The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-09-27
The Green River Trade.

The Green Rivcr IraOes
We see n number of wagons in our streets
from the towns on Green river, that have
come eighty and ninety miles to carry away |
the plies of goods that have been -accumu-
lating in our warehouses for two or three |
weeks. These heavy wagons and teams re-
mind US of the past, and recall sense OF
the benefits which have been secured to Us
by the improvements of navigation on Green |
river, and suggest to US how much still
might be done for the increase of our trade |
in that direction. The wagons which come
here for goods are obliged to cross the river
at Henderson, and thence make tedious
journey of four days to South Carrolton and
other points. a large portion of the goods
for the country ON the east side Of Green
rive and all for Rough creek are landed at
Greensboro and carted across the country
from that point which is scarce half the dis
lance by land to the chief towns on Green
river, that it is from Evansville to the same
places. 1t is quite plain, were it not for the
slack-water navigation of Green riTer-cOn-
structed without any cost to us-we should
have had but small portion of that trade
which now constitutes one of the principal
reso urces of our prosperity.
We often complain of what we consider
the bad management of the Locks on Green
River as il the State Of Kentucky was
doing US a wrong by not attending more
strictly TO their preservation and repair
We ought to aecolect how much benefit our
sister State has gratuitously bestowed upon
US. By making these improvements she
has taken trade from two of her import
ant towns-0wensboro and Henderson,
and bestowed it on our city. If the nav
igation of Green River was uncertain and
casual, as it was before it was locked and
damned, the streets OF Henderson and
Greensboro would be filed with heavy teams
loaded inward with tobacco, and outward
with goods. The contrast between their
streets and ours at the present time would
not be so striking as it is.
But the trade of Green river, as important
as it is, may be largely increased by a little
enterprise on our part. An expenditure of
$4,000 would lock and dam Rough Greek,
so as to make it nayigable for steamers
thirty or forty miles, or nearly up TO the
Falls. This is section that exports q large
quantity of tobacco, and consumes a large
amount Of goods, nearly all of which are
received and shipped through Owensboro
and Cloverport, burthened with very heavy
charges for wagoning. A line of small
steamers would bring it all to this point.
The little steamer Trader has proven
Pond river to be navigable, and with some
slight Improvements, small crafts could 20
up to within few miles of jacksonville.
If these two branches of Green river could
be made permanently navigable, they would
pour upon our levee a large amount Of pro-
duce, and take from our stores nearly all
their supplies. There are too many persons
in Kentucky interested in permitting the
present course of trade from these rivers to
remain as it is, for lis TO expect active mea-
sufes to be talen fo- sfair -innrnrA-ao-.-,
home.
As the chief benefit viii accrue to US, tn,
people on the banks of these small tributa
ries look to us to take the lead in the ent,-.
prise, and as the State of Kentucky hasdont
SO much for us, we ought to do something
for ourselves. One of our merchants, las
year, subscribed one-tenth enough to max,
one Of these improvements. If nine other
had followed his example, Rough Creek coul,
have been made navigable. The tobacco
brought to this point from this stream
would pay in commissions the improvements
Not one-tenth of the fertile land on Greer
River and its tributaries, is yet occspied anC
cultivated, .nd not one-twentieth of the trad,
comes out oft now that will one day be float
ed down its stream. Itscommerce will be th,
chief source of the prosperity Of Evansville
Our intercourse with the country on its bank
should be most sedulously cultivated, ant
we ought to be careful it is not lost by an,
penuriOus policy or petty jealousy.
The present suspension of navigation /
caused by the repairs of the lock and dan
Mt Rumsey, which were damaged by tn
freshet last winter. We are informed tina
the work will occupy six weeks or more
and it is not likely that the packets will b
able to pass for two months. In this lon
period of suspended navigation We shal
begin to realize the value and impurtanc
of the Green river trade, and our merchant
may begin to consult how they are to retail
and extend it,
MYSTERIOUS SHP.-Last week vesse
appeared off Sag lIarbor on Long Islam