ENPages
p. 5
Wisconsin &c.
The Territory of Wisconsin as established at present is bounded as follows : commencing in the middle of Lake Michigan in north latitude forty two degrees and thirty minutes; thence, north, along the middle of the Lake to a point apposite the main channel or entrance of Green Bay; thence through said channel and Green Bay, to the mouth of the Menomonee river; thence through the middle of the main channel of said river to that head nearest the Lake of the Desert; thence in a direct line to the middle of said Lake; thence through the middle of the main channel of the Montreal river to its mouth; thence with a direct line across Lake Superior to where the Territorial line of the United States, last touches said Lake northwest; thence along said Territorial line to a point due north of the head waters or source of the Mississippi river, supposed to be in Longitude ninety=six degrees and two minutes west from Greenwich; thence
p. 6
Boundaries
due south at the head waters of the Mississippi; thence along the middle or centre of the main channel of that river to latitude forty two degrees and thirty minutes north; thence due East to the place of beginning. It therefore embraces all that portion of the United States lying between the State of Michigan on the east, and the Mississippi on the West, which separates it from the Territory of Iowa; and between the State of Illinois on the south and the British possessions on the north; extending from forty=two and a half to the forty ninth degree of north latitude, and embracing about the degrees of longitude. Taking the length of a degree of latitude and longitude in this part of the globe, it is ascertained that Wisconsin is about five hundred and fifteen miles from east to west; and four hundred and forty nine miles from north to south measuring from the extreme points. But the average or mean extent of the Territory in longitude is only about four and one third degrees or two hundred and six or seven miles, showing a superficial area of about
p. 7
and Extent
ninety three thousand square miles or sections, or nearly twenty six hundred townships of six miles square each. Wisconsin is therefore more than one half larger than Virginia, the largest state in the Union, and more than twice as large as the State of New York. This calculation is however only an approximation to the truth for so little accurately known of the course of the Menomonee, Montreal, and a part of the Mississippi river, that no accurate estimate can be made of the extent of territory [illegible] within the limits of Wisconsin. The Menomonee has been ascertained to have a course very different from what was supposed, at the time it was selected as part of the boundary; and a revision of that portion of the boundary between Michigan and Wisconsin which lies between Green Bay and Lake Superior becomes necessary, and will probably soon receive the action of Congress. A Survey was made in 1840 & 1841 by Captain Crain and it now only remains for Congress to
p. 8
Boundaries
decide upon the exact boundary. The Wasecota, a branch of the Menomonee, is ascertained to have its source nearest the Lake of the Desert and will therefore probably be established as part of the boundary.
p. 9
Disputed Boundaries
Wisconsin being a part of the "Territory of the United States north=west of the Ohio River" claims, and, indeed, Congress has by direct action confirmed to her* all the rights and privileges secured by the Ordinance of Congress of July 13th 1787 one of which is "that Congress shall have authority to form one or two states in that part of said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan: thereby fixing unalterably
*In the act establishing the Territory of Wisconsin, section twelve; where it is expressly declared "the inhabitants of the said Territory shall be entitled to enjoy, all and singular the rights and advantages granted and secured to the people of the Territory of the United States north=west of the Ohio river by the articles of the compact contained in the ordinance for the government of the said Territory passed on the thirteenth day of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven"
