Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1803-11-23
CCoHfisaed from first pzge Of tbs
da2's Hr3m.)
GENER AL DESCRIPTION OF
UPPER LOUISIANA

~ N'~'t NCiit!'tlC4 wan ltlS l.lCl-
ana territory, the face of the coun-
try in Upper Louifiana is rather
more broken, though rhe foil is
equally fertile. |, is fat not to
be conteited, that the welt fda Of
the river podeTes Gnme advantages,
not generally incident 70 thola re-
glonS. Il Is elevated and healthy,
and we'll wateTed with variety IF
large rapid Creams, calculated FOR
mills and other water works. From
Cape Girardeau, above the mouth
OF the Ohio, to the Minouri, the
land on the eat fide Of the Miilis
,ippi is low and hA-, and occaGon-
ally expoled 10 foundations; that
on the Louifana ide, contiguous
TO the river, is generally much high
er, and in many places very rocky
on the ihore. Some of the hei ghts
exhibit fcene truly pifturefque.
They rife to a height of at leaf goo
feet, faced with perpendicular hire
and free-5t0ns, carved into various
ihapeS and figures By the hand Of
nature, and afford the appearance
OF a multitude of antique towers.
From the tops Of thefe elevations,
the land gradually lloPes back
from the river, without gravel or
rock, and is covered with valuable
timber. 1t may be iaiA with truth
that, for fertility of foil, TO part OF
the world exceeds the borders OF
the Miililiippi the iaod yields an
abundance Of ali the neceharies of
life, and almoh spontaneously We
~ little labor being required IN the
cultivation OF The earth. That part
OF Upper Loujiana, which borders
on North Mexico. is one immenle
praiyie it produces nothing but
gral$ ; it is filed with buffalo, deer,
and other kinds of game the land
is reprefented as too rich for the
growth of foref trees.
It's pretended that upper Loui-
fiana contains in It's bowels many
FLYER and copper mines, and vayi-
Gus fpecimeHs Of both are exhibit
ed. Several trials have been made
TO alcertain the faEt but the want
of lkilI in the artilfs has hitherto
left the fu5je& undecided.
The i1it works are ALTO pretty
numerous: fome belong to indivi-
duals; others to the pubic. They
already yield al abundant lupply
for the confunption Of the coua-
try and if properly managed,
might become all article OF more
general expectation. TIE ufual
price per buGlel is 50 cents in cab
at the works. This price will be
fill lower as loon as the mauufac.
rure Of the falt is a1umed bygovern-
msnt, or patroniled by men Who
have large capitals TO employ in the
bunneis, One extraordinary fact
relative TO falt NUT not be omit
ted. There exits about 1920
miles Up the Miaouri, and not
far from that river, a 2ah Mum.
tain I The exiaence of fucb a
mountain might we'll be queaion-
ed, were it not for the teltimony
Of feveral respectable and enfsrpri-
Gng traders, who have viGled it,
and who have exhibited feveral
bulhels Of the falt TO the curioGty
Of the people Of ST. Louis, where
fome of it filj remains. a fpecj-
men Of the fame C2lt has been fsnt
TO Marietta. This mountain IS laid
to be $50 miIcy long, ard As in
With, competed Of fold rock rait,
w.thout any trees, or even ihrubs
on it. Salt fprIngs are very nu.
msrous beneath tie furiace OF this
mountain, and hey aow through
the 6f'ures and cavities Of it. Caves
of ialt-ps,re are found IN Upper
I ouiGana, though II fJme dieauce
49,. 80