Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-09
a1knor the country live in pretty veil

truth, and nothing but the truth, yet may
leave out something which appears TO Inc
immAterial. or previously understood ana
calculated upon BY the person whom TAX
with. which would in fact il he were ac-
ouainted with it, counterbalance all ii'o-
r,ble representations, and alter the Whole
face of the affair.
"My fears are increased, because | some
times see people come here who are entire
" disappointed and disgusted.--Bul | saw
the same in Kentucky twenty five years a.
go, and yet. at this day, no man views
Kentucky with disgust.
| "IwiIl venture to make few remarks
on the different points, with regard to which
you have requested information.
&c do not regard the present situation
| of any town, as by any means decisive OF
. its future character. All are in a state OF
youth, il not in infancy, and no man c'm
Tell whether they will or will Mt reach to
maturity nor what, if they should, viii be
, their future character and destiny. Mobile
and Blakely are very convenient 70 lhr sea,
| but very announcement to population. No
! part of The country within 30 miles otei-
! ther will admit of being thick!y settled
ST. Stephens on the Tombigby, and fort
Claiborne on the Alabama, are more con-
yenient 10 population, but too far from the
sea for wholesale business. Fort Stoddard
(now called the town of Floriia) is as yet
mere paper town, but is near enough to
the sea, and 40 miles nearer than Mobile
or BIakely 10 population.
g believe it to be much more healthy
situation than either, though having been
heretofore inhabited by careless, dissipated
soldiers, il has like rakish youth, got bad
character But we may retrieve It,.
/ cit is but four miles above the confluence
of the Tombigby and Alabama, and three
above the division of the Mobile River
/ Two warehouses are now building there.
| But il was only recently purchased from
| the United States, and though have no
: doubt it must become the main depot Tor the
trade of the upper country; it has no APP
pearance OF town at present.-Lots can
! be bought low, the handsomest high land
{ situations purchased at two dollars per
! acre, and the good rich lands on the river,
/ if sold soon, will not fetch much more.
"Not being merchant, cannot specify
! the goods most in demand. The climate
and habits of the people, mostly new set
tiers, will furnish the best criterion, and yet
! there are strange inconsistencies among US,
and Yankee notions strangely work their
way among us-But such is man, enthu-
| siasm, or the high flights of religious feeling,
! will prevail in minds, which know no reli-
gion.-Stark, staring mad democracy will
be embraced by men who have no know
ledge Of political principles.-A,d in like
manner, costly side-boards, high topped
bedsteads, and painted chairs and tables
will be got together by the successful cot
ton planter, who has nothing but dirty log
cabin to nut them into.-Hcnce it is that
! no stranger can tell what will suit the mar
| ket.-Men out of the mercantile line cam
not form any accurate opinion-And those
who are in il will not take the pains to COM
municate their knowledge TO others. The
country has been overrun with goods, and
yet others may be successful but should
think il advisable 10 see the country before
an adventure was made. If however you
think il best to send cargo at once, think
il would be advisable TO have it stored at
Florida. 1t would be attended with less
expence than at any other place, and would
| be nearer market.
" As to the advance on goods know not
what II is but believe it to be enough TO
satisfy any man ola reasonable conscience,
and believe that very unreasonable con-
sciences have sometimes been completely
| satisfied. However if sales must be urged,
there are no doubt many sales which COM
mand no profit.
Our produce is cotton; it is not worth
while TO mention any thing else. By and
ht- Choll haya aS h,0h n fhn
as this. and possibly higher, but think not
probably. Most OF the cotton is r; ised near
! the river, of course there is but little trou-
bic in sending it TO market.-The fine
Steam Boat now plying on this river will
convey our produce from the upper coun-
try TO this place, or TO the places below.
+" can say but little satisfactory as TO
the price Of land.-I suppose that good
river low grounds near me, cannot be pur-
chased for less than 10 or ID dollars per
acre.-And yet have no doubt, that after
the public sales have taken place, as good
will be entered at two dollars.
Improved lands are rot valued much
on account Of the improvements-but indi-
viduals calculate on a rapid rise in the va
lue OF land, and in fixing their price antici-
pate that rise.-No advantage 10 be deri-
we'd from their Improvements can compen-
safe for the advance Of price.
The swamp lands Chat is the river low
grounds covered with cane) are easily
brought under cultivation-A man who sets
in upon them in Dec. can surely clear as
much land as he wants for the support Of
his family by March.
g As to water, the lower country and the
poorest country Is the best: the rich coun-
try above, with limestone strata, does not
ailord good water-Wi,h regard 10 proyi-
sions, shonld deem it advisable for emf
grants TO bring with them their beef, pork,
and -four and, in fact, any other article of
necessity or comfort, **1*%xk