Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-11-14
OHIO CITY.


to US for publication. 1t is from gentle
man Of Boston, we'll acquainted with the
location and advantages of Ohio City,
1t will doubtless interest many of our
readers :-[S,. Louis Union.
BosToN, Oct. 9TH, 1848.
DEAR SIR :--When last met you in the
| West, you desired me to communicate
my views and impressions Of the Mis,is-
| sippi Valley TO you, on my return home.
And you particularly desired my views
in regard to the importance Of Ohio City,
"a town recently sprung into existence
at the junction Of the two great rivers
the Mississippi and Ohio,
| In my present communication propose
! to confine my remarks 10 the Importance
Of the mouth vf the Ohio; and in subse~
quent 'etters, will give you in detail, my
general Impressions in regard to the 9TH
er striking features Of the great West,
My first sensation on reaching the juno
ton Of the Ohio and Mississippi, was ut
ter establishment TO see the confluence Of
the two mightiest rivers in the world,
bringing together navigable waters Of g.
500 miles in extent, almost wholly unim-
proved. 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 fertile valley of the Mississippi,
with navigation Of over $500 miles CEN
tering at Infringing the trade Of eleven
ofthe richest states in the union together
at this point; and carrying the commerce
to supply directly more than 100000 Of
inhabitants, should have remained nearly
in state OF nature. If there were any
great physical causes to prevent the
growth of a city at the mouth of the Ohio
then it would be different thing; but
there is at least upon the Missouri side,
at 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 oft, is as rich in agricultural
and mineral products, as the most favor
ed part OF the great valley Of the West.
Besides the great extent Of navigation
centering at this point, you are aware
that plans. are on foot for constructing
railroads from Chicago, Charleston, Mo-
bile, and independence all 10 terminate
at this point. From the favorable dispo-
sition manifest by the last Congress, there
can be little or no doubt, but that at the
ensuing session, large grants Of public
lands will be made for the construction
Of most if not all these roads. When
completed, and they are certain to be in
very few years, this railroad will open
to this point $500 miles Of trade in add.
ton to the $500 miles OF river trade now
in existence. There are 1906 steam
boats and 1000 keel boats now EMPLOYED
in this trade, carrying an aggregate an
nual tonnage Of 1O,259, 100. The value
of this tonnage is $432,65l ,24O, nearly
double the value Of the whole foreign
commerce Of the United States.
The character Of the navigation chan
gcs nea1 the confluence Of the Mississip-
pi 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 sep
arate lines to run on the lower Mississippi
the Ohio, and the upper Mississippi, to
intersect at the mouth Of the Ohio. 1t
only requires the necessary facilities for
storing and trans-shi ping to concentrate
the immense trade Of the great Valley of
the Mississippi at the mouth of the Ohio.
In view Of these facts, l regard the
junction 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 vari-
Gus considerations, must be the point,
think is equally certain. As this point
lis never obstructed with ice, and as the
connection with the Gulf is open at all
seasons, it renders it the most proper and
desirable location for the wertern Armo-
~. ..... .. ~a.,.. '.~..
The present site selected for the armo-
ry IS shut up part of the year with ice
and low water, and the Government
must be aware that it is of the utmost i'm.
portance to have the armorv at point
accessible at all seasons of the year. In
fact, this point is the proper one for ge-
neral depot Of all the United States stores
to supply the interior. This should be
made by the General Government the
general headquarters from which they
could distribute at all times, without de-
lay or hindrance, men, and the munitions
Of war, to any part Of the Union where
they might be required. Truly yours.
ANOTHER COOP Hlr.-We find the fol-
lowing good lick, which has both North
ern and Southern political bearing in the
New Orleans Delta: -a# aTets n .-u.a-'
care you drunkard?" said the recor-
der yesterday to hard case who was
brought up before him for being as blue
as indigo the night before .1 7E ''. .5.
why, Pm drunkard," said the prs-
oner, "but not an ultra-drunkard," ..rs
"What do you mean?'' said the Recor-
der-[ don't understand the distinction.'
"Ihen suppose you would unders,
me-" said the prisoner. uIf Won had asked