Arkansas intelligencer., 1846-05-16
For the Arkansas IntelIiger.eer.

Messrs. Ediiors:-The improvement of the
navigation Of the Arkansas river, is a subject o.
vast importance to our farmers, merchants, nayi.
gators, and in fact 10 every class of our commu-
nifty, and all should feel lively interest in its
speedy. and etfeciual accomplishment; and think
this an appropriate time, while the bill for the
improvement Of harbors and rivers, is under con.
sideration in Congress, 10 draw the attention of
the public, TO the best manner Of expending the
quota, that may be allotted, to remove the obstruc.
tions in our river; it is in truly depiorabe con-
diton at this time, and the snags in it, resemble
more the course of some dreadful hurricane
through dense forest, than the smooth and nay.
gable river it might be made.
Years ofexPerence, and personal observation
Of the system now employed in this river, have
convinced me that Steam Snag Boats are not the
proper kind Of vessels TO be used for that purpose
The Gopher Snag Boat, now at work in this river,
draws as much or more wafer than many of our
light draft steamers, and it is impossible for her,
in low water, 10 get at distractions that endan9er
ig hter boats; and another objection sufficient 10
condemn the system of itself in my opinion, is,
that for some cause or other she does not remove
the la lest s,uLps that slide in off the banks Of
the river, and these are cons dered the most dan
gerous distractions, that steam boats have to en-
ou ter; she merely bores holes in them and places
poles in each to indica its locality.
There are many other cogent reasons for adopt.
ing the subjoneu plan, in preference to the steam
system, if indeed the dltfe. nnce of expense alone
were not sufficient; for nstonce, the Gopher must
have cost originally at least $4,000, and she
must expend for the pay of her officers, crew,
wood, and provisions, at least 5 900 per month;
she has been at wo.k for the last seven months,
and has only ascended the river as high up as
Little Rock, and has made no permanent improve.
ment except for medium stage Of water-that is
TO say, from eight to ell feet in the channel; the
river above that place has not been touched.
submit the subjoned plan for the consideration
of those interested in the accomplishment OF this
great undertaking, with the hope that if it is
deemed better than the present, or any other that
may be proposed, that it be recommended TO the
proper authorities for their adoption:
| would substitute for the Gopher, four double
fla, boats, to be worked by hand, and such as are
now used on the Ohio river in removing obslruc-
tions; these boats can be built and equipped with
all the necessary apparatus for $4,000 each, esIl.
mating for the four, $4,000; the Gopher as
have said before, could not have cost less than
this last amount; each Of these boats should have
superintendent, and crew OF twelve hands,
who could be employed on the river at any SUIT
able time, for about $500 per month, for each boat
while at work; and it is believed that in less than
three months every obstruction in the river can
be removed, with this number Of boats, from the
Indian line 10 the Mississippi; for the remainder
Of the year, (nne months, y, they can be taken care
of bv respons Bile persons, for $50 per month, or
$3.50 for the four; making Sll $50 fer the total
expense Of building, equipping, and working three
months in removing distractions, and taking care
of the boats for the balance of the year; they will
las, five years with but a trihlng expense for re-
pairs, so that it will not require after the hrst
wear more than 81, ,45O for the necessary expense
for three months work and taking care OF theboals.
Boats built after the plan rec omnend' "oaia
not draw more than 10 or II inches water; they
can be placed at ditferen, points on the river,
when tho water is high, equally distant from Fort
Smith 10 its mouth; and, in the fall season OF the
wear when the water is lew each boat should be
placed under the superlntendence ot expefiehceu
CAPTAINS, or pilots, who would feel an interest IN
their undertaking; this, too, would be al a season
when they would not be employed on their own
boats; they should descend the river at the lowest
stage of water, and raise the snags, ana ssunP''
and carry them as IaT Jul vi tuC o"iS 80 foSoN~'
leaving the roots 10 the snngs 10 serve as anchors
10 retain them stationary. The Gopher removes
tho snags, which are deemed the worst'and conveys
them to the bends of the river and there cuts them
off, leaving the s,umps again to obstruc' the hav'
cation: this believe 10 be RADICAL y wrong; 'he
cbanne! is continuity wearing ffo" the oars,
and the current naturally tends to follow .ae
bends of he river, and the pressure oil the wa'er
of ITSELF serves to deepen the channel; ana all eA
perienced navgators Of this river well know, ,ha'
where they meet with two or three bends 'oee'ner'
which are free from distractions, they always
find deeper water around the bends, and IN 'he
crossings: bu, where there are distractions in 'he
bends The weight of the current is turned from rs
noturaI channel, forming long reeis' middle 'afs'
and shoaI water. ..,.s,.r,
could say much more in favor Of this system 'an
but believing tina, short communications are E se"
orally more acceptable than long ones, :, n,,,cH
condensed as much as possible, and have lei. nu'"
70 the imopinalion of the reader. -.
... For the Arkansas Intelligenccr.
Usage PRAIRIE, April 2sth, 1916.
u,.s-s Editors:-Haying attended the last
Aht'''o' Su,,rs, school in Fayette-