art appalling shock accompanying the account of
its cost, which forces us to shrink from our pleasing anticipations.
The probable cost of this contemplated railroad is estimated at
$290,000;--the bare statement of which, in my opinion, is sufficient to
justify the belief, that the improvement of the Sangamon river is an
object much better suited to our infant resources.

Respecting this view, I think I may say, without the fear of being
contradicted, that its navigation may be rendered completely
practicable, as high as the mouth of the South Fork, or probably
higher, to vessels of from 25 to 30 tons burthen, for at least one half
of all common years, and to vessels of much greater burthen a part of
that time. From my peculiar circumstances, it is probable that for the
last twelve months I have given as particular attention to the stage of
the water in this river, as any other person in the country. In the
month of March, 1831, in company with others, I commenced the building
of a flatboat on the Sangamon, and finished and took her out in the
course of the spring. Since that time, I have been concerned in the
mill at New Salem. These circumstances are sufficient evidence, that I
have not been very inattentive to the stages of the water.--The time at
which we crossed the milldam, being in the last days of April, the
water was lower than it had been since the breaking of winter in
February, or than it was for several weeks after. The principal
difficulties we encountered in descending the river, were from the
drifted timber, which obstructions all know is not difficult to be
removed. Knowing almost precisely the height of water at that time, I
believe I am safe in saying that it has as often been higher as lower
since.

From this view of the subject, it appears that my calculations with
regard to the navigation of the Sangamon, cannot be unfounded in
reason; but whatever may be its natural advantages, certain it is, that
it never can be practically useful to any great extent, without being
greatly improved by art. The drifted timber, as I have before
mentioned, is the most formidable barrier to this object. Of all parts
of this river, none will require so much labor in proportion, to make
it navigable as the last thirty or thirty-five miles; and going with
the meanderings of the channel, when we are this distance above its
mouth, we are only between twelve and eighteen miles above Beardstown
in something near a