Southern shield., 1852-05-01

 city, and continually, by it, adding to her ability to extend still further her aid to works tributary to her. And thls is the policy that should govern New Orleans; an investment by her, for main trunk, is un- necessary; nature has constructed it for her, and it is one of the best class, needing no repairs. with unlimited capacity to trans port, and permanent.
 In this system for securing and develop ing the trade, west of the Mississippi South, and the West half of the upper or Northern section of the valley, there are two impor tant roads, which are of the utmost import ance; in fact, more important than any pro- jects that can engage the New Orleans mind, (of course, in saying this, only give my opinion) The first is a road from He lena, Ark. west to Fort Smith on the Indian boundary. The claims and importance of this work having already been presented, will at once proceed to the second. This is a road from Helena to St. Louis. The i'm portance of direct, speedy and uninterrupt- ed communication with St. Louis, forces itself upon every mind. St. Louis has here tofore been, and is even now, one of the greatest of all the collecting depots for New | Orleans; the trade direct with St. Louis has | been of more importance to New Orleans than that of any other Southern or Western city; and now, when such inroads have been made upon the trade of the eastern portion of the valley, the St. Louis trade be- comes doubly important. because it is the only trade of the upper portion of the val ley left for which New Orleans has chance | The chance for this is only conditional: lei l New Y York first get her road from Cincinnati to St. Louis before any action is taken in the Helena and St. Louis road, and the trade of Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and parts ot Michigan and Indiana, as we'll as that ot the upper Indian country, is forever gone ;- gone to New York as the maelstroom of the commerce of the United States. Let New York get the start for this trade-and not withstanding it is an unnatural diversion o it, she will keepit; and we will see, for al time to come, the product of this vast region distributed from New York. And New Or leans in her desolation, may yet see that very product distributed by New York bot toms through the Gulf of Mexico, the Ca ribbean Sea, and even up the Amazon river reaping by it, all the benefits of the return trade of the West Indies, and the northern coasts of South America.
 The distance from Helena to St. Louis is not exceeding three hundred miles; over a route upon which a road can be construct ed at a comparatively small cost, through a country above overflow, with a virgin soil unsurpassed in fertility. With a road from St. Louis to Helena, the communication be- tween New Orleans and the great store house of the West, could be made in seven ty-two hours or less. It would be useless nection, if it's bare suggestion 10 the public mind of New Orleans is not sufficient tc arouse it to prompt inquiry and vigorous action, no detail of benefits arising made by us, would have the necessary effect. St. | LOniS is desirous for the connection, and is ready to do her part. The region through which this road must pass, is, as yet, but thinly populated, and could do but little to aid in the direct construction; but in very few years would aid in paying enormous dividends 10 the fortunate stockholders.
 ought, perhaps, 10 give more particl- lar description of the eligibility c,rr inc ropte 'u' u you ou"!!'H ..".s, and the public mind ; ~oru, agree to enter into detail as to the route-its advantages, practicability; in fact, its being the only route by which to form the connection. This road and the one West from Helena, are the two of the first importance to the permanent prosper fly of New Orleans, and I trust that the humbleness of the individual presenting their claims. or the homely manner in which 1t IS done, will not prevent the New Orleans public from giving them that consideration and action they deserve.
 JOHN MARTIN,
 ot Phillips County, Ark.