Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-08-12

CATION TO be twelve million two hundred
and eighty thousand dollars. It estimates
the number of flat boats engaged in the
same navigation at four thousand. and the
persons employed in navigating them al
twenty thousand, and the annual cost and
expense of building and navigating them
at one million three hundred and eighty
thousand dollars 1t also estimates the
amount of freight, on the supposition the
boals go full freighted, at $2,O0O,OOO an.
nually, and the annual value of the pro-
ducts OF the valley transported on the river
and It's tributaries at $4,000, 900, and
that from others portions of the Union and
foreign countries at $4,000 1000; making
in the aggregate, $22O,0OO,OOO.
Such was the estimate of the commerce
OF the Mississippi, including its tributaries,
made by an intelligent committee to the
citizens of Cincinnati, at the beginning of
the year ls43. 1t has greatly increased
since as short as is the interval, with the
rapidly increasing population and wealth
of lis valley. 1t appears, by the last an
nual report of the Treasury Department
on the commerce and navigation of the
United States, that their steamboat ton
mage on the western waters on the last of
June, lS45, was 1918 tons. 1t appears
from the same document, that the number
oulit du ring the year, ending on the 30th
June, lS45, on those waters, was lI9:
making, IN the aggregate, 1868 tons,
and an average of fraction more than
l73 to boat, instead of 200, as estimated
by the Cincinnati committee. Assuming
that TO be the average tonnage Of the
boats belonging to the river, their number
then would be $50, and their number now
J may be estimated safely at 800 boats, and
their tonnage at l6l,787.
Assuming, then, that the number of per.
sons employed in navigating the Missis-
sippi and its tributaries, and the expease of
the navigation, and the value of the boats
and cargoes, to be what the Cincinnati es-
Inmates make it, and that their estimates
are correct, the present annual value of the
commerce of the river and tributaries
would exceed S3O0,000,OO0. But how
ever great II may be, 1t Is but the begin
ming. If the commerce of the valley shall
increase in proportion with its population,
and nothing should occur to impede that, it
will in a short time be more than quadru-
pied. Looking beyond, TO a not very dis
tant future, when this immense valley, con-
tanning within its limits 100000 square
mules; lying, in its whole extent, in the
temperate zone, and occupying a position
midway between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans; unequalled in fertility and the d.
versity of its productions; intersected in
every direction BY this mighty stream, in
GLIDING its tributaries, by which 1t is drain
ed, and which supply continuous naviga-
ton of upwards of 10000 miles, with a
coast, including both banks, Of twice that
length, shall be crowded with population,
and it's resources fully developed, imagi-
nation itself is taxed in the attempt to
realize the magnitude of its commerce =
Such is the present state of the commerce
of the Mississippi, including It's tributa-
ries, according to the best data that can
be obtained, and such its future prospect.
But as great as are the advantages which
its waters afford to the transit and inter.
course of its valley, It's navigation is sub
iect to serious and heavy drawbacks. Few
rivers are more rapid and dangerous. 1t
is obs;ructed mot only by obstacles common
to almost all streams-shoals and sand
bars--but its channel is thick set, in many
places and for long distance. with trunks
of trees, called snags, firmly fixed in the
bed Of the river, with their points project
ing at an angle we'll calculated to strike
the bottom of vessel which may be so
unfortunate as to strike against them. And
what adds to the danger. manv of them
have their points so far below the surface
as not to be visible, but at the same time
so near as to pierce the vessel which may
come in contact with them. From these
and other causes, the annual loss by the
destruction of boats, with their cargoes, or
ds mage to both, including the loss of life
on the part of the passengers and crew, is
very great.
Ii is much to be regretted that no GER
tain information can be had Of the amount
of either loss or damage. The fallest and
most satisfactory data which your commit
tee has been able TO obtain, is contained in
a supplemental statement of report Of the
Secretary ofthe Treasury, transmitting a
copy of letter from the surveyor of the
port of St. Louis. Itappears from his let
Ter. that, of the 1916 steamboats, enrolled al
! St. Louis, and trading with that port d.
ring the years of lS4l and 1912, % were
lost. OF these, 25 were sunk; and OF
them 90 proved a total loss, and 5 were
raised. OF the % lost, Is were sunk by
snags, A by rocks, and 2 by ice, by
storm, 2 by collision, by log. and 3 burnt
The total less is estimated, including de-
structon and damage of boats and car
goes, at $S76,7O0, and the loss OF lives al