Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-11-27
SAIL.

land from four TO seven miles in width, begin
lining at the mouth of the Kaskaskia river, and
lextending to two miles above the junction of
the Missouri river with the Mississippi, dis
lance of eighty or one hundred miles, and has
no where in this distance permanent or rocky
shore, butoyerhowing the country in unusually
high freshets;-and when it is considered that,
from the termination of this alluvial land, at
| which place the town of Alton is situated, to
the mouth of the Illinois river, the shore of the
| Mississippi is perpendicular rock from one
| to two hundred feet high, with only here and
| there narrow break admitting few small
| streams of water to flow into the Mississippi,
but not presenting any where situation for
| town land when it is also considered that the
eastern bank OF the Illinois river for some dis
lance, is rocky and broken, and thenit becomes
low bottom land for more than two hundred
miles from the mouth of the river; the mind
is irresistibly led to the opinion that the town
of Alton is situated on commanding and i'm
portant site; there being no where else on the
eastern banks of the Mississippi and Illinois
rivers, for more than three hundred miles,
good situation for a town. This opinion is
drawn from the advantages this place may re-
ceive from the navigation of those rivers Let
us look forward only a few years, when the in
ternal navigation shall be completed from the
Hudson through the Lakes to the Mississippi,
and the importance of this situation for great
and commercial town, will be more fully an
preciated.
The surrounding country equals, in rich
ness of soil and agricultural advantages, the
most fertile portion of the western country.
In addition 10 the foregoing considerations,
free stone, lime stone, and stone coal, abound
in great abundance in the neighborhood of
this place. And by reference to the actual
survey of this state Alton is found to be nearly
due west from Nandalia, the seat of govern
ment. The Mississippi is at this point fifteen
miles nearer that town than any other nayiga-
bic water Of the state, excepting the Kaskas-
kia river, which is navigable to Vandalia only
two Or three months in year
But even here, although the bank is rocky,
the river easy of access, and there is good boat
landing and harbor, the land is for more than
onemie back, broken and uneven, nterspersed
with hills and sink holes. Therefore the site
tor the town of SALU is considered more eli
gible than any other which can be selected on
the waters OF the Illinois and Mississippi rivers
This town is situated on the first high .rol-
hing, and commanding ground from the river
on sec. 6, in town S N. and range 9 w. Of
the Sd principal meridian, adjoining and
north OF upper Alton, in the county of Madi-
son, and state of Illinois. There are no ponds
nor stagnant waters, the source of SO much
disease in this country, in this town nor in its
vicinity but it is well supplied with springs
of pure water,
The great road leading from the east
throughout this state to the Missouri Terrific
ry, the Boon's Lick and Salt river countries.
runs through this town and crosses the Missis-
sppi at the well known Smeltzer's ferry.
This road will be made to fork at this town.
and run also to Fountain ferry, at lower Alton.
These two ferries are the only ones of apv
Importance, that can ever be established on |
the Mississippi between the Missouri and Hi |
nois rivers. The great national road, running |
from the City of Washington westwardly, must |
necessarily be made to cross one or the other
OF these ferries, when it shall be extended 10
the Missouri and to the rocky mountains. The
important road leading from the south to the
military lands IN the fork OF the Mississippi |
and Illinois rivers, and to the Sangamo country, |
must, from the peculiar make of the land, |
either on the west or on the east of this place,
run through this town.
Good mechanics OF moral and industrious |
habits, and respectable men of other occupa- |
tons, will receive liberal encouragement to !
settle IN thus town.
1t may be considered extraordinary that a |!