Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-05-20

i word, Il Is incorruptible both in mir and
water and thus making the planks stout
er than ordinary, there would be no I'M
convenience from the me Of cypress. Il
have observed, that this woods not In
iured BY the worm, and ship-worms
might, perhaps, have the same aversion
to Il a. other worms have.
Other wood fit FOR the building Of ships
avery common in this country, such @
elm, ash, alder, and othefs. There are
Likewise ID this country several species
of wood, which might sch IN France for
joiners work and 6neering, a. theceder,
the black walnut, and the cotton Tree;
Nothing more would therefore Be Mant-
ing for Completing ships but cordage and
iron. As to hemp, itgrows 30 strong as
TO be much litter for making cables tlIas
cloth. The iron might be brought from
France, a. also sails-however, there
needs only 70 open the iron mine Il the
cliffs Of the Chicasaws, called Prud'hom-
me, 70 set up FORCES, and iron win be
readily had. The King, therefore, might
cause all sorts of shipping 70 bebuilt there
at so small . charge, that q moderate ex-
pense would procure a numerous feet
1.-THE English build ships in their colo
mics, from whichthey draw great advan-
tages, why might we not do the same in
Louisiana
France imports great deal Of salt-pe-
tire from Holland and Italy; she may
draw from Louisiana more than she will
have occasion for, If once she sets about
it. The great fertility Of the country is
an evident proof thereof, confirmed by
the avidity Of cloyen footed animals %
lick the earth, in al places where the tor.
rents have broke it up It j. well Known
how fond these creatures are Of salt.-
Saltpetre might be made there with all the
ease imaginable, on account ofthe plenty
ofwood and water il would besides Be
much more pure than what i commonly
had, the earthnot being fopiedwith dung
hills and ON the other hand Il would not
be dsarer than what il now purchased BY
France in other places. i
What commerce might not be made
with Silk! The silk.worms might Be
reared with much greater snccess IN this
country than in France, as appears from
the trials thar have been made, and which
have before related.
The lands Of Louisianaare very proper
for the culture Of Saffron, and the climate
would contribute 10 produce il in gene
raj abundanee-and, what would still be
aennsiderable advantage, the Spaniards
ofMexico, who consume great deal Of
1t, would enhance It's price.
I have spoken Of Hemp, in respect 10
the rigging Of ships but such - might
be built there, would never be sufficient
10 employ Ill the hemp which might be
raised IN that colony, did the inhabitants
cultivate as much Of itas they well might.
But you win say, why do they not! My
answer Is, the inhabitants of this colony
only follow the beaten track they have got
into but If they saw an intelligent per-
son SOW hemp without any great expense
or labor, as4he soil Is very ct for il; il,
say, they saw that it thrives without
wedding that in the winter evenings the
negroes and their children can peel Il, in
q word, ifthey saw that there is good
prolific be had BY the. sale Of it--they
then would all make hemp. They think
and act in the same manner as to all other
articles Of culture In this country.
Cotton Is also good commodity for
commerceand the culture Of il il at
tended with no difficulty. 4.
The Indigo Of Louisiana, according
70 intelligent merchants, is as coed q
II I L. e IL -. -. 4 n