Washington telegraph., 1848-12-20

Arkansas, to pass of to our great empo.
rum oi commerce, New Orleans. Soil,
F climate, production, timber; various and
extensive mineral resources,-and navi.
j gable streams, with some OF the labor of
man bestowed on them, all considered,
tins portion ot Arkansas is not probably
exceeded by any part OF the continent oi
North America, And for proof, we need
only look at iacts aud results 10 consider
the health OF The country, and longevity
ol lis inhabitants the mildness of the eli.
mate, and the moderate type OF its dis.
eases the general prosperity of the chi.
zens who have exercised the least ener.
gy and prudence, Notwithstanding their
great staple, cotton, has been taxed most
heavily, in finding its way to market
freight being excessively high, on account
OF distractions to the navigation OF our
maiu rivers, the Saline, Ouachiia, and
particularly, Red River, in the region of
the Great Rall aud ON that same nc.
count, they have been taxed with equally
excessive trelghls aud land portage, on
all their supplies brought from abroad
on their dry goods. groceries, iron and
hardware.
Besides u soil naturally rich, compared
with most parts OF the United States,
/ there are ineXhans,ible mines OF natural
mauuresi gypsum, mari, Ne, 10 be met
with, IN all parts of the country to be
made, AT liuie cost OF labor, add To its
natural fertility and producliyeness, aud
to make It endure through all time
| Minerals, tile most extensive aud various
the useful aud preeious-are locked mn
IN the bosom OF the earth. Water PRIV.
leges, ior safled and extensive manuiae.
tuning establishments and operations, are
abnndanti with almost ineAhauslible for.
ests OF timber and mines OF coal, TO sup.
ply Their plaee-where wanung-wIib
steam power Tho soil aud climate are
adapted to the production OF all surts and
varieties ol grain, grasses, and livestock
Which could be made auxiliary to the most
extensive mining aud manufacturing
operations.
But it musi he admitted, that there is
great drawback on-if not insnpeFahIe
hamor lo-ali operations and en,efprzcs.
N these several pursuits, while the eonn.
try Is destitute OF better channels aud
avenues ui trade aaa commerce. than II
possesses. It, therefore, only remains to
speak u the remedy, or remedies for there
may be more than one, either to select
lrun among. or 10 adopt coacuuently.-
OF one alta time, aud then the olhor-as
soon "a practicable.
lti. evident, ihut the first measures to he
adopted to open channels OF commerce 10
and from QUE country, is the Improvement
ol the navigation Of our rivers, by the an.
pfupuaie means, 10 their sevcmi imnedi.
mcnts. Thee leave for the selection
aud adoption Of person, better qualified
10 judge, aud more experienced IN, such
thlugs, than ! am. Though, as It respects
Red River ! would, with Difference sun.
gcst. that It's volume OF water, any where
from the head 10 the mouth, Is not sulii.
clcnt TO be- separated into two channels,
aud make both, OF either of them, nav,.
gable streams, tor such boats, as the pro.
duets aud business OF the country require.
a great part Of is water is poured thfo
He'd Bayou, into Cuddo and Soda Lakes,
ium whence, II huds an outlet, through
Twelve Mile Bayou, into the main chan.
mel OF Red River just above Shreveport.
To ih, circumstance is owing the ac.
cnmunlion OF the Rail which will con.
tnuc tiil the difficulty j. obviaied which
could, IN all probability, be done through
the necessary means furnished hy the
General GUycumcut-Qhal would be
grcally benefited thereby in the enhance.
meut OF the prce, aud IN the ready sale OF
It's lands, bordering this stream: in the
easy aud ready transportation of sub.
slslcncc TO gransOns uu It's Southwestern
frontier; aud Of troops aud munitions of
war, to occupy aud furnish these garrisons,
as well ~ clothing Tor the soldcrsl-by
abandoning TO It's tate, the main channel.
between the mouth OF Red Bayou aud of
Twelve Mile Bayou, altogether. TO be
filled up aud obstruCtod, as much aud as
soon As possiblei-and opening Red anl
Black Bayous, by widening and deepen.
ing them, aud clearing out their obslruc.
lions or, by cutting a channel from Red
River, some distance above the mouth
OF Red Bayou, into Black Bayou, and
improving the latter Bayou, in like man.
ner, to the said Lakes: aud then by i'm.
proving a channel through the said lakes,
by clearing out the timber and other oh.
structions. If any, 10 The head OF Twelve
Mile Bayou, aud improving the same in
like manner, TO its aJouchcmcRt with Red
River or by stopping up Red Bayou,
altogether, or nearly so; and opening the
main channel of Red River, by cutting
out the Raft, in the straight sections of
that river, aud cutting off bends, by means