Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-12-08


 ry. To this charter we have no objection.- But this said company should apply their pr vileges correctly. That they do this they will have to be bridled, as it were, by force more powerful than their own; and you the members of the present General Assembly of Arkansas have the power to do this.
 | We will take short resume of what has been done, and see how the means heretofors l appropriated for this most important work have been applied; how much we the people of Up- per Red river have been benefited.
 | The'tirst appropriation made by Congress was two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, (250 00O) Capt. Shreve had the management of 1 this, with which the obstruction was removed as lar as the Carolina Bluff. A small portion of the raft then only remained but all the funds had been expended and nothing more was done. Shreveport was planned and en- richcd the contractors. A n additional accu- mutation soon took place, and then commenced what is called Bayou navigation. A number l of steam boats were sunk. freights were raised, and insurance companies added new tariffs.
 The second appropriation was, some years afterwards, made to the amount of upwards of two hundred thousand dollars (S2O0, ,OO0) l. is needless to say, this was also msappled IL Gen. Williamson retired enriched by simply opening channel through the logs. Well do 1 remember having gone through this channel and we'll do 1 remember how complete was the farce played by the said Gen. w. and the gov ernment agent As might be imagined, this channel soon closed, and with it followed the raft region.
 Tariffs were again raised, and we labored under the necessity of paying twenty-five per cent. upon the shipment of all freight, so that out of every fifth crop of cotton we were forced to give one of them for freights, etc., etc.
 Some of our Congressmen through pity made a move for an additional appropriation. This was I believe in '54. After hard pleading ($lOO,OOO) one hundred thousand dollars was ordered to be drawn from the treasury for the purpose of opening the raft in Red river. But just then appeared in Washington city "lobby member" most adroit in diplomacy and full of sympathy for uppet Red river-a representative of nearly twenty large plantations at and below the raft. These plantations would be entirely protected by chengeisg the volume of water torough the bayous and lakes. Hence his sympathy for us. Through his influence, (ol champugne and money, l assure you go a long way in this republican government of ours toward bringing about our wishes) the means were to be used for opening channel arouna the raft-which would insure navigation. Il was first to be let out to contractors It was taken by two men, who, thoug h honest in in- tentlon, let representations frighten them, and they forfeited the contract. Government then took it in hand and appointed the scientific Col FuIier--tle great shtch ,0ater noUigatjon man oj the OhiO, to carry on the work. The same man our great sympathetic frend-who operated sc successfully upon all parties previously, fleted Col. Fuller, and after time disappeared With him disappeared also Col. F., from the raft 'e5iou: balance of some (57O0O) seven thou sand dollars remained of the appropriation and nnthiLs was effected Our navigation was worse To say more upon this matter would only !eugthen this article beyond the space YOU can spare-except that upwards of five hundred thousand dollars, (S5o0,O0O) have been ex- pended for no purpose, and the raft Is yet a " bo- ga-bo'--"a terrific thing
 We turn again to the enterprisng gen cmen nf Louisiana, Texas and Ark's Navigation Co. They deserve all praise for their scheme But what do they mean2 No sooner have they ob- taned their privileges in part, than they call a meeting, organize and take up a charter granted to some person or persons by the State of Lou slana, in 1854, for improving the lake and bayou navigation ln and about the raft region and call themselves a addition to the Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas x. Co.,, the Louisiana Bayou and Lake navigation Co.,, also, they fix the capital stock of th.s latter company, themselves. at twenty-five thousand dollars, and take every cent of it. They then fix their tariffs at twen- ty-hve cents per bale for cotton down, and twelve and half cents per barrel up. This looks un- reasons able, since all know our facilities are just as good this season they have been for years. They set forth that they do this to give us an outlet until they can open the raft iu Red river, by keeping open Red Bayou or some ether creek.
 Too many irons in the fire by far for our good. When you recollect, they have amend ed their charter for opening the raft so as to make the tariffs read, instead of tonage on ves- seS, fifty cents per bale for down freights. and twenty-five cents per barrel for up freights, you can readily see how dangerous the bayou and lake scheme Is to the original one They can make half as much with an outlay of S26,o as they can with S25O,0O0 Why gentlemen. it will be like the goat with single horn and the ram with two horns seen by Daniel in his dream (Danel chap. SD The Louisiana Lake and Bayou Navigation Co.,, the one horned goat will meet and butt the Louisiana Texas and Arkansas N. Co.,, the two horned ,una, "tother side Jordan" for it pays better by thousand times to one. Money is what men are after in these days, and should you not legislate most judciously and bar the lake movement-you will convert the richest part of Arkansas into another French Guiana
 My object is not to thwart the enterprise of opening the raft, but to insure it.
 The charter of the Louisiana Lake and Bayou Navigation Co.,, is published in the Gaddo Ga- zette, commencing 23d ult, Those who com pose that company, are the leading spirits in opening the raft. SCuAVOLA.
 Tor the True Democrat
 SENATE CHAMBER,
 LlHle Rock, Nov 29th, 1858. {