Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-25

". "nlLe III 1871 ABOUT 1 uOuT aua II
minutes.
Daring the discussion in Congress Of
the bill for an appropriation for the pur-
pose Of improving navigation on h Cum
berland river, some very important facts
were elected, not generally known to II
readers. From the argument Of Mr.. Pros
ser we learn that The Cumberland is navi-
gable for more han ivs hundred miles
one hundred and seventy in the State of
Tennessee, n Over three hundred and
thirty in the State Of Kentucky. It drains
a territory eighteen thousand square
miles in extent, rich in agriculture and
mineral resources, with q delicious eli
mate a fertile soil. and supplied with
almost everything needed by the human
family. Running through a limestone
region for the most part, with a deep,
narrow channel resembling a canal, a
comparatively small expenditure would
make it an excellent stream for the pur-
poses Of navigation.
The trade upon this river was much
larger before the war than it il now, but
the following is a statement Of its present
amount between Nashville and The mouth
of the river, a distance of two hundred
miles:
Steamboats, averaging two hundred and
fifty tons each, carry ont annually 70 all
points $4,000 bales OF cotton, 5000 hogs
uGHA u 1DDhCCDF AUlUtUlu VI AuLuDGI
2,000,O 900 tons Of iron, 5000. 900 pounds OF
bacon, 625,0O0 bushels of corn, $4,000
bushels OF oats, S00, 900 bushels of coal;
and Of salt an immense quantity.
In the absence OF exact data the speaker
said truthfully of the trade and shipping
on the river above Nashville, that il was
very considerably, and would be largely
increased with improved navigation. He
showed that large quantities Of coal, lum-
har Grain and nHhar rnAnr Lot
every year on their way down the river in
consequences of Instructions that might
easily be removed.
1t was further shown that not a dollar
had been appropriated upon the Cumber-
land since 1888, and that beginning with
1892, there had been all told, but Sl55, 600
expended on the river from its mouth to
its source. References is made to the re-
port of S~tansbury in 1884, which speaks
Of the immense coal fields of the upper
Cumberland, coal of the best quality ex-
tending for miles along the river, in ex-
haustless quantities, and not inferior to
the Pittsburg article, which it strongly
resembles. All of this would be eheaply
transported to markets, where it would
be in ready demand. if the navigation
were improved Among the Natural pro-
ducts of this exuberant country are iron,
coal, salt, alum, inter, copperas, gypsum,
lead and glauber salts among its Items Of
mineral wealth, while from its fertile soil
lard$ crops of corn, tobacco and cotton,
anGsfrom its forests an ample supply OF
timber, tar and cedar. which await bur an
avenue to market to remunerats by the
most liberal returns the efforts Of indus
try and enterprise. FOR want of this,
hoUTeVeE, all these sources Of
and social prosperity are comparatively
locked up, and their prOpEstOrs in a
great degree precluded from advantages
they well understand and would
embrace.
The Improvements Of the navigation of
Cumberland river would devslOp rap
idly a Of b most prolific regions Of
country known to commerce.