Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-04-18
h AND CLIP ia.
GREEN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

VdNHE town of RANDOLPH is advantas eous-
n ly situated on the Mississippi river, on
fractional sections g5 and &c, in township No
6 north, and range No. II west Of the third
principal meridian, about cquidistant between
Alton aud Grafton, in Green County, Illinois,
on beautiful bench Of land, from ten to
twelve feet above the highest known foods of
tho river, and stretching back half mile in
cxtent.T ADO I'd -t-r s
Nature has been nbundanty lavish in be-
slowing advantages on this spot Tor a great
commercial city, IN many respects superior 10
any other on the Illinois side Of Tho MISSISSIPPI
81, between the mouth Of the Ohio and the III
inois rivers. The soil Of Randolph Is black
sandy loan, dry, and free from excessive mud
in rainy weather, an Inconvenience from which
bat few towns in this section Of The county
are exempt
Building stone, Of superior quality, is
found in abundance at,the western extremity
OF the town site, and can be readily quarfied.
Rich limestone beds abound in the immediate
ncishhorhood. Timber suitable for building
and of the largest growth, is within half milo
OF tho town. Two superior water power
privileges, (supcrior fot thu scclion Of country
are located within ono and a half miles Of the
river, directly back Of the town, and several
never falling springs of pure water, are within
its limits The shore Of The river that stretch-
es across the Southern bounday Of Randolph
is for the most part bold, and at the wcsl crn
extremity affords an excellent natural ant ing
for steamboats, OF the largest sizs at any stage
OF water, and all the remaining portion Of the
bank of the river is susceptible OF such i'm
provemcnt, that il can readily be made at
small expense, both safe and eligible tor the
landing Of merchandise from STEAMBOATS, of
any size. The Piasa cmp'ies into the Missls-
sippi at the southeastern point of Randolph,
and is naysable for small steamboats, por-
ton Of The year, as far as the east end Of the
town. This creek /, navioable several miles
from its mouth ono half Of the year for fiat
boats, and it affords safe and convenient har-
Dor for freight boats, and will be admirably
calculated Tor boa, building, as materials for
their construction may by obtained in the i'm
mediate vicinity. Besides the above named
intrinsic advantages that Randolph enjoys for
a commercial town, there are others oil an ex-
tcrnai character, which should not be over.
looked. In the first place, ii is situated near
the highest navigable point on The river, for
steamboats, Of the largest class at the lowest
stage of water and this circumstance alone,
has direct and important bearing on its com
mcrcial importance. 1t is nearly opposite TO
Portage de Sioux, town on the Missouri tIde
OF The river, long established crossing place,
tie Mississippi, between the head ofthc great
American bottom and the Illinois river; en-
joying ferry privileges at all seasons of the
year, unless it obstructed by the ice. tits di.
rectly opposite TO that point where the two
great rivers of the west approach each other
within one and n half miles distance, and
where il is had in contemplation 10 cut n
steamboat canal, 10 unite the two streams. thus
avoiding some part Of the most dangerous nav
igation Of The Missouri river; an examination
of this route having already been made by q
competent Engineer, and an estimate had OF
the expense of constructing a canal with
guard lock, on the Missouri river. VI hich will
not exceed eighty thousand dollars. In the
event ot, This grand operation being brought to
a successful issue, Randolph must at once fall
an heir 10 a 'argc share OF the trade Of the up
per Missouri, as steamboats, navigating that
river will take this IN preference to the natu-
raj and more dangerous channel. II is so sit
ualcd in reference 10 the adjoining country, Of
10 admit of the easy construction Of rail
road, without degree of inclination that will
require stationary power; in this respect il
is The most eligible point Dove The Americas
bottom. There is another circumstance which
has more direct and important bearing on the
commercial prospects of Randolph, than the
one 10 which we have Just alluded. The gov
emmett surveyor, in locating tho northern
route Of the great Cumberland or national road
through Illinois TO Jefferson city, in Missouri,
rnr his line 10 this point on The river, as being
The most eligible for CROSSING into Missouri,
ard thus avoiding the extensive bottom land
which stretches from the mouth OF the Nilsson.
ri 10 Portage de Sioux, and which is subject in
great measure, 10 inundoton, and which
could not be otherwise avoided, should the
Gro; sing place be lower down The river