The Arkansas advocate., 1834-02-21

Err0w on them out oT tiss ssoets asld the dc- ton of the water on the mud and sand by which they had been formed. All the tim Der that leaned oyer the water III such manner as to obstrGet the navigation, has been taken1away as efiectually as 1t could be done in high water. The navigation is now good for steam boats as high as the Cado agency, ssgcnty ore miles above where, found tho faat of the raft in April last. SStiiIIll great Improvement may De made on the same distance, by cutting away the growth of timber that has sprung up within the natural banks of the river, quite down to it's extreme low water bed, since the for nation of the raft. This, however IS abso- luteIy necessary, and must be done to put the river in a situation to carry the entire mass cf drifting timber that annually falls into it., out 10 inc Mississippi, and by that means eflectuaiiy prevent 6 renewal Of the raft. 1t will also be necessary to extend that work to the head of tte raft, or as high ,sT, ;ss the timber may have erown up, so as i to form Instructions to the passage of the timber that must pass down in the spring ffeshets. The mouths of the bayous which have been cut out from iit main sbet.! e ssa swamp, must also be carefully stopped up, so as to turn the water back into the origiA- al bed, which has sufficient capacity to car ry off the whole column of water so soon as the raft Is removed, and the channel brought back to its original course, which must be the consequence of filling up the bayous, and taking the timber out of the bed through the main river. This work can be most effectually done during tow water. Itwiil be advisable to dc 1t in tie months of October, November and Decem- Der. The same men may be continued thfo' the high water season. this means the whole work can probably be done by one expedition, from say lst of October to 1st of June.
 From tho best information have been able 10 obtain, there yet remains about TO miles in length sof the great raft. have passed through 30 miles of the remaining raft, which 1 found to differ but little from that already removed, either in character or quantity. But near the head of tie raft the labor will be much increased, owing 10 fhe strength, size, and quantity of timber- Having more recently fallen into the river. many of the trees still retain their branches and roots, which will make them much more difficult to remove, than timber that has been lying in the water 50 long as to lose the tops and roots by decay. Under these circumstances, am induced 10 believe that an appropriation of $I0e,0eG will be as It. lie as the whole work can be efectealIy completed for, if done in Q proper manner, and so finished as to he permanent, andI isse isorA all risk of re-iorxsas. .saf, t,hoh
 tNst anaonhtsaiy take place. if tlse t,tsttss., iS faot cieafea cut of the bed Of tlse fiss. . sacn manner as to prevent the drift Iocs rom lodging on the banks. To accofo- plisil the work will probably require about the amount of labor and expenditure shown by the accompanying estimate.
 That the removal of tie raft can be ae- comFlished, there IS no doubt. Nothin, is required but the necessary funds in inc hands of an individual who possesses tba requisite skill, with sufficient enerov to mi that skill in operation.
 As relates to the expense of ren,o,,;n,, the ratt, 1t will be repaid at least three fold7 pg the lands that must evidently he redeon,- ed on the immediate line of the raa. Ar that land Is of first rate quality for inc growth of cotton, and there IS now orowing the best tobacco made in the United gtatos on several improvements now m caltjyat;on on the rlYer, aboat midway of the raft.
 am, sir, respectfully,
 Tour obedient servant.
 HENRY M. SHRFVE.
 T