Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-10-07
VOLUME mo. 50 2
I SUBSCRIPTION PRICE 81 o.. s


to one Of those 5cnchts-[Umong what havo
( characterised as general or insepcraJe)-o
8, which, oilts class. promises as / think. the grcG-
test value, would hcra direct your special attcn-
rpn. | ollude to the improvement IL zrW effect in
tie navigation Of our Tjrcrs. For the reasons Wv
en- in the report, an decidedly and confidently
OF the opinion that, by the proposed enhoukmcus.
moro will bo done 20 improve and maintain the
navigation Of our western rivers, lhan every other
plan, ana all other means, than have ever been
proposed or used for lhat purpose. This opinion
rests alike upon philosophical principles and
actual experiment. have Little doubt but tho
plan proposed will ada a. l3l-tlwo months TO whet
IS now called the nlyigabie season OF The Arkau-
slg ryor. When thsshrli be ossocilteI with the
"t.f5'.s 5seausl~y tlet-. f-sIitiEg from ID. Il ann
well satisfied that tho nayi irllioa Of THAI river will
BE- rendered utre'y safe, certain, and easy, for
. boats OF good size, Throughout the whO'o yclr--
/ cc.tajuiy high up Lutte Rock and probably
. much above taat point. From similar causes, "a
corresponding Improvement Of Tho navigation OF
all our rivers nay reasonably be expected. In
connection wiki tho navigation Of our rivers uso
the term '' safe - and to us import attach much
value, particular ia its application 10 the Arkau-
sas riyor. It's fact not generally known be-
IIcve, bat which learn from good authority, that
the charges for freight on this river are much
higher than on any other Of the western rivers,
aud the rate Of Insurance Is a0Hb'e and This 6o.
cause rs navigation is rendered so unccrtain aud
UIsIIy by the oyorllOws. a simple calculation
would show that The burden upon tho business OF
our State. from the cause alone is enormous ir.
deed, that 10 amounts to sum which. by the ne
cumuia;ion of a few years, would be amply sulj-
cent, OF itself, to defray the expenses OF cnbrn,
ing, in a substantial aud permanent manno., The
whole extent of this river, irom its mouth tho
highest Poin, of overflow.
In evidence, additional TO what I have al1a-cd
n the report, of the ntre practicabty Of the pro-
/ posed work, lbringing with il all the enumerated
benefits, and even more,) have the opinions Of
many individuals residing neur the rivers and
deeply interested In their mprovcmout-.udiyd-
uaa Of high and practical Intelligence, among
/ whom is our enlightened GOycmur--IbGt tho work
J can be put under contract within few months
from the lime il shall be placed within the control
p, Of orr Stute authorities. learn, from good ou-
/ IhOrsy, that many persons Of means and enter
| prise are ready to make large contracts Of ibis
/ kind. This fact, alone, amounts almost to dem.
onslwtIon, that the work cannot only be done bet
that i will be certainly, speedily, ard well done
for, you wilt bear in mind, that the work is 10 ba
paid for ont Of the lrUds which its execution alone
will reclaim and make valuable The contrac-
tors TO taho certain portion Of the lani, 5igH
- 'ssE-z's -ttFEE!arvt price, ply lII-s..
! the work Of rcC.0imUg. Unless the work there
/ FORE be certainly and well done, no payment can
be made. Ii. then, intelligent practical men en-
gage in tho work these conditions. as thew ara-
ready to Go, we have the very best guaranty, as
said. thati it can be done, and thar 1t will be GER
| oin.y, speedily, and well done.
And here, 1t occurs 10 me. a new avenue 10 i'm.
. igrulOn to our Slatois opened up, and a now field
10 useful and profitable enterprise is prcsentcd.-
In making tho contracts, the work, having been
first systemizod, will be let out. suppose, in sec.
/ lions, long tho river. varying from one 10 many
miles, 10 suit the means and wishes Of various con-
| tractors certain sum, per yard or mile, 20 be
| paid il reclaimed land, at stipulated pric, per
acre, win be ogrocd upon. IL is reasonably 10
~ s|.sr rfgf .-.iF1 1.~-
/ rate; estimating the lands in reference to .hcir
! present deprecated condition, rather Than to tho
/ high value which rcclaimiug viii confer unon
! them. This, oPprrhcnd, will be regarded as n
just and polite Plan alike 10 insure the prompt and
certain execution Of the work. aud to compensate
wisely, and therefore literally, those who may on
gage successfully in most useful and lauiablco on
tcrPrise. To all persons, then. WHO desire rich
returns upon investments of either money or labor.
contracts, to execute portions uf This work offer
the strongest inducements. To the owners Of
slaves, whu.hcr residing in Arkansas or other
States, and seeking more profitable field for their
labor, no undertaking promises such sPoedy, such
certain, or such muuiltcent rewards.
/ Tho particular manner in which i wiil be pro-
/ per % execute the proposed work, do not deem
properly within Inc scope Of your inquiries. Tho
| general plan of emqankmen,s, 10 bo regulated In
their heigh. and direction by the varying crcum-
s!ancesUf locality, is all that seems necessary 10
indicate here. 4 system we'll maturcd in an tho
requisite details must be tho work Of our State Lc-
gisature, Aose acting undor its authority, sho'd
we be so fortunate TO obtain the grant | am ask
/ inc for in the name Of tho State.
! TO your particular suggestion Of a canal from
! the Mississippi to the ST. Francis, as means Of
drainage cannot answer with any precision or
confidence. | am inclined to think, however, as
! you will more clearly understand from the report,
! that when an embankment, and not q very high
one, comes 10 DO made along the Mississippi, from
/ the Missouri line downwards, that the ST. Francis
and the little streams making it, win be am
! ply sufficient to drain all the lands you speak Of
/ in that particular region.
i | am particularly desrous that my bill shall BE-
como law at this session Of Congress; because,
our State Legislature meets only ouco IN two
years, and its next session will be in the onsu-
ing November, if VIC should not get tho grant now,
this work, so important TO our State, may have TO
bo postponed for two years. This consideration
has induced me to labor very assduously, alike
prepare the minds Of other Senators and Represen-
tatiyes for favorable action upon The bill, when |
shall be able to bring i; forward.
| have thus hastily slleiched 10 YOU the general