Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-01-04
Number IL.

have the means of forming opinions. that
men are now confined in the penitenlary
ior ohehces which they never committed
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
As the State has now commenced having off
her debts, and as the people were never in a
more Aourishing condition, By pursuing ,bs noli'
cy steadily and judicieusy, we NAV soon dis
charge all our obligations. In the meantime.
The condition Of our finances, the increasing
wealth, population, agricultural products and
manufactures OF the country, will Justify a prep.
aralion ior The prosecution OF system OF inter.
nal Improvements.
Before any works are commenced. however
we should collect plans, prepare estimates and
ascertain The relative value and cost of works
oil different characters; for example the plain
ROADS, plank roads, macadamised roads rail
ROADS, canals, locks and dams or slack water and
deepening shoals. These plans should be taken
rom works already constructed, and The est.
mates should be made from the actual COS, of
WoiHS already completed, and in every case the
eS.'ha'e should be accompanied by the price Of
iauor and provisions at the time the work was
constructed, the cost Of material ard cb.,ac,er
| OF Tue natural base or foundation on which tbe
work was erected. Estimates made b, mon
seeking employment are seldom fair tests Of ,ha
actual cost of an Improvement and sboplI h,
taken by legislature with much csution Tbev
have been found, generally, 10 be loo low ana
States acting upon them have been involved and
greatly injured We have many objects Of in.
ternal Improvement about which we should ba
collecting information.
| We have several rivers that must become spb.
lecIs OF improvement as the population or tho
| country and means at command increase Tia
d. FRANCIS, with improvement, may become a
good stream, for the section OF country tbrouob
which 1t flows. As much OF it runs IhIouob a
Hat country, It's waters are OF course DISCHARGED
slowly and where this is the case, much small.
yer volume oil water makes stream naviuabIe
Black fver is stream OF which but little has
ever been SAID in the legislature, yet il we'll Re.
serves attention among these enumerated as obs
Jec'S Oh Improvement 10 It's character. il is
more like the 81. Francis than other rivers Of the
Sou'h' ana al such rivers ale more easily render.
Gu nds'5au'e IMAM IhoSe having greater amour.
oil lalI. Currant river in The south is a hold
stream and affords large amount Of water. and
with locks and dams may be made nsvioahIa Gor
steam ooats hIgh up Ia the State. This river
would furnish large amount OF wafer power for
manufacturing purposes. North Grand river
although probably dischargng less amoun, If
ihan Currant river. This stream might also he
made navigable with locks and dams. and Aou,-
ing through country rich in soil and popylstion
the water power would be Of immense value for
manufacturing purposes.
Inc Usage is stream OF still larger size and
waters greater exten, OF country, and, psssiog
through fertile region. embraces in its interest
much larger population. As to the proper plan
oil improving this river there are vsrious onininns
so many aud so different that mere guess as IN
me best plan would be useless Before anv Iarga
amount oil money Is expended on il proplr t-,Is
shouIo be made as 10 The sbty and useful,
ness and cost OF different plans. A very large,
industrious and wealthy population is now inler>
esten IN lhe improvement Of that river, and The
suhIect merits serious attention; but no hasiy
ana oadIy prepared plan should be adopted An
unsucceSsI Ut plan would iujurr the river and the
reputation OF the country. The work abouId 5e
entered upon with great care aud caution.
vi Inc Improvement Of the Missouri enough
was SAID IN my message 10 the legislature, and
whaI was then SAID, alter Two years more OF re,
hection and observation, it is suI believed. de.
serves your attention and action. The mos, i'm.
portrait results are oen produced BY The proDer
and timely application of means apparently
weak and inefficient, ard too chsap and simnIa
to Effect their object. But praclical and exoe.
renced rVer men have approved Of the plan sug>
gesIed Tor the Improvement Of the Missouri. No
permanent work, except the removal OF sDsos
and preventing Others from falling into the chan.
mel can be made on this river. The shoals
themselves are temporary and The improvements
on them must be equally 50. But they are easily
improved. good dredgs might be of great use
~ deepening The shoaIs. This operation on the
Missouri would be unlike similar one on al.
most any other stream. The shoals are wide and
: deepening channel Of fifty or sixty feet would
hardly effect The pools above. In fact the Mis-
sour may be said to have no pools. The water
tails every where and forms swift current.
White river is represented as valuable stream.
In lis character it resembles Currant river. but
furnishes larger smounl OF water, and in its
: unlmpToved slate can be navigated at lines
: | ne improvement Of this river will be an object
OF great interest TO portion Of the people of the
/ southwest South Grand River or Neosho lies
. beyond the S'ate-s beautiful stream, flowing bus
g I','Ie west oil our western boundary, and COL
iecHng IN It's course nearly OF quite all the waters
, OF Inc sou'h west corner OF the Slate The i'm
ProVement OF this river is subject Of deep in
: lerest 10 some Of our south western copnties-
But this Is work for the General Government,
'he fVer lying beyond our jurisdiction, if the
survey oil our western boundary be correct. This
t improvement OF this river should be presented 10
J. Inc attention Of Congress by memorial from
;, the Legislature. The time must come when ths
n improvement will be mode. and there is no dan.
n ger oil putting of 'ha; lime by presenting the
M an rly 1au