Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-04-11

n....e OF ann lnulylduaI state OF terrific


ry
AZ no very remote period, the public
welfare will require road leading from
The seat o. government to the North
Western frontier. III a direction that will
Corhiuc sis"riuess Of distance with the
nrac'Icablhty otmahing good road, and
the accommodation of the largest posi-
HE extent oicurn,ry. a road %! tbs cha
rac,erniay commence AT Wheeling, or any
other place on the OHIO, where the Uni
ted States road from The seat of govern
ment may strike that river, and run in Il
direction about W. \. W. through the
states q. Ohio and Indiana, the Illinois
and northwest territories, ani strike the
most easterly bend of the Mississippi,
about $50 miles 10y the course Of the river,
north OF its confluence with The Missouri.
A road in this direction from The scat of
government to the Mississippi will not
excee 800 miles in length, and would pass
near the sources Of many important rivers
running souihvardiy into the Ohio aud
Mississippi, and al o of Others running
northwarlly into the lakes; andwoUld cut
some OF them near their heads Of nayiga-
ton.
From this, as principal road, branch
es might lead IN various directions 10
important points for The accommodate
ton of smaller sections oi the coun-
try.
Nopari of the United States can afford
greater facilities, or exhibit more powerful
inducements for the construction ofpub-
lie canals and national roa Is, than that
under consideration And should ii be
fie desire Of the general government TO
adopt a system Of internal Improvement,
calculated 10 combinepublic emolument
with private convenience, no part of the
country presents more favourable OPP
poriuni;y. The lands, whose value will
he enhanced by the canals and roads "a
bove proposed, are 0rwill be the property
ofthe public. Upon part of them the
Indian claims are already extinguished,
and the remainder must sooner or la
ter fall into the hands of the United
States.
Military Works.-At Beliefontaine, 81.
tuated on the south side of The Missouri,
miles above its mouth, are the head
quarters of the ninth miliiary department.
Here is a pallisade work with quarters
large enough for the reception OF about
three hundred men; Including oiiicers.-
The barracks, officers quarters, naga-
zine, &c. are built of logs. The garrison
is situated on the river bluffs. at the dis
lance of about $50 yards from the river
The situation is secure and healthy, but
cannot be considered commanding lii any
respect.
Fort Clark is situated or the north side
of the Illinois, al the distance of about
$50 miles from the mouth of that river
This is 4 pallisade work, also, illy calcl,-
lated for defence, aud has no quarters tit
for the reception OF troops. The barracks
are constructed Of logs daubed with mud
the magazine is built ofthe same kind
of materials, and placed contiguous 10
The other buildings and the Whole is in
imminent danger of couhagration, as the
consequence Of having many Of lis CHM
MES and tire-places made of wood plais-
tered with mortar. In case a fire should
break out and get beyond coptroui III any
part of the works, the whole must be con
sumed, and the troops be left without
shelter al gree distance from any set
tlement.
a plan for terrifying this place has been
reported to Brig. Gen. Swift; and the
troops stationed here under the command
of Mai Riddle have been busilv employ
ed during the last season in collecting
timber and other materials for the erecti-
on ofnew works.
Peoria village, destroyed during The late
war, formerly occupied the site, upon IL
part of which the garrison is now silua-
ted.
At Chicago, situated on the southwest
part of Lake Michigan, is Fort Dearborn,
destroyed by The Indians i'll August, 1912,
and rebuilt i'll part by the troops now sta
toned there under the command of Capt.
Bradley. Two companies of soldiers ar
rived at this place Oh the 18th of July last,
and (iInder the direci n of Capt Bradley
commenced the erection OF a pailsade
work and quarters large enough for their
reception. The works arc in a state of |
forwardness that does much credit t., |
their industry, and will probably be
completed in the course of the next sea
son.
To DC concluded la our merit