Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-10-30
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI.
mo. LIZ

llO0 u tUt sum Ubttf "
rivers, which mentioned in my first numbers
as OF very great importance 10 the State
In my Sd number, spoke Of the Merrlmoc
river and gave my opinion Of the cost and benshs
OF so improving that stream. What said ihen
as to its Importance, may to certain extent
be put down as result that will follow the
like attempt upon the rivers mentioned as above
stated. What meant by slack water naviga-
ton is, at proper places, 10 make dams and
locks across the stream, so as to dam up tho
water, till a proper depth is obtained to Gerry
snch sized boats as it shall be judged will bs
required by the expected business along the
stream. BY swing dams" mean 10 throw the
water into a narrow channel and thereby deepen
il at places too shallow. from being too broad.
To the "dams and locks" one or two nconve.
niences would be likely to be thought OF, but
which the writer thinks would by no means weigh
with the advantages that must inevitably flow
from their adoption. One objection will be, tina.
it may injure the health Of the people in the vi
entity, while it may be admitted that some incon-
venience at first will be felt, yet do not be-.
lieve it will be Of permanent character. In
the first place, these dams need not DO very
high, for 8 feet permanent ,cater will be amply
sufficient for all the purposes Of navigation of
these streams; and consequently, the dams in no
place need be raised SO high as the ordinary
banks Of the stream, and when once raised to
the proper height, it would SO far become tho
bed or channel Of the stream, and on the top
the current Of the water would run as usual;
and therefore, as it would cover no vegetation
by spreading Of the wafer as in freshets, &C..
il is believed no very material harm would como
Of it. Another neigbborhood Inconvenience
would be thought Of; it may be objected .hs.
they will make the rivers and its tributaries in
many places too deep TO cross by fording, but 10
any one who has travelled as much as the writer
has, in the Slate, will not be disposed to pay
much attention to this, for they will have learned
by experience. that such is the mirey character
Of the bottoms Of nearly all the tributaries to the
Missouri river in this State, that they canno.
be crossed without bridges or ferries at any rate.
and as the companies who make these improve
ments will have 10 construct these bridges and
erect ferries, &C., for public convenience, the
people OF the vicinity, as well as tho country ct
large, will be directly benefited by this. An
advantage Of vas! importance that will accrue 10
the country, and also prove great source Of
revenue to the companies which construc. these
dams and locks" will be the water power
that will thereby be created; Of this, it is known
that part Of the State, north OF the Usage, 10
greatly deficient. Let the Salt, Charlton, Grand,
Crooked, Fishing. Blue, Lamine Usage, &c.,
rivers, be damned and locked" as the writer
thinks they ought and arc capable OF being.
10 aid in local navigation, so as 10 reach every
mans door, this country then will be furnished
with a water power equal to that Of any part Of
America, which can and Uill be applied to inDu.
merable and beneficial purposes Of manufactur.
ing raw materials that now are sen. beyond tho
State, for the want OF these facilities. Tho
Missouri river being, as we in the outse, sup.
posed, cleared Of "snags and sawyers;" these
smaller rivers Damned and locked" thereby
pushing navigation, by water, TO the extremes Of
the State, with inexhaus,ible water power, as We
have seen they will give, all connected with tho
lines Of railroads we have proposed; all OF these
being done would enable US always. both in
winter and summer, low arater and ice, to send
our surplus produce TO New Orleans in week.
at halfthe COS. we now pay, who is i. so stupid
as 10 think that the expenditure OF 90 millions
Of dollars would not The day they were compile.
ted be given back to the State, in the increased
value Of her productions and property The
very fact Of their being made, would increase
the valuation Of the property Of the State. by
sworn appraisers, 10 at least double to what Il is
now considered worth. II any one is yet found
hesi:ating on the score Of expenses. as we have
calculated them, let them recolecl that mil.
lions Of people, in the revolution, made war with
England and incurred debt OF near 100 mil
lions. all of which has been long since paid,
while we possess population equal to one
sixth Of the whole population of the United
States at that period. The expenditure proposed
in these numbers, is not in greater proportion,
and while it may be admitted that the erpendi.
lures OF people 10 obtain or maintain free
and independent government, and therefore while
they regretted, they ought to be Stunned,
yet the expenses OF war are entirely those OF
exhaustion, and every day makes the nation
poorer while they are continued yet. those ex.
penditures, made to improve the country, such 40
have proposed, adds not only to the wealth o.
the State, but ease, happiness and riches to every
individual Of which the State is composed; and
in our case, would bring to our State more than
| triple the number of emiprsnts now con,ino