Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-12-07
Commerce of the Prairics
HINTS NOT TO BE ovERLooKRn
BY G. w. p.

tIned 10 become a ClTY OF no small magnitude
Our readers were convinced that we made out the
case as clearly as mountains, prairies, hills, rivers,
etc., which interspcrse our back country, could
prove any given fact. Our numbers we're fol.
lowed by sundry articles (much more to the pur-
pose and better written than our own, we agree
from the pen of our townsman JOSIAH GREGG,
Esq, developing, in lucid manncr, many facts
connected with the "SANTA FE TRADE" We
say our toUnsnsan, becadse we feel determined to
claim Mr.. Gregg as the first author-anJ a very
! respectable author too-of Van Buren.
Owing TO sundry causes, not necessary to re-
late, we have only just now completed the reading
of two " well got up'' and handsomely bound VOL
umes from the pen of" JOSIAH GREGG" published
the present year by LANGLEY, of New York, ent.
tied COMMERCE OF THE PRAIRlES."
Several very commendatory reviews of these
volumes have been made in the Eastern Journals,
which have established for the Author, an envia.
Bile reputation.
Nevertheless, ustice to the author as well as
utility to the country seems to demand q more
extensive notice of these volumes than has bitb.
erto been given by the Press of Arkansas We
shall not proceed to the task after the manner of
the critique for we have learned less of that art
than the author possesses Of book-writing. We
may be allowed however, to remark that Mr.
Gregg's style is neat, chastc, and lucid. There
is no attempt at display; ye, in literary taste, the
work is above medocrity. If in sentences there
is never much that is ornatc-yct no one can
complain Of want Of precision, or Of happy choice
of expression. Considering tina, tho work is. as
it purPorts to be, in great part, journal of the
authors own travels and observations of a vast
country, where little could be said of things much
less of men, and absolutely nothing of women :;
we cannot help but admire that modes,y which
has ever been regarded by the authors friends as
one of his excellent characteristics. There would
have been almost as much excuse for Mr.. Gregg
employing the eternal ego, as can be made for the
celebrated Robinson Crusoe The latter perform
ed his feats in small crowds on the vas, ocean and
deso!ate lsands-the former upon the great Amer.
lean desertalmost as'unfreqrented by civilized man
as, and certainly not lessinfested with wild beasts,
than Juan Fernandez. And yet, throughout his
book-Mr. Gregg stands it were behind his
scenery, and leaves action principally to other
cha ractcrs.
AS a natural consequence Of tho evident mod
esty of tho Journalist, we discover the superior
exec Hence Of a close observation of all around
him. Few men could have gathered so many in.
terestng facts from the same resources. His oh.
scrvations shew the labor of rejecting mind
his arrangement is happy; and his specua,ions
not visionary, but solid His description of men,
manners, and business Of Mexico should be read
particularly by western men. The narrative Of
ten dgresses into useful history, and is richly in
terspersod with amusing anecdotes, as well as
pleasing reflections.
But tho part winch, TO us, has boon most into r
esting, Is the excellent typographical and geo.
raphical description of the vast area of country
extending from the borders of Missouri and Ar
kansas TO our most western possessions--an area
sufficient for five States as large Arkansas two
of which the author believes would excel Nilsson
ri and Arkansas in fertility and mineral resources
The authors observations have been personal, ane
thoir accuracy cannot DO questioned. We shal
not enter into minute detail of tho contents OF
Mr.. Gregg's book, hut advise each one to purchas,
and read for himself.
We have intimated, that it is shown that tn,
United States has sufficient Territory ives, o.
Missouri and Arkansas to form five large States
Does not the question at present itself to each
rejecting mind-how long time will intervene
before our population will extend their settlement.
over this vast region !
If it be answered tha: the best parts of the
country have been coded to the indians; we have
to say that their settlements have never formed q
serious barrier-but in proportion as they have
increased in wealth and improvements. the cupid
ty of their white neighbors has caused an extn
guishment of the Indian titie.
thin thirty years the Indian boundary ha,
receded a thousand miles, ami they yet interpos,
some five hundred miles between US and our Mex
ican neighbors.
We have observed recent calculations, nppa
renIy based upon sound data, which proves thai
the child has already been born who will see a
| population in the United States (not calculating
immigration) of three hundred millions This
TO occur in much less than century! When we
consider that. mighty country is, we have