Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-11-11
OHIO CITY.

The suboined letter has been transmitted by mail
from an unknown hand accompanied by small Of money
TO pay for lis insertion. Being that class Of for which
We make charge, would have inserted The letter with.
out pay because know enough Of the geography of our
country to know that the point which has bee with lte
taste and as little propiety csened Oho City namely, the
point Of confluence Of the great rivers Mississippi and Ohio
must possess vas. advantages for the objects forth by the
writer Of the letter. Nat. Intel
BosToS, OCTOBER z, ls4s.
DEAN SIR When last met you in the West you desired
me 10 communicate views and impressions Of the Missis-
siPpi alley to you my home and you particularly
desired my views in regard to The importance Of Ohio city,
town ecsnty sprung into existence junction of the two
great rivers, the Mississippi and Ohio.
In y present communication propose ccnine my re-
marks TO the impolDce of the mouth Of the Ohio and in
sequent letters will give you in detail my general impress
son IN regard 10 the other striking features of the great West
My FIRST sensation on reaching the junction of tie OHIO and
Mississippi utter astonfmen, TO the confluence If the
two mghiest rivers in the world, bringing together navgablo
waters Of xyye hundred miles in extent almost wholly un-
improved IL seemed incredible that cities numbering hun
dfeds OF thousands should have becu built up this country
whilst the most central point in the very heart of the fertile
valley o The Mississippi with navigation OF sixty five
hundred miles centerng at it, bringing the trade Of eleven
the richest States in the Union together this point and
ryns he supply directly than five millions
Of Inhabitants, should have remained nearly in of
'Ge II there any great physical causes to prevent the
growth Of city the mouth OF the Ohio then would be
different thing hut there i at least upol the Missouri sds
The present site OF Ohio city, good ground above the reach
OF The highest foods could be desired for great town.
the county, for than hundred miles back OF it, is as
rich in agricultural and mineral products the most favored
pan Of tie great valley of the West.
Besides the great extent Of navigation cencring this
pon you are aware that plans foot for constructing
railroads from Chicago, Charleston, Mobile and Inepe-
dece all TO terminate at this point From the favorable dis
position manifested BY the last Congress- there be little
doubt but that The ensuing session large grants Of public
laui-t no the - IL.
roads When completed and they certain be in very
few years. this railroad will open 10 this point 500 miles
trade II addition 10 the $500 miles Of trade now in
sence. There l206 steamboats, and 200 keel boats
now employed IN this trade carrying aggregate annual
tonnage OF To- 252 l60 The value OF Ills tonnage is S43.
65l 24o, nearly double he value Of the WHOLE foreign
merce Of the United States.
The character Of the na'gsou changes the confluence
Of the Mississippi and Ohip which renders impossible for the
larger clas OF boats trading from below 10 run any consirra-
bic portion Of the year above the mouth Of the Ohio. This
viii lead 70 the establishment separate lines run on the
Lower Miass pp, the Ohio, and the Upper Mississippi
nieect al the mouth OF the OHIO It only requires the
ccssay facilities for storing ond Lranshppng 10 concentrate
the immense trade of the great Valley Of The Mississippi the
mouth Of the Ohio.
In Of these facts regard the junction OF the Ohio and
Mississippi as the most Important inland point upon the Ae
rcan continent That great city must by the force of cir
cumstances alone, spring into existence ut this point
doubt who has visited it. And the present site Of
Ohio City, from various uonsijeraons be point
think Is equally certain. As this point is ot5uced
with ice and connection with the Gulf osen all
renders the proper and desirable location
the Western aFmory.
The present site selected for the afro,y shut up part
the year with ice and low water, and the Government
be aware that OF the importance have the
ry at point accessible at all c the year In fact
This point the proper Tor general depot Of all United
States stores to supply the interior This should be made by
nc ti0ai Government The general dguars ve
they could distribute all times, without delay hndrance
and the munitions war to any part of the Union where
they might be required. Truly, youts.