The true Democrat., 1856-12-16
Improvement of the Navigation of White
 


 is an undeniable fact that White river from the mouth of Black to its junction with the Mississippi, distance of 355 miles, is the best navigable stream, throughout the entire wear, in the world. In high water, it has, with it's tributaries, over one thousand miles of unnter- rupted navigation extending to the mouth of Bull Creek, in Missouri, Uia w hite river, and to Domphan, Missouri, Uta Black and Currant rivers. hree feet Is accounted low water mark with our steamboat men-and when White river has but three feet in its channel the na- vSahon of all streams in the south and west are suspended. Dean < Adams semi weekly U. 5. mail line, from Napoleon to JackSonport, have made their trips through hout the entire low water season, without losing a solitary mail. This speaks well for the condition, i of the stream for navigation at all times: but there are certain Improvements necessary in order to sustain even the present fine nayi- gation. While thousands upon thousands of dollars have been expended upon the Arkan. sas river, which has been woSa than thrown away, moi a solitary dollar has ever been ex- pended upon White river. In truth, our dele gation III Congress seem to have forgotten there was such stream as White river--except when her bright waters could be used to benefit some other portion of the State, either for the trans portaton of the U. s. mails, or merchandise Again, our public men have been carried away with the idea that railroads would supercede the necessity of navgable streams, and have awaited patiently the time when they could lend their energies in aiding some projected railroad enterprise instead of asking appropria tions to keep our streams clear of Instructions. There IS no idea more fallacious, than to SUD- pose that railroads will ever supercede our na- vigable streams. The following extract is to the point, and applies as well to White river as to the Ohio.
 It is said that the numerous railroads beino constructed will do away with river navigation; but Pittsburg herself is case in point to de- monstrate the falsity of such an idea As ad- vanta5eously situated as any city can be almost Tn regard to railroads, and with the great Gen. tra Pennsylvania debouching in her streets, she yet loses to the sum of S1, 1,50OOOO by four months failure of river navigation and her citi- zens are of all others the most desrous Of an improvement of the Ohio river. The same state of things exists and prevails at Wheeling, at Cincinnati, at every town ln the valley.- No difference how many railroad connections they may have, business lags while the river is down, and rushes ahead then the banks are full again.'' 1s
 White river has long supplied the great ne- cesslty in the commerce between the Mississippi valley and all portions of tho State of Arkan- ses west of it. and it has now assumed an m- portance that demands the attention, indivdu- ally and collectively, of the Arkansas delega- ton in Congress. We need $3OOOO or $40, 900 expended in the removal of snags and logs from the bed of therver--and long years will elapse before another dollar will be needed be- tween the mouth of Black river and the june ton of White with the Mississippi. We call upon Messrs. Johnson and Sebastian, our Se- nators, and Messrs. Greenwood and Rust, our Representatives in Congress, to urge upon that body the necessity of an appropriation for the improvement of the navigation of White river. If they can succeed in having appropriations made for the Arkansas river, every man in his senses knows fuli we'll that it can be obtained for White river also. The commercial inter ests of the State imperatively demand it, and we trust, as faithful servants of the State, our Senators and Representatives will urge this i'm portant matter at an early day in the approach ing session of Congress.