Jefferson, Rivers & Commerce

While reading Sayre's essay on Jefferson, I kept thinking about Jefferson's role in the Corps of Discovery expedition (1803-1806), better known as the "Lewis and Clark Expedition". Here is a section of a letter dated June 20, 1803 that Jefferson wrote to Lewis that I thought you might find interesting:

"The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River, and such principal stream of it as by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce."

Selling sublime down the river ...