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Show At this ( time tinic ) ( 1718 112 ) the ( three thTee ) great ( ave- ave ) nues ( from froin ) the St . Lawrence to the ( Missis Hissis- Hissis ) sippi were , one by the way of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers , one by the way of ( Chi- Chi ) cago , and one by the way of the Miami of the Lakes , when , after crossing the ( portage ortage ) of three leagues over the summit level , a shallow ( stream streain ) led into the ( Wabasli Wabash ) and Ohio . In the case of Economy ( Liglit Light ) & ( Power Poiver ) ( Company Compamj ) v . United States 256U . S . , 113 , navigability of the Desplaines River was under consideration . In the course of its opinion the Supreme Court points out that as early as 1675 there was ( tlie the ) use of the rivers by fur traders ( page 117 ) : But both courts found that in its natural state the river was navigable in fact , and that it was actually used for the purposes of navigation and trading in the customary ( way vay ) , and with ( the flie ) kinds of craft ordinarily in use for that ( 'purpose purpose ) on rivers of the United States , from early ( fur-trading furtrading ) days ( about 1675 ) down to the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth ( century centuTy ) . * * * During the period mentioned the fur trade was a leading branch of commerce in the western territory , and it was regularly ( con- con ) ( ducted dacted ) upon the Desplaines ( Eiver River ) . ( Sup- Sup ) plies in large quantity and variety , needed by the early settlers , also were ( transported tral-isported tralisported ) over this route between Chicago and St . Louis , and ( other otheT ) points . Canoes and other boats of various kinds were employed , ( hav- hav ) |