Ohio History Journal

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LA SALLE'S ROUTE DOWN THE OHIO

LA SALLE'S ROUTE DOWN THE OHIO.

 

 

E. L. TAYLOR.

 

[In the July Quarterly, 1905, page 356, Volume XIV, publications

Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, appeared an article

by the late E. L. Taylor, Sr., on "Water Highways and Carrying Places."

Some time after the publication of that article Mr. Taylor had cor-

respondence with a critic concerning the identity of the much disputed

route of La Salle down the Ohio in his western journey of 1669, the

alleged date of his discovery of the Ohio River. This has ever been

a most interesting question among historians and Mr. Taylor's letter

to his critic, which letter is herewith published, is a valuable contribution

to the controversy. This letter from Mr. Taylor came to our notice

some time ago and it was at our request that Mr. Taylor secured us a

copy and gave permission for its publication, which was delayed until

the present time. -EDITOR.]

Insofar as the first expedition of La Salle (1669) is con-

cerned, I do not think the Genesee is in any way involved. In

the map of old Cadwallader Colden there is no portage noted

between the waters of the Genesee and those of the Allegheny.

He was the most familiar of any man of his time (about 1720-

1740) with the topography of the entire country of the Iroquois.

He was the Surveyor General of that entire territory under the

English government, and was the best informed man in the coun-

try in regard to the topography and geography, not only of the

State of New York but of the regions as far west as the Mis-

sissippi and as far north as the lake country. He spent his

entire life in contact with the Indians. He was a learned, in-

dustrious and able man and devoted his entire time to official

duties, always in connection with Indian affairs. In the map

which he left, he noted all the carrying places of which he had

knowledge from the Hudson River as far west as Lake Michigan.

He makes no note of any portage between the waters of the

Genesee and the waters of the Allegheny. He notes a portage

between the Hudson River and Lake George; also between the

waters of the Mohawk River and Oneida Lake, the overflow

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