Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-11-09

ton and advantages of Ohio City. II will
doubtless amuse, if not interest, many Of
our readers:
... BosToN, Oct. 18th; 1s4s.
DEAR SIR:-When last met you in the
West, you desired me TO communicate my
views and impressions of the Mississippi
Valley TO you, on my return home. And
you particularly desired my views in re.
gard to the Importance of Ohio City--a
town recently sprung into existence at the
junction of the two great rivers-,he Mis-
sissppi and Ohio.
10 my present communication, / pre-.
pose to confinc my remarks TO the impor.
lance of the mouth Of the Ohio; and in
subsequent letters, will give you in detail,
my general impressions in regard to the
other striking features Of the great West
My first sensation on Preaching the juno
ton of the Ohio snd Mississippi, was utter
asionishment TO see the confluence of the
Two mIghliest rivers in the world. bringing
together navigable waters of G,5OO miles in
extent, almost wholly unimproyed. 1t
seemed incredible that cities numbering
hundreds of thousands should have been
built up in this country; whilst the most
central point, in the very heart of the fer
tile valley of The Mississippi, with navi
CATION of over $500 miles centering at it,
bringing The trade of eleven Of the richest
states in the union together a, this points;
and carrying the commerce to supply di-
rectly more than 100000 of inhabitants
should have remained nearly in a state oil
nature. If there were any great physical
causes to prevent the growth of city, a,
the mouth of the Ohio, then il would be
different thing; bu. there is at lcas, upon
the Missouri side, a, the present site Of
Ohio City, as good ground above the reach
of the highest floods as could be desired
for great town; and the country for more
than hundred miles back of it, is as rich
in agricultural and mineral products, as the
most favored part of the great valley of
the West.
Besides the grea, extent Of navigation
ceniering at this point, you are aware that
plans are on foot for constructing railroads
from Chicago, Charleston, Mobile, and In
dependence, all 10 terminate al this point.
From The favorable disposition manifest by
the last Congress, there can be little or no
doubt, but that at the ensuing session, large
grants Of pulic lands will be made for the
construction Of most, if no, all these roads.
When completed, and they are certain to
be in very few years, this rail road will
open to this point $500 miles of trade in
addition 10 the $500 miles of river trade
now in existence. There are 1905 steam
boats and 1000 keel boats now employed in
this trade, carrying an aggregate annual
tonnage of lO252,l6O. The value of this
tonnage is s432,65l ,24o, nearly double the
value of The whole foreign commerce of
the United States.
The character of the navigation changes
near The confluence of the Mississippi and
Ohio, which render it impossible for the
larger class of boats trading from below TO
run any considerable portion of the year
above the mouth of the Ohio. This will
lead TO the establishment of separate lines
TO run on the lower Mississippi, the Ohio,
and the upper Mississippi, 10 intersect at
the mouth of the Ohio. 1t only requires
the necessary facilities for storing and
trans'shipng to concentrate the immense
trade of the great Valley of the Mississp-
pi at the mouth of the Ohio.
In view of these facts, regard The juno
ton of the Ohio and Mississippi as the
most important inland point upon the
American continent. That a great city
must, by the force of circumstances, alone
spring into existence at this point, no one
can doubt who has visited it. And that
the present site of Ohio City from various
considerations, must be The point | think
is equally certain. As this point is never
ohstructed with ice, and as the connection
with The Gulf is open al all seasons, il rem.
ders IT the most proper and desirable loca.
ton for the western armory.
The present site selected for the armory
is shut up part of the year with ice and
low water, and the Government must be
aware that it is of the utmost importance tc
have the armory at a point accessible at al
seasons of the year. In fact, this point il