwind or hurricane. The winters are not severely cold, nor subject to violent storms; and the intermediate seasons are delightfully pleasant. It is true that in some of the marshy localities, giving rise to unwholesome vapors, the inhabitants are subject to those peculiar distempers always prevalent in such districts; but even there, the range of disorders scarcely extends beyond fevers and agues.

SURFACE, SOIL, &c.

Near the borders of Lake Erie, and for some distance in the interior of the northern part of the state, the surface is generally level, and occasionally somewhat marshy. The section of country in the vicinity of the Ohio River, in the eastern and south-eastern quarters, is elevated and broken, although there are no lofty mountains in the state. But the entire region is a table land, reaching to a height of 600 to 1000 feet above the ocean level. The most level and fertile lands are situated in the interior, through which flows the River Scioto. Vast prairies lie near the head waters of that river, of the Muskingum, and the two Miami Rivers, upon which there is no growth of timber, but which yield abundance of coarse grass. The forests, in other parts, produce oaks, walnut, hickory, beech, birch, maple, poplar, sycamore, papaw, cherry, buckeye, and whitewood, in all their varieties. Pines are uncommon, and the whitewood is generally substituted. The staple agricultural product of the state is wheat,