Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-11-21

purpose, ana the legislature Wouio W well W
,rge the matter upon the attention Of Congress in
he shape Of memorial. South Grand river,
ying beyond the limits OF our territory, is an
,bject which cannot be improved by the State,
md yet the improvement Of that river is matter
)f the greatest importance to several of the south
western counties. The propriety OF bringing this
subject to the attention Of Congress is also rec.
ommended
The action Of the general government in
reference TO our large navigabe rivers is found TO
be Of the most uncertain character. II one Con.
gress makes an appropriation, several others may
fail, and by the time the work Of improvement
is fairly in operation, all hands are stopped, the
boats are laid up 10 rot, and the benefits OF the
Improvements made are mainly lost for the want
Of continued attention. The distractions in the
Missouri and Mississippi are OF two kinds, the
bars and snags. The first are Troublesome only
in low water; and in the Missouri and perhaps
in the Mississippi too, might be improved by
dredging. In the Missouri, the bars are general
ly short and are formed OF light loose sand which
gives way easily before rapid current. The
time which each steam boat loaded little below
the depth Of water spends in dragging through
one OF these bars, would be sufficient for boat
properly constructed 10 open channel, which
in mos: cases would continue 10 improve till the
next rise in the river. No work Of this kind
would be permanent on the Missouri; yet there is
probably no other river upon which such work
could be so easily performed and at so little ex.
pense. compared to the value. II we reflect
that hundreds Of boats are stopped for hours on
the same bars, and that all are heavily laden
with rich freights and many passengers, and de.
tanned at heavy costs; and that one dredge at
half the expense Of an ordinary boat, could re.
move the obstruction and let the steamers pass
without loss, expense, injury or detention, then
we can form some estimate Of the value Of such
mode Of improvement. The next distractions
are the snags, made Of the green trees with heavy
roots, which fall from the washed banks, and
roll 10 the desp channel, and there settle and
fasten in the mud and sand. The number o.
these snags is constantly increasing A trip
along the liver will show thousands Of trees
which heavy freeze in the winter and sudden
thaw in the spring, or the annual flood in the
summer. will add 10 the snags which already i'm
pede the navigation. So that if the river were
cleared Of snsgs to morrow, it would be fui
again by tho last Of. July next. These one
thousand trees could be removed from the banks
Of the river, roots and all, for one thousand dol
lars, il removed before they fall into the river
but if they are suffered TO fall and (asten in the
luccp CUdIItly OUittu Old.to WUulu HUI 10
move them for less than twenty five or fifty
thousand dollars; and the State could not for les
than five or ten thousand. Such is the impor
, time. Only that timber which is likely soon Il
fall should be removed. Nor should the timbe
be deadened near the banks. The green roo,
protect the banks. Clearing farms to the water
, edge in ruinous to the farms and 10 the river
The farms are washed off, the river is widened
, the water is disspated, the bars are multiplied
and the channel filled up. Some government
protect their lands and people by the construc
ton Of bikes and levees. Ours might protect III
|, river and the bottom lands, and the people t
some extent by saving the timber along tn
margin OF the river. These matters are respect
fully recommended to the consideration OF th
Legislature.
1t is believed by some men Informed on the sub
jcct, that for five or ten thousand dollars, tn
snugs in the Missouri river TO the north wester.
, corner of the State, could be removed from tn
channel so to let beats pass free Of obstruction
of that character at all stages of water. From tn
best information in my possession, | am dispose
to concur in the above opinion and would at leas
recommend the matter to the consideration of tn
Legislature. Several plans for removing the snag
have been suggested by citizens Of the State som
of which may be communicated to the Legislator
if perfected and presented during the session. Al
ordinary snag-boat could be constructed, or per
haps one could be procured from the General Gov
ernment. if that government has one Of draugh
sufficiently light for the purpose. Such q boa
should be kept at all times upon the river to oper
ate upon dangerous and difficult points as the
are discovered The increased speed of the yes
sells, the advantage of being able to run at night
the additional safety for boats, cargo and passen
gers, and the dminuton of freights, would wei
! justify such an expenditure.
or the seyenty-fve thousand dollar loan sauthor
, lied by act Of the last Legislature, to meet a
, estimated deficiency in the revenue for the las
two years, thirty five thousand dollars were pro
, cured-twenty from the Branch of the Bank O
Jackson and fifteen from the Branch at Palmyra
the mother Bank and other Branches refusing t
loan any sum being forty thousand dollars les
than the act authorized the Executive to borrow
, The bonds for these sums have been renewed, an
, other renewals will be necessary unless mean
, are provided to pay them off.
The revenue from taxes for the last two year
amounted to $3.50, 753, so. The ordinary expense
Of the State government for the same period
including the expense of holding the state con
vention about $l5, 000-amounted 10 $247 274 7e
This shows an ordinary revenue above ordinar,
, expenses of $50, ATS SO. The bonus and dividend
from the Bank for the same period were 800 SIT 81
and the interest upon the State bonds outstanding
not including $4,000 due the Jackson and Pal
, myra branches amounted to Sl42, 1000, for tn
same period. This makes an excess of interest o
state bonds over the income from the bank to tn
. State of Glib, 1878. The ordinary receipts an
expenditures for the next two years. and the in
come from the Bank and the interest upon tn
State bonds for the same period, may not vary ia
from the statements for the last two years
not, the excess of ordinary revenue, added to th
, income from the bank, will fail to meet the inter
est upon the State bonds for the next two yea r