The Arkansas advocate., 1832-06-27


 the mcst of these positions overflow every year, more or less. And what is the Irresistible inference from this? IL is tllis-you find that all the timber on the falling in banks, near the margin of the river, is used up by the occupants for fuel--iof farming purposes, and for cord ayooa-most of the settlers on the Mississippi deal in eoya ssooa. They Of conrsc cut off first al thatis near or con- venient to tho river. They get for this wood below the mouth of the Ohio, ne yer less than Sl 50, and very often as much as four dollars a cord. Theysell, in the course of the year, all they can cut and prepare for steam-boats. The demand for this wood is great aud con stant-so much SD, that the majority oi those people follow no other pursuit..
 They buy otf of the river almost every article they live upon. They buy thus their groceries, their corn, their bacon. their flour, potatoes, and for angfIt ] know, evea their cabbages and turniF greens; hard wood there is a. cash arti- cle. The constant, pressing demand for 1t, has made it scarce already inma- ny places. 1t many wooei-yards 1t is now banked from one to two miles; and at TO very distant day, t will be very difficult to procure cord wood for steam boats even upon the productive banks 4ofthe Mississippi. The gentleman need give himself no uneasiness upon this sub- feet. The causes of the impediments to the navigation of that river arc fast wearing away. In few years, there will be no timberleft to fall in the river. So much, Sir, for this objection.
 But my friend tells us that his opin- ions upon this subject are made up from statements to him from respectable steamboat captains. Yes, Sir, these steamboat captains arc bis lnioriners.-- < hope the gentleman will pardon mc when tell him, that they are the last of the human race upon whose state mcnts uponthis subject l could place any sort of reliance. They arc direct. ly interested in the event of tie aae6- ton. They, like all others in a like condition, are for pulling down allcom- petition, They desire to engross the whole of the carrying trade. They have always had, and yet have, power flll competition in the flat boat gentry. Flat boats, have no dollbt, carry to market 10-20ths of the whole of the Western produce. ! ihaye seen them n the spring season passing on by hnn- dreds every day. I have seen as many as fifty of t night cabled at the same landing, and all, all of them heavily loaded with corn, or hay, horses, hogs, sheep or cattle, with apples and cider, whislSey, lard, flour, bacon, tarlies, chickens, and sometimes even dogs. Syc. &c. These boats carry to market all the freight the farmer has to send; the steam boats carry passengers, and the freight of the merchants. Why is this 50? will tell you. In the winter time, when the farmer has nothing else to do, when his harvest is gathered in and his Christians holy-days arc over, he builds his own boat; it costs him no cash, no thing but his own labor. These boats. thus made, arc used by the farmers for tho purpose of saving freight, which, Il paid to steam boats, would eat up d his profits. Here is the cause of tlle lamentations of the steam boat captains They are anxious to engross all thi freight. They had rather sec ten snag deposited in the river than to see ont removed. They know, as dc, as we all do, that these ilat boats, these ssken lucky brood-horses,o are difficult te steer; they pay but little respect te sweeps ana steering cars. Like Pat rick soc.s, they=so when they are req dy, and generally travel their own road In the day time, when they can besc slaaggs rarely dc any injury to steam boats; they have power to stem the strongest current and can Dc safely na. vigated through difficulties and dangers through which, ny friends, the hat boats, caunot travel. ftis for this req son, l say, that steam boat captains arc the last of the human race upon this snbjcctI should place any sort of reli- sance.
 If am in order, Mr. Chairman, l will now propose an amendment to this item Of tile appropriation, by adding thereto Si5,00o, for the improvement of the navigation of the Arkansas.- This appropriation fer this object, is no new subject. 1t is an old acquaintance of this House. passed through both Houses winter before last. l. formed :. part of the famous Lighthouse bill.-- Fifteen thousand dollars were appro-