Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-03-20

per end OF the American bottom.
What the situation OF the ground on
the opposite side OF the river may be,
the Commissioners unfortunately had
not SO good an opportunity OF examining
as could have been desired. During
their stay at this place the weather was
extremely cold, and the river crowded
with floating ice. They, however, with
out surveyor or instrument, passed overg
and gave the shore and country adjons
ing hasty examination from Portage
Village, about nine miles below the
mouth OF Illinois river, down the Mssis-
sippi about eight miles, and opposite the
lowest point on the river, where it might
conveniently be approached on the east
side above the mouth of the Missouri.
From this examination they are able
generally to state, that at, and for a small
distance below, Portage Village, the
high land, or what appeared to them the
land above the reach Of the floods from
the Mississippi, approached near the
river bank, and then, gradually receding
as you proceed down the river, leaves a
bottom subject to inundation at high
spring foods of near two miles in its
greatest breadth, which appeared to con-
tinue as far down as they had an oppor.
tunity of examining.
The Commissioners next proceeded
to examine the ground opposite the town
of St. Louis. Here, likewise, the ground
was considered by no means unfavorabe
for the location Of good road, the
eastern bank being elevated to such
height as to confine the water of the
river within its channel, except in ex-
traordinary high floods, which is said not
to have happened for many years; and,
as you leave the river and proceed east
wardly, on the direction of the road, the
ground continues nearly level, and was
found, by actual experiment, to be de-
pressed, in no place, more than few
lcet, and that for no considerable dis
lance; and, at the distance of one mile,
elevated ten feet, and, at one and half
miles, seventeen feet above the level Of
the river bank, which greatest elevation
continues with little variation to the high
lands across the American bottom,
distance of several miles.
The Commissioners beg leave further
to state, that, on a careful examination
and construction of the law, under which
they are appointed to act, it would APP
pear to them that the object of the law
was to confne the location through the
Intermediate country, between the Ohio
and the Mississippi rivers, to direct
line, with discretion only to deviate from
such line where the ground and water
courses make it necessary. Acting un-
der discretion thus limited, it is but fair
to inform the government that, in all
probability, neither of the seats of gov
eminent of Ohio, Indiana, or Illinois,
could be embraced by the location, al
though it has been ascertained that, to
carry the line through them all, COM
menclng at Wheeling and ending at St.
Louis, would not exceed in length d.
rect line, between those points, more
than three miles. And, in locating a
road on suitable ground, this distance of
three miles would, in all probability, be
diminished; for, as already observed,
the location in the state of Indiana must
be thrown further north, and nearer the
seat OF government of that state, to avoid
the impossible ground, before mention
ed, on White river; and the same must
De done in the state of Ohio to avoid the
obstacles presented by Little Walnut
creek, and other streams to these must
be added the strong probability that the
location will be driven nearly two miles
north OF a direct line, within ten miles of
Wheeling, to escape the hills ON
M Mahon's creek, and to occupy suita-
bic ground.
Another subject of some difficulty has
presented itself in executing the trust
committed to their charge. The Com
missioners are directed 10 select point
at which to terminate the road on the
left bank of the Mississippi, between St.
Louis and the mouth of the Illinois
river. If it was the design of Congress
to control the Commissioners in the dis
charge of this duty, by the rule which
applies to the intermediate distance, that
IS, goodness of ground, and shortness Of
route, in that case, it is highly probable
the point should be made above the
mouth OF the Missouri river. But, On
the other hand, if the Commissioners are
lett at liberty to take into consideration
all the political and commercial circum-
stances that the whole case presents,
they do not hesitate to say, from their
present impressions, that St. Louis
should be the point selected for the
termination of the road; and, from the
letter OF the law, as it now stands, it an-
pears to the Commissioners that thex