Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 15, Number 13, Vincennes, Knox County, 8 May 1824 — Page 1

WESTERN SUN & GENERAL ADTEHHSEU.

BY KLIIIU STOUT. VINCENNES, (IND.) SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1824. Vol. 15 No. 13.

THE U'ESTEHX SUX, IS published at Two Dollars and fifty Crnt3 (or Fifty-Two J'umbrrs which may be discharged by the payment of TWO DOLLARS at the lime of Subscription. Payment in advance being themutual interest of both parties, that mode is solicited. A failure to notify a wish to discontinue at the expiration oT the time subscribed for, will be considered a new engagement No subscriber at liberty to discontinue until all arrearages are paid. Subscribers must pay the postage of their papeis sent by mail. Letters by mail to .he Lditor on business m istbc paid, or they will not be attended to. Advertisements inserted on the customary term's $C7 Persons sending Advertisements, must specify the number of times they wish them inserted, or they will be continued until ordered out, and must be paid for accordingly. New-Orleans Prices Current. Xp.tv Orleans, Jfiril 5, 1824. Bagging, Scotch, per yd 22 a 26 els. . ! Kentucky, per yd. 20 a 22 B ile Rope, Kentucky, per lb. 6 a 7 Northern, 8 a 9 Bacon Hams, per lb (sales) 9 a 12 . Sides Uc per lb. 7 a 9 B.ans, perbbl. - - S3 a 4 Beef, mess. Northern, per bbl 9 a 9$ . prime, per bbl. - 7 50 cargo, per bbl. - - 6 50 Bitmly,'Cog per v:al. (salcs)fcl 25 a 150 I nutation (dull) 50 cts. Butter, per lb. - 14 a 18 cts Cotton, new crop, lb. - 16 2d quality, - - - 13 Alabama Sc Tcim. - 12

Coffee, Havana, best, per lb. 22 a 22 1-2 - Domingo. Cheese, Goshen per. lb. 8 Choclate, No. 1, per lb. No. 2, No .3, on a 10 17 15 13 25 10 a 12 Candles, Sperm, per lb. "t--p mould do. Cordage, 9 cwt. Corn, per bbl (in car) gl Corn meal, per do. Flour, sweet, per bbl. Gin, Holland per gal. 90 a American do. - Hides, per lb. Iron Swedes, per ton, L ud do. - - (dull)

3 50 85 a 6 3 cts. 45 cts. 11 885 8 a 9 15 a 18

Nails, cut, per lb. -Pcrmcr, per lb. - - 7 a 8 18 1-2 a 19 Potk, mess, per bbl, Prime, cargo, Porter, London, per doz. Potatoes, bbl. g 12 a 13 8 a 9 6 a 7 8250 a 3 150 a 2 Rum. Jam- 4 p. per gal. (dull) N. Orleans. 4 p. - 55 81 .1 p. 35 a 40 Rice, - - - 83 a 3 50 Salt, T. Island.pcr bush - (dull) 40 a 45 Liverpool blown, per sack, 8 275 ground, do. - 2 75 Shot, per cwt. (plenty) 89 Skins, deer, in hair per lb. 12 a 16 cts. Shaved - - 24 a 27 cts Header, - - g2 a 2 25 Hear, a piece, - gl a 2 Sugar, La. on plantation, lb. 6 1-2 a 7 ,, , . in town, - - 7 a 8 Havana, brown, - 9 a 10 white, - 12 a 13 l oaf, - - 16 a 17 Tallow per lb. - - 3 a $h Tea, gunpowder, per lb. (sales) 81 35 imuerial - do. 1 35 young hyson, - - 1 a I 6 hv son skin, - - 75 a 80 Wax.Vees, per lb. 30 a 33 cts. "Whiskey, - - 37 a 40 Tobacco, choice fine, per lb. 4$ a prime, - - 3 a 3J 2 1 quality, - 2 2 1 X - - - 1 I a 2 LVFO R A L 1 77 OA 11 l.YTF D. rjHL Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, jJL having received a comtnu:. nation from the Grand Lodge at Basic in Suitzerland, requesting exertions to be made to discover the place of resilience of an individual turned Facta r.rft w, of a distinguished family in Germany, t'ot feels much interested in his welfare and hae not heard of him for several years, takt s tin's method of requesting any person v he may have heard of him or knows Ms picscnt place of resilience to give inform:Uon to George flatcrr, fJutul Scctixury, Phu'a.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WESTERN SUN.

Sir The enclosed report in relation to the obstructions of the river Wabash at the Rapids was submitted to the co: stature of this state at their session ot last ; winter, by the commissioners on the part of this state and Illinois Much credit is due to those gentlemen for the able man- j ner in which they have performed the duty assigned them, and as the informa- ' tion contained in their repot t will no doubt be highly gratifying to most of your readers, you will confer a favor on i mr by giving it an insertion in your paper. All that is wanting to effect the free navigation of the Wabash at all times, is the exercise of that spiiit which hitherto seems to have remained dormant in relation to this subject. The legislature at their last session appropriated that portion of the 4tthee per cent fund' which is coming to the counties of Knox, Sullivan, Vigo, Patk, and Vermillion, to this important object this was all that could be effected at that time. The state of Illinois equally interested, will no doubt do something at the next session of their legislature to aid in removing the obstructions in the river, and I cannot but hope, that our representation in the national arid state legislature will not cease their exertions until there is a free communication between he waters of the lake and the Ohio, through the medium of the Wabash. JOHN LVW. To their Excellencies William Hexdkicks and Edward Coles, Governors oi the states of Indiana and Illinois, Gfntlfm' n Pursuant to an art of the legislature of Indiana, approved January 2d 1822, and an act of the legislature of Illinois, approved 30th December 1822, both entitled "An act relating to the navigating of the river Wabash." Wc the undersigned commissioners appointed by the governor of the two states to carry into effect, the provisions of the said act; having been previously commissioned and instructed, met agreeably thereto, on Monday the 27th of October 1S21 near the foot of the Grand rapids of the Wabash, and immediately proceeded to examine the obstructions to the navigation of the said river for 15 miles above and below the Grands rapids, and continued from day to day until a full examination and survey thereof was made w Your commissioners therefore now beg leave to report. That they are deeply impressed with .the propretv ofimproveing the navigation of this river. Not only the two states under whose authority they now art should feel an interest in the accomplishment of this object, but the Western country generally. That but few obstructions exist from the mouth to the source of this river, and those being removed, which will require but a very inconsiderable expenditure, its navigation may be extended to the portage point; and 8 or 9 miles only will be necessary to cut a canal to open a communication through the Mawroe, direct to lake E'ie. responding to the STrpwnous Nfw-York canal: '1 he head of this stream or its branches we believe may also be connected with the navigaMc waters of lake Michigan. It most evidently appears to be the natural route for connecting the waters of lake Erienndofthe Ohio river. The points to w hich our attention has hern particularly called are the only obstructions of any serious moment from the mouth to near the source of this stream: ftelow. Coffee Island (being the lowest obstructions of the navigation of the river within the 1 5 miles to w hich our examination is confined), there are sonic obstructions but not of a serious nature; the principal one being the Grad Chain, which has had its channel (awe are informed) opened considerably by the washing of the floods below this point (CofTea Island) but a verv inconsiderable expenditure would be required to improve the navigation to the O1 io river. "(YflYe Island ripple" was the lowest and the 4'I.i"le io k ripple" the highest points to w Hch we extended our cxamina lions There is a ripph- vine mile?, belou Vinccnnes. but as wc found that boats dtawin'j .bout 20 inches of water had pas ed thf m and on'v meeting with obstructors at the "Little Pork" that obstruction could not be considered of anv sci'Mi importance ns the water is now found o be a i's lowest stage or nearly o F'om kLittle U -rk tipple" for two hurdred m iles or upward, the navigation of his river has no serious obstructor . till ?! e Wab v h passes Tippicanoc liver, titer taut, your cornraisioners con

I

ceive that its navigation is susceptablc of improvement, to the portage point We make these remarks, m a much as one of the states (Illinois) directed the examination to be made from the mouth ot the aoash to the point where the state line lea ves the river, and the act cf the state of Indiana confined the examination to the points before mentioned.. The United States Commissioners for fixinir a national Armnrv i, th,. uHMt-rn v r 1 t . waters had their attention called to this point by one of your commissioners (Mr Hinds); conceiving that the lcn.oval of the obstructions here, would be in part effected by that national establishment: l hey did not atund,and horn this ciicumstance, being depiived of the advantage which your commissionei s would have otherwise derived liom the use el their mathematical insti uments, m a none be ing within their reach, thav weic com

pclled to confine themselves to their own ,oM ' l,lC ''PP,r t, eu' a s id actual observation, the labor ot others and ?nou: )nc " ih below this lippic v hi h to such information as cou.d be other- n a " be forded at the lowest sugt d wisc procured; and by burveving. the Tfv but does not at all t fiect the n x i. Ung'h ol the obstructions and the distan- . Hbthetc being at all tinn s a sufiv i y ces fiom pwint to point founded their cal- f).f ua,7T' 1 ne r,'anntl kK ) -v s culations on these as the data. Your com-. r,rph" is on t! c L dLna side. TK bniissioners aie conscious of the impcr- 'sanction tu navk-a'h.n is 500 vaids in lections of their report, but under exis-' ,enKTh and pcilnps a iittle over, ;nd s ting ciicumstanccs arc equally conciuus forn,d (,t sar,t, f,M k a,ld straias o fiug tl at they have done all that was in their i in raw or fs"rts- 'i'hi clumc is power to give a fair and impartial view ' susccptable ot impi enent. 1 he fa 1 is of the subject. An carliet investigation ; asccrtaimd to be 22 inches, would have defeated our puipose. the wa-1 6. Fiom 'Mvamsi v s ripple" to the foot

ter having been up tlx giealei part of the season; on commencing our exan.ination the water on the ripples was estimated to lack but from 4 to 8 inches of being at the lowest stage ever known within the recollecton ol the oldest inhabitants on the river. 1. The first po'nt to which we directed our attention was the kCoff e Island tipple" which is six n iles below the junction of the. Wnbash rnd While rivers, and seven and a half miics below the foot of the Grat:d rapid?, (being the lowest obstruction within our prescribed bounds of 1 5 miles ) The length of the obstruction at this ripple is abou 44( vards It is inteispersed with deep holes throughout, has two channels principally of loose rock We conceive that the deepening and widening of this channel at this point is all that is necessary to be done, and that in doing of tins, that it would 'seriously ffect the navigation above it bv forming anorher ripple and that the probable cost would not exceed more than two or three bun drcd dollars There is between twenty inohes and two feet of water in the channel at this time and the fall of water in tnc wi oie extent oi me npp'e is from twentv-two inches to two feet. C. The r.ext ripple is immediately below the mouth of the White river, called "hie White river, ripple" There i a fine sheet of water from coffee Island to this point, the channel is good at the lowest stage of water: at this ripple the obstruction is about 300 yards in vtetit, a few inches shallower than that at (J. flee Island, but forms a more set ions oh sttuction to navigation and is composed of stratas of sand ir-ck on both sides of the liver and of a hard (limy jock in the centre. 1 he channel here is pi incipally on the Indiana side. Thi channel is subjict to be choaked by the forri ation of extensive sand bars the water is rapid and it is with gteat difficult y thr.t boats pass at low watt r stages 'J he fall here is about 20 inch? r-. 3. Fiom " Whi'e liver ripp'c" to the fr.ot of the G'and '.. ids the ilistcr.ee is a rni'c or.d a half, and the channel is chiefly deep water. '! bo h-p;.th of the Gra-.d raf.nh is pt m-" 1 t! 'n he thtee fourths of a m'o ( Z'- : ) : nd perhaps a little more; 'he r' . r r c 1 of this rnpifl commences en the Li ire-is side very crooked throughout, with ;n outlet near the centre of the river, and the water of various depths in every turn of the channel, in some places fully sufficient lor boats, and at others very shallow; the depth of water in the channel cn an average is ftom 1 5to20ichcs flic current here is exceedingly rapid, tho no: dangerous, is very harrassing to the navigator, at the low stage of the water. The rock at its commencement appears to be 5, 6, or more, teet thick oi a so.ul tcxttn c. ar tl passii Lr en in shelving strains to about thecenMc of theiarnls an l from thence terni'u ?tcs in rocks presenting themselves in various positions and shapt s sonie detached nn.t others connected throughout; as before remarked, ior.ie

of a andv or soft vubstancc, rt d o'heis every atlemp! of this mature ptivate rapof a hard and flinty nature. Tho Ul of J iiol and individual emcrpiize must bf

the se rapids it has been ascerta"rtd to be from lour leet six inches, io four fed eight inches 4 Fiom the Grand rapid to the "Hanging rock ripple" is ne. mile &i.d

1 .. a ... j twenty poles I lie -channel Lnwun those rapids is smooth and elecp. 1 he length of this Ripple is ab ut 3 o vatds the water is dividtd by an is'; i d, ai d t' channel is between the isla: d i-m! the Indiana shore. 1 he dt pth ci w;urin nit i luuiuci is aL'uui me sume as mat in tlu Giai d tapids, both th chrninl :u d rock ieseu l-ling that of ih Gar.c! t; j ids except that the cham.cl is i .t so Aerntine. .The fall of this Tipple is abuut 20 inches, 5. From the "hanging trek ripph" to ti c h ot of "F:.rrscys lippie" U ui : ;.d one fourth miles, in the cbr.M.i l thr.-i v flout the water is deep, a fine si tit, . nd suitable for navigation at all tin is l c , ? lhe ripple at the little reck is two milcs and a quai ter The channel is fi led wiih deep and sill water aii tl e wav up to the. foot of theWittle rock iipp!c-' the obstiuction at this ripple is pscertidrcd to be three fourths of a miic (t320 vards) This is the shallowest and most difficult passage on the liver no particular channel and not more than from 15 to 18 inches of water, fhe rock in most p'acis is smooth and in stratas, others again rough, and like those in other chamxis c.mposcd of sand or flimy substances Tl.o fall at this ripple is about 22 inches. Wc may now rcn aik that alter opening Coffee Ufand ripple as has been suggested, the obstructions that wid ihen i cmain arc uk follows: At the White river ripple 500 uuis. The G aud rapids, - I3..o ' '! he Hanging rock ripp.e, f(;0 Humsey's lipp.lc, - - 3f,o Littie rock iipple, - 1 ::o Total ... 3540 Should it be tbourht to be ti e fjrst met! od to open t' e unci, it vj i be n--cessaiy to cut it at !;.it cz I feit w ids and 3 leet ( ccn. for l ie nassurf ot ( , i boats, and 3. tc t wide to ,!, k Srim boats thiough. Front the flue : I ; (; nd uncertain stages of the wutcruio i i i s continuance when up, admitting onv of intervals to work on it, t g lu i nim ihc unt cnaimy of the pi ices ot this kind of labor, kavts our commisionct s in great uncertainty as to the pu.b. hh cost of the vvoik. The h.bcr of excavation would be lor he New Oilcan boa's, channel 21 feet wide and thue leet dc p. 24,7S0 cubic yarels; lor the ndn.ih of S cam boats of common size, He; ssa c being 30 feet wide it would be J5,rJ cubic yards we estimate the piobub s cost perhaps low enough at from 5 cc.ts to one dollar per, cubic yard; !;.. ti c highest; the louner may cost S .7H0. Th.e latter 835 400, Hut whci-cr t Is plan may not have a tenth orv !, e uf iT g the roek, to t pi n ripj)!es above, or Lc subject to be fii;id b gi avel a:.-. : r d in fiot.detl tin s, oi b) tt-g vent it, such sluices o! watt i in the end cnuntuait .r d y ct in n w i wholly out cf the puwev of y- ur ccn.ndssioncrs to say. It has been suggested tl.M such cmscqnences will nututaMy foilov, anrl tic )'un of Sluicing ie-eomnund. This plan we have also taken n o fo:ibifh a tion, but on making a e:a:cu!ution of '! e cost of the timber and other mutt-mls nrcessary for the purpose; the I'itTcii'y of fixing the foundation on t! e fork,, the damage they might likely si's'a'm from the ice, that although the fihirg up of sand and gravel may be in pu!. avoid, fd, yet the whole fabiic beinc; of j . ribobie materials, and at bes' confide ( d o..!v 4 temporary work, the cost l.eii g Jour d to hz nearly equal to the workol a canal, or the cxcava ifin just mcntmncj, it was cor.ceived that a more permanent plan th?.h ftlu'Cr vvou'tl be chsir.able to the legislature of the two states. A plan of a c:mal, was suggested by one of the governors (gov. Cohs. and beiievirg that from our vr.uthful state, or states, that in