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Show The "Big Muddy" THE Missouri rivet" discovered by French explorers 'way back yonder yon-der in 1673 is oft referred to as the "Pig Muddy." Formed by the junction of three rivers In southwestern Montana, it flows across that state, zig-zags through North and South Dakota, forms the eastern boundary of Nebraska Nebras-ka and part of Kansas, bisects Missouri Mis-souri and some twenty miles north of St. Louis or 2,f47 miles from Gallatin City, Mont., joins the Mississippi. Some claim that the Jefferson fork, originating in Red flock creek which rises west of Yellowstone park nRout 400 miles southwest of Gallatin City, is. In reality, the upper section of the "Big Muddy." If this be so and one also adds the Mississippi to the gulf, the result is a river channel more than 4,200 miles in length the longest long-est In the world. Of all the unruly rivers In the universe uni-verse the "Big Muddy" Is perhaps the unruliest. Flowing for the most part through easily eroded lands. It carries car-ries unbelievable quantities of soil in solution. According to estimates It annually dumps Into the Mississippi upwards of oOO.OOO tons of mud. This river appears to take n keen delight In scouring off the points of bends. In high-water seasons the "Big Muddy" Is a star performer, frequently frequent-ly overflowing and going on a rampage ram-page generally. On the other hand, during low-water seasons there are places where a man can ford it. Because Be-cause of the uncertainty of Its waters navigation Is almost at a stand-still. The aren drained approximates fiSO.OOO square miles. |