Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-04-25
R A ND OIL PH
GREEN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

principal meridian, about equidistant between
Alton and Grafton, in Green County, Illinois,
on u beautiful bench Of land, from ten TO
twelve feet above the highest known floods Of
the river, and stretching back half mile in
extent.
Nature has been obundonily lavish in be-
slowing advantages on this spot Tor a great
commercial city, in many respects superior TO
any other on tho Illinois side of the Missssip-
pi, between the mouth of the Ohio and the Ill
inois rivers. The soil Of Randolph is a black
sandy loan, dry, and free from excessive mud
in rainy weather, an inconvenience from which
but few towns in this section Of the country
are exempt.
Building stone, Of superior quality, is
found in abundance at the western extremity
Of the town site, and can be readily quarrled.
Rich limestone beds abound in he Immediate
ncighhorhooj. 1'imber suitable for building
and Of the largest growth, is within hall a mile
Of the town. Two superior water power
privileges, Superior for this section of country
are located within one and half miles Of the
river, directly back of the town, ana several
novcr-faihng springs Of pure water, are within
its limits. ] he shore of the river that stretch
os across the Southern boundary of Randolph
is for the most part bold, and at the wcsC rrn
extremity affords an excellent natural lunCing
for steamboats, of the largest size at any stage
OF water, and all the remaining portion of the
bank Of the river is susceptible OF such i'm
p ovemont, that it can readily be made at a
small expense, both safe aud eligible Ior the
llndng OF merchandise from steamboats, Of
any size. The Piasa emptIes into the Msiis-
sippi at the southeastern point of Randolph.
and is nayigable for small steamboats, a por-
ton Of the year, a far as the east end Of the
town. This creek Is nAvigablc several miles
from its mouth one half OF the year for flat
boats, and it affords a sale and convenient har-
Dor for freight boats, and will be admirably
calculated tor boat 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
4 commercial town, there are others oil an ox-
ternal character, which should not he over
looked In the first place, it 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 atone,
has direct and important bearing on lis COM
mercial importance. 1t is nearly opposite to
Portage de Sioux, town on the Missouri side
of the river long established crossing place,
heretofore esteemed superior to any point on
the Mississippi, between the head Of the great
American bottom and the Illinois river; en-
joying ferry privileges of all seasons of the
year, nuless 1t obstructed by the ice. 1t is d.
recty opposite to tina! point where the two
great rivers of the west approach each other
within one and half miles distance, and
VIII re it is had in contemplation TO cut
steamboat canal, TO 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
competent Engineer, and an estimate had of
the expense of constructing canal with
guard lock, on the Missouri river, which will
not exceed eighty thousand dollars. In the
event Of this grand operation being brought to
a successful issue, Randolph must at once fall
an heir TO large share Of the trade Of the up
per Missouri, as steamboats, navigating that
river will take this in preference TO the natII-
raj and more dangerous channel. 1t is so sit
uated in reference 10 the adjoining country, as
10 admit Of the easy construction Of a rail
road, without degree of inclination that will
require stationary power; in this respect il
is the most eligible point above the American
bottom. There is another circumstance which
has more direct and important bearing on The
commercial prospects of Randolph, than the
one TO which we have just alluded. The gov
ernmeht surveyor, in locating the northern
route OF the great Cumberland or national road
through Illinois TO Jefferson city, in Missouri
run his line 10 this point on the river, as being
the most eligible for crossing into Missouri
and thus avoiding the extensive bottom land
which stretches from the mouth OF the Missou-
ri 10 Portage de Sioux, and which is subject in
a great measure, TO inundation, and which
could not be otherwise avoided, should the
crossing. place be lower down the river
When the national road shall be graded and
opened, as it necessarily will be in few years,
1t will enter front street, on the east, and con-
tinue through its whole length, to the western
ext entity IN the river landing, as indicated in
our Lthog aphic map, where it is intended to
establish ferry TO Portage. This street has
b zen so constructed in The survey Of The town,
n TO embrace the line of the government sur
,ey for the national road, and is marked by a
corresponding width viz: so feet, reference
being had to the plot Of said town referred 10
above.
The town of Randolph is situated in one Of
the richest counties in the state, Astounding in
good timber, and prairie lands; a large por-
ton of which is settled by intelligent and in
dus'rious farmers, many of whom are decided
y in favor of this location; and in point of
| population it ranks the third largest in the
-tate, containing according to the last census
1924 inhabitants, and rapidly increasing
The question is already loo trile, whether
town-maGing in the west has not reached its
acncl And whether those towns now being
ard hereafter 10 be located, will not prove alb.
orive cffors alto gether on the part OF the OH.
| glnal propretors? We answer in relation TO
/ those on the great western watefs-NO. For
we have only TO cast our eye on the map OF the
United States along the course Of the Ii udson
or Ohio rivers, and behold the enterprising bu-
slness towns which skirt the margins oil the
streams, and then trace The Mississippi and
Missouri rivers from their source TO their ter
mlnaliou, and observe their length when com.
pared with the two above named and let the
eye carry the mind over the vast tract Of coun-
try these western waters are destined to supply
through the commercial cities, that now and
hereafter shall line their shores, and compare