Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-05-19

afford variety of soil for many miles, a,
great proportion very good and interper,.
ed with beautiful rich prairies, aud esp.
cially on the west Of the main river ana
on the south of Sulphur Fork. The branch
empties in short distance above the
great raft, and has for about 500 miles.
as good land as there is in the United
States.
No section ofthe Union oil an equal exe
tent can boast of SO many advantages.
AS TO the grand raft, it is more bug-bear
than reality, as it is fact that large yes
sells passed it every month last year, and
with very small expense it can be ZEN.
dereG navigatIe al all times. The coup.
try is settling last, as the prospect of gaia
LIS such that emigration cannot be stopped.
Last year there were only about loo
families on Red River above the raft
now there are more than 300, and from tie
best information can obtain, there are
10000 acres planted in corn, which will, in
all probability produce four hundred thou.
sand bushels OF grain this Of itself will
insure an abundant supply of emigrants,
and pork to any amount may be engaged
at FIVE dollars hundred. Persons emf
grating who can conveniently drive hor.
ses and cattle, are advised 10 do so, as
most OF the emigrants come by water and
have TO supply themselves from the stock
in the country. A better stock country
there is not in the Universe, expect. 1t
is generally well watered, and in many
places are valualic mill seats; the gene
raj course of Red Rivers little south of
east that of Sulphur Fork east Little
River, about $50 miles above the raft
about 500 miles navigable, course south Of
west, heads in the Arkansas mountains.
have no doubt that Red River and
its branches will be capable OF affording,
in ten years, more strength and wealth
than all the Mississ ippi and Missouri coun.
try, above the SD degree oflatitude. We.
ry valuable salines and beds of iron ore
are found in abundance, and ] have no
doubt but copper and precious metals will
be found. As to the inhabitants, they are
not such as generally settle new countries
they are moral and industrious, and
n.ostly belong to the Methodist church,
the preachers of which society (six in
number,} are of unimpeachable charac-
ter. No section Of the Union can boast
of more order.
In comme'c al point of view, this
country will have more advantages than
any other west OF the Mississippi-as
there will be trade with the Spaniards
in the neighborhood of the mines of Santa
Fe, &c. the distance is much less than
is generally imagined, and the country
a level dry pIain-down Red River will
at all times be good market, and if
the supply be greater than the demand
on that stream. New Orleans may be
furnished at a season of the year when
the Ohio and Mississippi are frozen up,
and that IS the season too when produce
generally bears the best price, being the
most favorable to ship to the Islands,
There can be no doubt but the govern.
ment will foster this settlement it sat
present unauthorized and the settlers 18th.
out title. but it is understood the Indian
title will be extlnguished this fall by gov.
Clark, and the land, as soon as it can be,
brought into market Interest and pc.
licy require this to be done: the settlement
is on an exposed frontier, where the U.
States are as vulnerable as any where else.
and where supplies. &c. in case Of war,
will be very much needed, and even in
case an enemy should invade ". Orleans ia
the winter season, when no assistance could
be obtained from the Ohio or Mississippi
settlements, because of these streams be-
ing frozen up. an efficient force could be
moved from Red River for its support.
The last war was near proving this ar
gument; it was a providentaI and un.
looked for rise in the waters of Cumber.
land and Ohio Rivers, and the pleasant
weather. that enabled Gems Carol and
Thomas to reach N. Orleans in time to
save it.