Reproduction of Portrait of General George Rogers Clark a few French families seem to have lingered there until Scott's campaign against the Wabash Indians, in 1791, after which they betook themselves to other settlements. The portage between the Maumee and Wabash rivers, where Fort Wayne stands, was an important point commercially and a strategic one from the military view. Before the advent of the whites it was the site of one of the principal towns of the Miamis, Kekionga, and, according to Dillon, the French established a trading post there probably as early as 1719, which would make it contemporary with Ouiatanon in its beginning. Subsequently they erected there Fort Miamis, which was surrendered to the English in 1760. This, in turn, was succeeded by Fort Wayne, built by General Anthony Wayne's troops in 1794, and the name of which was transmitted to the present city. Vincennes, the largest and most permanent of the three French settlements on the Wabash, was also long involved in obscurity as to its origin, but it is now established by documents unearthed in Paris by Consul-General Gowdy, that the date was 1731. It began as a military and trading post and went by various names before it evolved into "Vincennes," in honor of Sieur de Vincennes, its accredited founder. The life of this isolated Gallic community in the far western wilderness for three-quarters of a century, particularly after the severance, by the war of 1754-63, of all ties with the country whence it sprung, makes a picturesque and romantic chapter in our history which is not without its pathos. For years it left its traces up and down the Wabash valley, and these are inseparable from the memory of the vanished red race, with which it so well assimilated. An old document published by the Indiana Historical Society as "The First Census of Indiana," gives the names of the heads of families residing at the three French settlements in 1769. By this there were sixty-six families at Vincennes, twelve at Ouiatanon and nine at Fort Miami. Names of the Wabash River. The name Wabash is a relic of the Miami language, which has undergone various transformations. In a map giving the Indian names of our streams, prepared by Daniel Hough and published in the Indiana Geological Report for 1882, the name is given as Wah-bah-shik-ka. On the later French maps it is usually given as Ouabache, with some earlier variants. This was the French attempt to spell the Indian pronunciation, the ou being equivalent to our w. When this, in turn, became Anglicised, it still was an attempt at the Indian form. At one time the French named the river St. Jerome, and it so appears on a few maps, but the change was short-lived. Wabi or Wapi, according to Dunn, is an Algonquin stem signifying white, and Gabriel Godfroy, a recent Miami, who retained the lore of his race, affirmed that the Wah-bahshik-ka derived its name from the formation of white stone over which it ran in one part of its course. White river also retains in part the Indian nomenclature, the original name being, as a French map gives it, Ouapikaminou. The Early Fur Trade.-What may be called the first industry of the Mississippi valley, the fur trade, was one of such importance commercially as to be a chief cause of the friction between France and England in America prior to the war of 1760. Interest in territory for its own sake seemed to have been remote and secondary, compared with the immediate interest in a traffic which contributed to national revenue and built up large private fortunes. This applies to no locality more than to Indiana, where one vast forest teemed with fur-bearing animals. The agents of the fur trade were the real explorers, and the recorded discoveries of the avowed explorers were, doubtless, meager beside the unrecorded ones of the men who traversed the streams wherever there was a chance of Indian trade. At one time during the French regime the annual trade at the post of Ouiatanon alone is said to have been £8,000, and in the year 1786 the records of the custom house at Quebec showed an exportation amounting to £275,977.* One of the early acts of William Henry Harrison as Governor of Indiana Territory (in 1801-2) was to grant trading licenses, the local privileges of each trader being defined, and a list of forty of these within the present limits of the State has been preserved. A subsequent list extends the trade, as to time, to 1857, before which period it had ceased to be "Indian trade." The persistence with which wild animals continued to exist in face of this ruthless war of extermination is illustrated by the fact that in the middle of the last century, at least a hundred and fifty years after the wholesale killing was inaugurated, the Ewing brothers, whose trading houses were at Fort Wayne and Logansport, are said to have amassed about two million dollars at the business. The men employed as carriers by the early French traders were the famous coureurs des bois, a class of half wild woodsmen which stands out picturesquely in history. The business, as conducted through the carriers of a little later period, is thus described by Dillon: "The furs and peltries which were obtained from the Indians were generally transported to Detroit. The skins were dried, compressed and secured in packs. Each pack weighed about one hundred pounds. A pirogue, or boat, that was sufficiently large to carry forty packs required the labor of four men to manage it on its voyage. In favorable stages of the Wabash river such a vessel, under the management of skilful boatmen, was propelled fifteen or twenty miles a day against the current. After ascending the river Wabash and the Little river to the portage Monument Marking the Site of Fort Sackville, Located at Vincennes near Fort Wayne, the traders carried their packs over the portage to the head of the Maumee, where they were again placed in pirogues or in keel-boats to be transported to Detroit. At this place the furs and skins were exchanged for blankets, guns, knives, powder, bullets, intoxicating liquors, etc., with which the traders returned to their several posts." Elsewhere the same authority tells us that the articles carried by the French traders were, chiefly, "coarse blue and red cloths, fine scarlet, guns, powder, balls, knives, hatchets, traps, kettles, hoes, blankets, coarse cottons, ribbons, beads, vermillion, tobacco, spirituous liquors, etc." How profitable the trade was may be gathered from the statement that the value placed on bullets was four, dollars per hundred and powder was priced at one dollar per pint by American traders. Corn Island-A for mer island at the falls of the Ohio river, where George Rogers Clark established a post or base of operations before his invasion of the Northwest, in 1779. The location was chosen because of greater protection against Indian attacks and to better guard against desertion by Clark's soldiers. The name, which was adopted after Clark's occupancy, seems to have been borrowed from a tradition that the first corn in that region was raised there. The island is described as a narrow tract about four-fifths of a mile long by five hundred yards at its greatest breadth. If it now existed the Pennsylvania railroad bridge from Jeffersonville to Louisville would pass directly over it. A heavy timber growth originally protected it from the ravages of the river, but with the removal of this protection, it gradually disappeared until washed away entirely. Colonel R. T. Durrett, of Louisville, did what he could to get that city to protect the historic spot, but without avail. Conquest of the Northwest-The conquest of the region northwest of the Ohio river, by George Rogers Clark, in 1778-9, was the first chapter in a succession of developments that have resulted in the present status of civilization in said territory. At the treaty of Paris, at the close of the Revolutionary War, England wished to retain this vast tract, amounting to more than 250,000 square miles, and there is little doubt that the question would have turned in her favor had not the posts of Kaskaskia and Vincennes been previously wrested from her. Clark's success fixed the northern and western boundaries. The retention of the territory by Virginia; its subsequent cession to the United States; the originating of a public domain, and the creation of the great ordinance of 1787 for the government of this part of the domain, were consecutive steps in our growth. George Rogers Clark-Born in Albemarle county, Virginia, November 19, 1752; died near Louisville, Ky., February 13, 1818. He was a land surveyor, and commanded a company in Dunmore's war against the Indians in 1774. He went to Kentucky in 1775 and took command of the armed settlers there. He captured Kaskaskia and other towns in 1778, which, with the surrounding region, were organized into Illinois county, under the jurisdiction of Virginia. Commissioned a colonel, he successfully labored for the pacification of the Indian tribes. Learning that Governor Hamilton, of Detroit, had captured Vincennes, Clark led an expedition against him (February, 1779) and recaptured it (February 20). He also intercepted a convoy of goods worth ten thousand dollars, and afterwards built Fort Jefferson on the west side of the Mississippi. The Indians from north of the Ohio, with some British, raided in Kentucky in June, 1780, when Clark led a force against the Shawnoese on the Grand Miami, and defeated them with heavy loss at Pickaway. He served in Virginia during its invasion by Arnold and Cornwallis, and in 1782 he led one thousand mounted riflemen from the mouth of the Licking and invaded the Sciota valley, burning five villages and laying waste their plantations. The savages were so awed that no formidable war party ever afterwards appeared in Kentucky. Clark made an unsuccessful expedition against the Indians on the Wabash, with one thousand men, in 1786. His great service to his country in making the frontiers a safe dwelling place was overlooked by his countrymen, and he died in poverty and obscurity.-Lossing's "Cyclopedia of United States His tory." Early French Maps.-Among the valued possessions of the State Library are two large atlases, in which are mounted a chronological series of old maps of the AmericasSpanish, French, English and American, which, covering a period of more than two hundred years, reveal interestingly the growth of geographical knowledge of the western hemisphere. Those by French cartographers, of or including the Mississippi valley, running from 1616 to the latter part of the eighteenth century, are of special interest as connected with the French explorations and occupancy. The earliest of these, one by P. Bertius, 1616, gives the coasts of the continent in distorted outline, and a very crude knowledge of the great lakes is revealed, but all the interior is, of course, one vast unexplored blank. Four by Guillaume Delisle, dated 1703, 1720, 1722 and 1733 (the lat Statue of General George Rogers Clark in Monument Place, Indianapolis ter date doubtful), show the slowly-changing ideas during that span. In 1703 the Ohio, without its branches, is given as "Ouabache au tremt appellee Ohio ou Belle Riviere." It rises in western Pennsylvania in what appears to be a good-sized lake, called "L. Ouiasont," and, in its upper course, flows parallel with lake Erie through what we would now describe as northern Ohio. The Illinois and Kankakee rivers (not named) have their rise in two small lakes in northern Indiana. This and subsequent maps seem to indicate some knowledge of the lakes of Kosci usko county and the belief that the Kankakee was their outlet. By 1720 a very fair knowledge of all the great lakes, as to relative size, locations and shapes, and also of the Mississippi, Ohio and Illinois rivers, is revealed. In 1722 the Wabash is first given, though very incorrectly, it flowing almost parallel with the Ohio, west by south. The Ohio is so named in its upper course, but farther down is given as "Ouabache." In 1733 the Wabash (unnamed) is quite different, being too far to the west and flowing from the north instead of northeast. Another cartographer, of 1726, gives the Maumee and its branches imperfectly, but not the Wabash. One of 1742 gives the "Hohio," "Oubach" and Maumee (the latter unnamed). The former still rises in its lake among the mountains of western Pennsylvania; the Wabash runs almost parallel, rising in a small lake in Ohio. As yet there is no indication that the map-makers knew of the portage between the Maumee and the Wabash. Branches are shown flowing into the Wabash from the north and west, but not from the south and east. A mountain-like elevation is shown in what appears to be about the center of Indiana. In 1746 the Wabash, given with greater accuracy, is first called the "R. de S. Jerome," and "F. des Miamis," at the Maumee, evidently indicates the old French fort of that name. The Kankakee is here given as "Huakiki." In 1755 White river is first shown, with both its branches. M. Seutteri's map of 1720 is chiefly notable as the best one showing the boundary lines between the English colonies and New France and the one separating the two great French provinces, Canada and Louisiana. This latter line, running eastward from the Mississippi to the Maryland border, cut through Indiana. One rather wonders why the French should continue to make maps of the region after its surrender to the British, but there are at least three or four after that event. J. Leopold Imbert, 1777, first shows Fort Ouiatanon, which is marked "Fort Francois," and a note at "F. des Miamis" states that it was built by the French in 1750 ("Batit par les Francois en 1750"). As this post appears on the map of 1746, Imbert's date probably refers to the rebuilding of the fort after its destruction by fire. It is curious that none of the maps before that of 1771, by Bonne, indicate the existence of Vincennes. Even as late as 1806 we find it absent from that of E. Mentelle, though on this map are both "Weauteneau" and "Fort Miami"-the latter an anachronism, for before that time Fort Wayne had succeeded to Fort Miami. Two curiosities among these maps are an English revision of d'Anville's French map, of about the time of the French and Indian war, and a German production of 1821. The first has elaborate notes, in which it is claimed that the English were entitled to the country by early discovery, they having "thoroughly explored" to and beyond the Mississippi as early as 1654-64. In the German map the great lakes and the states of the Northwest Territory are strangely distorted. Lake Michigan touches Indiana east of its longitudinal center, and there are mountain ranges across northern Indiana and throughout Ohio. OUR FIELD.-This magazine is launched with a pretty definite idea as to the need it will subserve. The interest in things pertaining to Indiana, both past and present, is on the increase, and as our first centennial anniversary approaches it will continue to increase. A great deal of Indiana matter, general and local, historical and current, has been published, but it is so scattered that it is practically inaccessible except to one who goes as a student to ransack the shelves of the very few libraries containing it. There exists no convenient digest of the information frequently desired, such as any one may keep on his private shelf for easy reference. The leading purpose of the editor of "Indiana, Past and Present," is to make of it an omnium gatherum of facts covering a wide range. For these he will draw freely upon all available sources, giving credit where due. Under the head of "Indiana in Brief" they will, so far as they are historical, be arranged in chronological order and run parallel and as supplementary matter to the original history, "The Making of a State." This latter narrative will deal not so much with the minutiae of our history as with a general study of the forces that have combined to make the State what it is, and it is the author's hope that he can invest it with an interest that will make it readable without sacrificing accuracy or carefulness of thought. It is not grandiose to say that the theme itself, as surveyed from this viewpoint, is epic, and in its human interest challenges all the ability that the historian may happen to possess. MAX R. HYMAN GEORGE S. COTTMAN Application made for entrance in the mails as second class mail matter. Published monthly with the exception of July and August. COUNTY SKETCHES AND SPECIAL ARTICLES. -The surveys of the various counties from month to month will be an important feature of the magazine, as such local information in a collected form is particularly difficult to get, while special articles on important subjects, like those of Mr. Deitch and Mr. Mannfeld, in this number, will be written by qualified persons and have the value of accuracy and thoroughness. THE SCHOOLS.-With full appreciation of the fact that the public schools are a much-abused target for every one who thinks he has something educational, we yet venture to think that this magazine as a reference work will have a distinct value in the school room, and in that faith we bespeak a candid examination of this number by educators, further calling attention to the fact that the matter in it has not a passing but a permanent value. PRICE OF THE MAGAZINE.-A magazine of this character cannot, we conclude, be published for less than our price, $2.00 per year, both the text and the illustra- | tions being items of considerable expense. If our purpose carries, the matter contained in the magazine the next two years will be published in at least two volumes-a history and a "Hand-book of Indiana," which will cost perhaps twice as much as the magazine for that period. By preserving the magazines instead, the subscriber will have in two years all that the bound volumes will contain and considerably more that cannot be included. SOME REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED Buried away in the Acts of 1913 (page 526), and not even referred to in the index of the book, is a provision touching the Indiana centennial celebration, whereby the last General Assembly shunted off the responsibility that had been handed on to them by the legislature of 1911. In other words, the law of 1911, which set the whole movement afoot by creating a Centennial Commission, with duties defined, and which it was hoped the succeeding assembly would duly advance by a proper appropriation, was virtually repealed, or at least stayed in its operation with a possibility of annulment by submitting the question to popular vote. This means the loss of a year or so of valuable time, if nothing worse. The putting the burden of decision on the shoulders of the voter looks like a due deference to the taxpayer, to be sure, but on the other hand there is not the slightest chance that, between the passage of the provision and the next general election, when it will be settled, the rank and file will be educated to the merits of the question of a memorial building. It may well be doubted whether it is a matter to be properly put through this cumbrous procedure. When a nation, state, county or city is in unquestionable need of a public building it usually proceeds to build one without bothering Tom, Dick and Harry about it. Anything that may be regarded as an experiment or an extravagance of hypothetical value, such as a centennial exposition, might appropriately be referred to the people, but the proposed memorial building is not of that character. On the contrary, it is simply an annex to the State House-a public building for permanent use, the need of which is growing more pressing every year. One wonders how this need can for a moment be questioned by any one who is at all posted as to conditions in the Capitol. The general congestion there is apparent to even the casual visitor, the most conspicuous proof, perhaps, being the State's battle flags set out in the halls in a way to irresistibly suggest the Monday wash hung out to dry, while the various rooms have a stackedup, crowded appearance. With the creation of new boards and commissions and the consequent demand for office room the other departments are shifted from pillar to post, and some interests once housed there have been ousted entirely, as, for example, the Indiana Historical Society, which, after enjoying the privilege of a room there for years, is now homeless and holds its meetings in private offices by courtesy of its friends. One of the latest evictions is that of the State Geologist, who has been put out of the rooms long occupied by the department and instaled among the curios of the museum, with glass partitions around his little allotted space, as though he were a side show apart from the general exhibit. The museum itself has for years been so crowded that valuable relics, particularly those that required some space, have fairly been turned away for lack of accommodation. In this connection it should be remembered that to the throngs who visit the Capitol as sightseers the museum is, far and away, the most interesting feature in the building, and, with growth, modern equipment and a curator to instruct the curious, it would have a great educative value. From the viewpoint of the scholarship of the State a crying need is for enlarged quarters and improved equipment for our State Library. Unfortunately, only the student class, numerically weak, are alive to this need, but no State can afford to ignore the interests of its students. Our State Library is so crowded that those who operate it are handicapped, and the students who do research work there, not a few of them coming from abroad, are similarly handicapped. There is no place for secluded, undisturbed research work with adequate space. Newspaper research is particularly discouraging, the bound volumes being stacked on each other so as to make them difficult of access, and the accumulating recent files being, perforce, relegated to the basement, where they are not only practically useless, but where the paper is more than apt to suffer deterioration. The library is poorly lighted and worse ventilated, and not least of the evils is a system of hot air circulation that sows over every book and paper in the stacks a microscopic dust that fills the lungs and begrimes the hands as it is disturbed. If a great depository of documents and reference literature is worth building up it is worth keeping properly and with a view to its highest efficiency. Coming back to the central question, the thing immediately before those who wish to help the movement for a centennial memorial building is the education of voters who will vote for or against it in November, 1914. The elements in the proposition, briefly put, are as follows: The State Capitol is now crowded to the crippling of the State's business and interests, and so sure as the State continues to grow it must provide itself with increased housing facilities. This necessity the proposed building will subserve. The building should, architecturally, be a credit to the State, and it should be thoroughly modern in its equipment. In view of its importance and permanence anything short of this would be a discredit to Indiana. The appropriation for the building, provided the majority of those voting on the question are for it, is $2,000,000. At the present time Indiana draws upon about $1,900,000,000 in taxable property, from which, for the year 1913, it will derive a revenue of something like $7,600,000. The tax on the assessable property figures out about one and one-twentieth mills on the dollar. For the wide dissemination of these salient facts there should be an organized educational plan. Every school, every library, every institution throughout the State that stands for intellectual advancement should be a missionary center and an open advocate of a centennial memorial building. Agents Wanted— We want an agent in every county Saks Building M. R. Hyman Pub. Co. INDIANAPOLIS |