Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-28
INSTRUCTIONS TO WESTERN NAVIGATION.
To the Editors Of the National Iptelzgencer.

L #
TO the Editors Of the National h,teLigencer.
| LOUISVILLE, DECEMBER l3, 1850.
GEsrIEsEss You have always advocated liberal appro-
paons for the removal Of distractions in the Western
rivers but probably never knew their full extent Please
publish the enclosed enumeration Of part
The losses the people Of The West by these snag, and
in time insurance. le delays, and inconvenience, have,
perhaps exceeded the value of all the slaves that
escaped from The South the north Of Mason and
Dixons line. taa 81 ST
On the narrow strip Of seaboard the distractions to nav
CATION have been process Of removal and there have been
enormous drafts the Treasury for the last three quarters Of
century, and Notwithstanding all that has there been done
we cannot get large appropriation for the improvement
OF connuou nagabe Of three thousand miles, from
rsburs to New Orleans has been absorbed in Of
the trout brooks and oyster creeks that into the
Unless this evil is emedied and that sooD you may rely
that 1t will be remembered here after the census Of 1860
4 Yours, &c.
FROM THE LouIsvILLx JOURNAL.
SNAGs IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN Car
Ro AND NEW ORLEANs.--We have often referred to
the gathering distractions in the great river of this
valley; but until few days since had no idea of
their full extent and than ever wonder at the
orbeaance of people Of the West under the eross nep
of the Government and the madness of such Of our
representatives have opposed the proposed
for our relief The number of steamboats, passing daily by
every point between Cairo and New Orleans viii average
between fifteen and twenty The boats and their Geights
will doubtless average $40 900 eachor altogether over
half million Of dollars The crews and passengers would
exceed thousand Every obstruction peril within the
points named daily obstruction and peril to half million
dollars worth Of property, and to thousand persons
OF all the dangers which boat is table, that Of running
on is probably the worst ledge Of rocks could be
avoided, because its place is always the The sand
bars changing to be sure but the boat that grounds
bar generally be got of with rise i the river and there
is danger Of Es and but little loss of properly But
these snags sometimes above and below
sometimes in place and sometimes in another No care
is sufficient to guard against hemno strength of material is
sufficient to resist them. M
How many of these boat pierces are there think you
Western voters, between Cairo and New Orleans Six;
more Sixty; more. Six hundred not enough Six
thousands at least Think Of that gentlemen Representa-
tves who for the interests Of this valley Congress
Six thousand hidden and hahidden property and life de-
sroyers bn the great highway Of six millions Of people
Your constituents have been rskng their lives and estates
and through these Dangers while you have been ncked
by Massachusetts the side, and South Carolina
the other, when by united vote you had the power any
moment to silence the urasms Of each party, and then
appropriate part Of the money paid by your constituents
into the Treasury for purposes most essential their welfare
We have placed the number of these snags thousand
six to the me which less than the average estimate Of
the pilots and captains from whom have sought for nfo
nation the subject The places stated to be the
following
Bend below mouth of Ohio; head Of Island No. head
Of Wolf Island bend below Hickman Island No. 10; Red
ding's Point; Island No. IA Island No. l8; Needhams
Cutoff; foot of No. IS; Plum Point bend Island No. al
Island No 81; Paddys Hen and Chickens; st. Francis
Island Ship Island; Horseshoe Cutoff; head Of No. 66
No o. No. 60 foot of No. Co. the Pilot Of the Bos
tona says, is perfect "deadenng No IA foot Of No.
75 Point Chicot Princeton Banks Cutoff; No. 10;
Fairchids Islands Cowper's Point Naschez; Glascocks
Island; Fort Adams. c .s.s @Gst.a a
7Artsr Of these dangerous places were named by
Of the most experienced pilots the river unsafe for
navigation at all times and almost impossible at night We
may have misspeed Of the and some we have
niftad do oindicf
1t is said that Of these places the snags have
accumulated and each oher that boat Of the
largest class barely pass through them, and that
every subject the entire stoppage OF navigation
What to be done Il any one so stupid suppose
that individuals separate STATES will these dangers
Missouri Arkansas and Mississippi strong Democratic
States Has there been in the Legislature Of either single
proposition to do this work Has single Democratic rep
esentatve dared propose increase the his
Slate for this purpose Every body knows that il the OBJ
ucions removed the work must be done BY the
General Government and every body ought to know that
the navigation Of the river is bad when the first
"broad- horn" descended the river
In conversation, few days since, with Of our De-
mocratc Representatives in Congress- remarked that he
had voted against the river and habo of the gross
injustice Of the division between the two that millions were
devoted the harbors and thousands the ves that the
Eastern members made great show Of beray towards U.S.
but sunk every ark Of relief by the amount OF weight
thrown on it. .,
This may be- aud often half inclined to believe that
these esboad members Of Congress have objection to the
entire obstruction OF our river commerce In order to build up
the railroads connecting this valley with the seaboard Cities
If this is the game, Representatives should oppose every
appropriation for lighthouse breakwaer, buoy, chart
from Esstport to Pensacola. ..
We call people who have to peril life and property
great give their Representatives until
our grievances in this respect are redressed
Our present Chief Magistrate has constitutional scrupes
this subject, and greater for removing
ledge Of rock in the Delaware than snag in the MsssspP
and, members Of Congress will talk little less about
abstract principles and for the substantial ine-
rests Of their constituents mays year two be able
to travel New Orleans steamboat without the necessity
of settling up affairs and making will before our start
A. A,,ruur E,<.xaaxax short there in