Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-05-02
white water Cennl---lsiver Farms.


White Water Canal---IEiver Farms.
EpIToRs OF SrArE SENTINEL.-A word frum
old Franklin upon matters of general interest may
perhaps find place In YOUR columns Tie TIN of
last month the western f1rk OF White Water stock
high, and though il did not go il ith the louse
ness VI Al, still in It's sudden mad fl. commerce
aud agriculture we're severe sufferers. The Canal
sustained damages estimated at $4,000, but which
the repairs will most likely swell to SIS .000 The
banks washed away in many places between CON-
nersville and Harrison Tie principal break, how
ever, occurred at the feeder dam, four miles below
BrOokve. Tie current Of the river washing out
The gravel, forced its way under the DAM breaking
the span. and carrying before it abou, third Of
the whole dam. Tie embo nkments of the canal have
been severely tested by the ruglng waters, and The
wonder Is. that they very generally wIihstood the
violent freshe'. indicating pe.inansncy which Is
gratifying To all, highly encouraging to ibose most
interested and which, in great degree must restore
public confidence in the future stability of the work.
This canal, among the first undertaken by the State.
has been the most disastrous of oil the public works
Oyertaken in its prosecution under the auspices of
the State, by the great financial CRISIS, which mock
ed alike individual sagaci!y. and Independent assoc-
aied wisdom and influence, involving individual COM
panies, and even so'ercignties in bankruptcy. was
abandoned by the State. and finally given to the
White Water Valley Canal Company. which has
waded through embsrrassmens and overcome sue
cesson OF mlsfortunes that M other company IN the
pany had hardly completed the work-in the first
flush of success-ust beginning to realize the i'm
mense advantages of active commerce and ready
outlet for produce, before The entertainments had be-
come settled. Embedded and cemented. than the VAL
ley visited with the unprecedented flood OF Al,
which made, as il were entire waste of the whole
work, locks, bridges, uqueducts and dams. Suisse
queny, during the repairs and afterwards revisited
with repeated floods, bearing away the most costly
structures, Gripping the resources. destroying the
public confidence aid dsheartening the whole coun-
try. food break occurring from time to time, and
another that to the present day. there has been
comparatively but few months of uninterrupted nav
| igation on the Canal; still the company have kept
| above water. a1oat and going ahead, evincng q
spirit and energy and determination to make what
they do stay done subserve the great interests Of
trade, well becoming the people Of this rich and
/ beautiful valley.
| The Superintendent Caleb Jackson. is vigorously
prosecuting the repairs. aud from all Appearances
navigation from Cambridge City to Cincinnati, will
recommence BY the Doth of May. Ii may appear
wild to some but predict that this work in the
course of few years, will yield handsome div-
dend, and fully believe that Gov Wright was right
in pecuniary point of view. well as that of gen.
eral policy in opposing the sale of the States inter-
est in il. If the Of business during the short
periods of navigation, has encouraged the company
to persevere and try again, and again. under repeat
ed drawbacks and disasters, what shall it not be,
when the products of the quarries, the forests, and
the exhaustless capabilities OF the soil along and con-
guous to the Valley shall be more fully developed
and all the water powers become the seats of various
manufactures! Railroads may cross here and there,
but the White Water Valley Canal will be tHronged
with produce, and the MEN who have amidst discour
agements, and misfortunes, and heavy personal sac
ri6ces, contributed by their counses, their means,
and their build to sustain aud establish up
on enduring foundations this thoroughfare through
the lovely, produce teeming Valley Of Eastern Indi-
ana, will reap their reward in DOLLARS, and more,
theirs shall be the grateful remembrance of all pos
terity.
The unprecedented overflow Of the bottom lands
consequent upon the sudden rise of the river claims
the serious attention Of land owners. A few hours
| rain now, and in many more, the river, though
the clouds discharged their contents directly into it,
boOms up higher, higher still, and more violent than
heretofore known after protracted rains, nundatng
the country from bank to bank, sweeping off the
fences. covering farms with driftwood beds of sand,
and gravel, rendering them sterile and quite value
less for any purpose whatever. Field after field
along the river, that last year waved with luxurant
abundant crops of corn, &c, the of the farming
land, is now desolate and almost worthless. | have
heard no estimate of damages to the forming lands
but II 10 very great and the value of farms which
are subject TO these modern oyeriows is greatly d.
minshed. One can hardly think that White Water
in few years may present q melancholy, sandy
waste, but the last IL months must convince all OBJ
servers, that the adjacent lands in extensive tracts
though they have been under culture for thirty
and out of harms reach, seriously threaten
ed Nothing but the arm OF industry, which is lev
cling the forrest, digging bitches, removing obsa-
ces, and in multiplicity Of ways. urging with pre-
cpate haste thousand ris into the river, stay
the wasting waters. The material abounds right a,
hand, and II Is an easy matter TO make protection,
and by system Of eveeing most of the lands
from floods in the future and from farther abrasons
This would cost something, but trife in COMPARE
son with the yearly losses, besides unless something
OF the kind 10 done, property, farms. homes are al
the mercy of desolating tides. Where farms are
selling for $50 to $50 per in cash. every rood
if need be, should be walled, and especially. since
by much as the lands made secure, by much
is their value enhanced and every acre that b
MADE reclaimed, is much added to the private
and public wealth. See to it farmers Of White Wa
ter! You can successfully rebuke the river, if Can
ute could not the proud waves of the
The democratic prospects Of Eastern Indiana were
never brighter than this day presents them. Lead
ing wings, GIVE 1T UP DOORS, and anxiously
casting about Tor q compromise candidate in '52
Say Benton some other upon whom they car
rally disaffected Democrats if there be any, wings
&C., &c. This county sends three members, dem
ocrn's. and will be ably represented in the Conyen
ton. THOS. CALDWELL.
April 18th, 1850.
6rThe National Intelligencer states that the fol
lowing letter communicated to the United States
Attorney for the District of Columbia on the ISL
inst:
c. STREET, April IL, 1850.
To Philip r. Fendau, Esq,
United States bistict Attorney.
SIR: pistol drawn upon yesterday in tn.
Senate chamber and although the Senate has taken no
lice of that act and commenced proceeding upon it, ye
this proceeding is bar the action of of jus