The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-29
Dollars 1871 90

The calculations in this table, drawn from
the mott correct accounts of the products of the
Mitlouri during fifteen years, make the average
| of a common year 1871 dollars.
On calculating, in the fame proportion, the
amount Of merchandise entering tho Riifouri
and giving in exchange for peItrics, it is found
that II amounts to $3.50 dollars, including ex-
pences. equal to one fourth of the valu. of the
merchandise.
The refut is that this commerce gives annu-
ally profit OF 1921 dollars, or about 27 per
cent.
If the commerce of the Mihcuri, without
encouragement, and badlyreguIated, gives an
nuaIly 70 great profit, may we not ref affured
thatit Will be greatly augmented, fhould GO
vernment direct its attention to II. It is alto
necetiary to obferve that the price Of peltries
fixed by this table is the current price in the IL
linoiS if If were regulated by the prices of
London, dedu6ting the expences of tranfporta-
ton, the profit according to our calculation,
would be much more comfortable.
Ifthc Miffouri, abandoned to favages, and
prefentiag but one brasch of commerce, yields
iuch great advantages, in proportion to the ca
pFtal employed IN il, what might we not hope,
If fome merchants on companies with large ca
pitfalls, aud aided by population extended a.
long the borders ofthe river, fhould turn their
attention to other branches of trade, which they
might undertake q dare fay with certainty of
iucceis, when we conider the riches buried in
;ss 55siiss, and which have en,iravured in
theie notes to give an idea.
Although my intention has been only to
fpeak of the MifIouri, conhderit duty at
the fame time to give an idea of the faIt mines
and the falines, which are found in the fame Ia
ttude, on the branches of the river Arkanfas.
At about 900 miles from the village of the great
Otages, in weherly direction, after having
pafed fevera branches of the river Arkanfas,
we find fiat, furrounded by hills of an i'm
menfe extent, and about Is leagues in diane
ter, the foil Isl black fand, very fine, and 70 hard
that the horfes hardly leave a trace. During
warm and dry feafOn, there exhaes from this
fat, vapors which, after being condenfed, fall
on this black fand, and cover it with an incruf-
tation Of falt very white and fine, and about
half an inch thick; the rains deRroy this phe-
nomenon.
At about s miles from this hat, there are
found mines of genuine falt, near the furface of
the earth (; the Indians, who arc well acquainted
with them, are obliged to ufe levers to break &
raife it.
AT dihance of about IS leagues from the
fiat, of which we have iuG fpoken and in fou-
therly direction, there is a fecond mine of genu-
inc ialt of the fame nature as the other. Thefe
two mines differ only in colour the 6rt Dor
ders on blue, the fecond approaches red. In
lhort, much further fouth, and Rill on the
branches Of the Arkanfas, is a faliHe, which may
be coufdered as one of the mott intereftng
phenomena ia nature.
On the delivity Of fmall hill, there are FIVE
holes, about foot and a half in diameter, and
two in depth always full of falt water, without
ever overlooking. If a perton were to draw 4
ny OF this ialt water, the hole would Immediate
ly fill itielf !; and about 10 feet lower there
flows from this fame hill a large itrcam Of pure
and fweet water.
If this country were peopled, the working Of
theie genuine tdlt mines would be very eafy, by
means of the river Arkanids. This fpecits oil
falti found by experience to be far preferable
to any other for falling proyifions.
Should theie notes, imperfect aud without
order, but in every refped founded on truth &
obieryations made by myfelf, excite the curioi
IS of men Of Intelligence, capable Of inyehigat-
ing the objects, which they have barely fuggef-
ed, do not doubt but that iucacnlablc adj
vartlges would refult to the United States, and
Especially 10 the dltriS of Louifana.
1t is imPoliible to give an exact account ofthe
peltries, which are brought down the hiinfHp-
pi, as they are ali Immediately transported TO
Canada, without paiIing by any pof of this dif-
trct. We can obtain A true datement only
from the ieitlements on the lakes. But from
the bet Information, we may be adured, they
are given as exactly as polIible in the fubioined
table, ard that the expectations TO Canada are
increaed every year. 1t is but fhort time
fnce the tcd river has been explored, and it is
yet bat lmpegteCtly known however this year