The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-06
PROGRESS Of IMPROVEMENT.
No. III.


and the higheft usvigable point to which veilels
of a comfortable burthen can readily afcend
and the fecond, between this point and the high
eft uavigable point which is acccilible to the
boats and batteauS of the upper country. Be-
tween this intermediate Ration and tliefe two ex.
tremites of the river, its ingrefs into the ocean,
and its higheit navigable point, fnaller and nu-
merous towns will gradually ariie on It's banks.
They are fmall, on account Of their great num-
Der; and they are numerous, becaufe on every
point of the river where favorable and convc-
nent place of depoGt can be obtained, new
towns will be eftabliihed to carry on the trade
otthe FINAL area of cultivated country which lies
around them. Ii is at that central point which
is scceffibie on the one hand to the battcaux of
the upper country, and on the other 20 the
coating and commercial vcfiels of coniidcr-
able burthen that commerce felects her favorite
emporium, and it is here that germ is planted
which is defined to unfold the sirft improve
nents OF the arts, with all the ridiculous and
deRructive luxuries of civilized life.
A more particular fcheme of the rivers of
country would no doubt adopt a more particu-
lar difributior. 1t would ditribute 8 into three
inftead of two !ectious-the interval between the
mouth and the hgheft accefibl. point for the.
large vcfIels of foreign commerce; the interval
between this point and the higheit acceffibe
point for the coating craft; and that portion
which is navigated by boats and batteaux. Of
al the towns which are iituated on the naviga-
bic rivers tbojf will consequently attain TO the
hiGheH degree of PROPERTY (which are nourifhcd
by the greateh extent OF cultivated country, and
which enjoy at the fame time theie three fpe-
cies of commerce; which fees at the fame time
The battcaux Of the upper country, the coating
craft, and the vciieiS of a foreign commerce, ap-
preaching and enrichng it with their REFLECTIVE
freishts.
Il we CAT our eye over;he field of commerce, we
hall find that there are OTHER places bc!ides
TIE ports of the rivers, which are aufpicious
20 the growth of populous towns. Such are
thofe places of depoft on the fea board, or near
The mouth of fome river accefiible from the o.
csan, which conducts the earring trade of
country, which receives the Imports and exports
OF thofe towns on the rivers, not cafly acccili-
BILE to large veiTels, and which receives the pro-
d.lcs freE ole part the coaf, or from one ri
Or, and tranfrnits it to another. Such towns
which thus become the keys of communication
and the ernpora of part of the trade which
Is carried on between one foreign port and ano-
thcr, between foreign ports and the inland
towns, and between one inland town or one fea-
ho-d town and another, muft necefiary employ
large COMMERCIAL capitals, mutt receive large
profile, and attract comfortable population
Such are thofe fiourilhing towns which may be
feea on the charts of the United States as New
York and Norfolk.
At that early epoch, which precedcs the in-
PRODUCTION of manufactures, it is confequently
obvious that every agricultural country, NUT
exhibi. to the eye of speculative obferver, a
hmple & improving Landscape. Its foreits difap-
pearing; its rude inhabitants retiring; the plough
making its way Through every foil commerce
Introducing its white fails upon the waves of G.
very navigable river; towns fpreading on their
banks; the mott populous fettlements appear
ing at the foot Of the falls, near the mouths
Of the rivers or on the margin of the fea. Every
where he beholds an increafng population, and
every where he beholds the productive lahour
of man.
There is no one who can contemplate ruch a
pi6tnre Of the gradual I,rogrcfs OF agrcuIsu-
raj country, who will not anticipate with the
highef interea, the probable PROPERTY of LOU
ifiana and above all the bouDdlefs refources of
New Orleans, IFS capital. Obferve the I'M
menfe extent ofits back country, teeming with
the diveriiIed productions of the foil an ex-
tent Of country, not TO be confined to the banks
Of the MiEhippi, mighty and extenive as it is.
hut fpreadng on the Ohio, the MiGouri and its
numerous branches and then confder that
mot ofthe exports of this country and moft of
IFS Imports, mutt be tranfmitted by the Milf
hPpi. Recolect now the rapid current of that
river, which in the prefent fate of naval i'm
provement, is not to be femmed without con-
fderable labour and expcnfe, and which feems
TO forbid the approach of veGels of confidera-
bic bwrthen: and then confider that New Or
leans or fome contiguous point is thus defined
TO become the emporium Of the ereatelt part of
the commodities, which pats up and down that
river. In flct confider that New Orleans COM
bines almoft all the advantages ola town Gtua-
ted at the foot Of the falls, with the refources
ola town placed on the fea-board and what
magnificent picture buras upon our imagination
of the future profperity and magnitude of this
rifing city Situated upon another Nile, what
fpendiG dehiny feems to await this new Alex
andria of the weftern world Happy ihould it
hereafter enjoy a more fortunate lot than the
capital of Egypt and if under the aufpices Of a
mild and free contribution, its inhabitants ihouId
be as much di1nguilhed for their virtue and
fcicnce, as their fupple refnements of focal
ne
Il neqV ara in the progrets of an agricultu-
raj country remainsto be unfolded. In propor-
ton to the fettlement of the country, its foreign
commerce becomes lefs advantageous Its own
productions become dearerfromthe grcatevb
rs1uihteto kriHg fbem intothe market, SfronD the
greater quantity which is brought there: while
the commodities of foreign countries become
dearer from the increafcd competition among
the purchaftrs. The cutivator fells cheaper
ard buys dearer. The efcGt is obvious. Jnnead
o. obtaining their manufactured work from other
countries, IL inhabitants begin TO devote part
Of their capital TO this new fpecics Of labor, aud