Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-09-02
NEvy-YoeK. Anrust d.

NETWORK, August d.
Much valuable information Ia emiTrants
and Others, Is contained in the following
letter, from gentleman now in the Ala
bama Territory, TO his friend in this CT
~ -
T'ovat n The Alabama Territory.
DEAR SIR,
In answer 10 your enquiries respecting
the Commercial Towns already located in the
Territory of Ahbania, rs well as the most eli
gible sites tor such as have net yet been estab-
lished, | submit the following view, with such
observations ~ appertain 10 the subject
The town OF Mobile Is situated Oh low san
dy PING plain, on the west bauk Of the west
mouth OF Mobile river, within one mile OF the
bay. II was founded by the French upwards
OF i0 years ago, and is Older than = ew Orleans.
Its population does not exceed SEQ souls, lnlla-
biting i20 tenemen;s OF; very inferior size, and
nearly all otan ancient gothic appearance. The
inhabitants Of Mobile are OF various descripti-
ous-About 500 are people of color, OF every
shade, who are generally free, aud possessed f
real estate, sc. The balance are whites, ola
heterogeneous character.
The manEcls aud customs of the French and
SpaniardS at present appear to prevail.
There is no house of pablo worship there, eA-
cept small Roman Chapel, in which the ) pan
ism priest, oi d subordinate grade, occasionally
saws mess.
The trade of Mobile IS very inconsderabIe.
hut Is increasing Is Tie upper country Setties.
There are at present about 10 dry good stores
aud q few gl9cerics.
The want of cool fresh water in Mobile is
at present serious Inconvenience and dISad.
vantage To thai place. Nearly all the pOiAi bic
water GSed there for six months in the year ~
drawn by Wagons. &c. in kegs AMI barrels,
from a creek miles west cftle tOwn. During
the winter, tile river affords wholesome water
for every use tits, however, belIet e., in con-
temptation 20 have water con lncted into town
by-aluc lGcts, from a branch OF the abUye-iIdm-
ed creek, whose fountain is SAID 10 admit or it
about niles rom Mobile.
With respect To the facilities of ship naviga-
t!oa - Mobile, they are not so great could
lie desired.
Although Mobile Bay admits vessels of 20
feet dTaught, aud those OF II can ascend within
ten mics Of its head yet those over IL feet
cannot enter the month Of Mobile River, Ow-
inr 10 the sIOalmcsS OF tee shores of the Bay
no wu al be erpc below the outlets OF the
river consequently the seaport for the Ala
DanId Territory mnStIneyitably he Oh tie river
and On account Of the extreme crookedHess
Of tho rivers, aud the lnp0SsiDity OF ascending
them, with practical economy, with Atlantic
shipping, the emporium 0ftrade upon these wa
tiers VIII forever be confined 10 the head of
Mobile Blv
Whether the town Of Mobile is to become the
great commercial city, which appears 10 be a
h0nt rising up at the outlet OF tie extensive
and interesting waters of / om5T5ee aud \ la
bama. or some other place, time will soon de-
frmine. However respectable the town Of Mo-
bile has become by rs great age, the ABeri-
cans who are emigrating To- that country. seem
generally 10 turn their attention to a new town,
laid out in pursuance Of ma act of the Terrific
rial Legislature, OIL the last channel of Mobile
river.
This place is styled in tho law the " Turn nj
Blahe.y.", 1t lies SIX mics north OF Mobile
Ea' oR the east margin OF the main direct Ship
channel of Mobile RIVER; winch, fr0u near
Fort Stohdelt down to the 3ay,is denominated
"Yeusa."
IA tf,rI.
near the centre OF the head of the Bay, where
IL forms d Junction with Spanish River, (Which
is the main channel INTO MOblle,J aud both
make one common channel over the bar, IL feet
deep at high water and 10 at low water--tliere
being bat2 feet How tide ordinarily and
but one q I'D aud one ebD IN II hours u Mo-
bile BAY. Tho other four mouths OF dObile RI
yer have not more than or feet at high wa
f.r on Their bars. Vessels drawing more ,liau
eieht feet water, MAST pass up spanish River,
(,yhicl IS lie ihlrj mouth from the high land y
and double az isiild a,.les north OF Mobile,
aud tIcn, with nogtiiery wind drop down 70
town Vessels ~ the same dram pass directly
fran thc sea i0to the port Of Blateiy, without
tie iPast delay. The ldFDOT Of Dldkely - spa
ciOas ,eonyenieutdudSecure, having bold shores
on All sides aud entirely land locked close ia
The hi.l hands on Which The tOwB Uds, shield
Inc s4appng entirely from an easierly AVID
s1utheriV gales, (tne only dangerous Winds N
Mobile Bdy.)
Tne town of akely is regularly laid ont
with streets ~ icgt wac, F'uWl"e az Il~H' an
giles, east mud west, nOrth aud south. ID - sit
iiated upOn two general benches Of land ; the
ono i'm fr suf OF tlic river 300 cct from tie mar
o.n) Is 2, feet in hcigkt above tide watCr
then, aJJut one quarter Of uIie back. tire
ground ri>es gradually for half In.le, uii 1
guns az elevation above the level OF TIE sea
Of one b., .rc.t H.et -tuehce beautiful PLAIN
for nearly a mIic, when the itad rises intO
rid &c oftwo hundf Cd AID hity feet above liisi
wafer .rk.
10 iorn ia G,e United states is better sup
Piled wi "a fresh water t.au Bidkeiy. \ gfCa
inuni3nIe 81 never failing copi0as sptl IS o
the pugest water i--ue from the high table Cd
LAID sit8.bfHe plat OF the town, as we.ias troa
tie nf.n tigr m It8 rcIr. So tIdt howeve
extensive one ts'yn may became n process q
time, AL par may by means oi a41ednct~, o
accommodated with plenty Of tae osst w3teI