WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1827
117
and zealously directed to the project of connecting the waters of the Hiwassee with those of the Coosa. The intercourse between East Tennessc:e and South Alabama promises the most solid ad- vantages to both parties. Supplies of provisions, important and necessary to Alabama, can at all times be furnished from Ten- nessee to Mobile and intermediate points, whilst our people could n~ceive in return, not only cash, but groceries and other heavy articles of import, which are now procured through other chan- nels after much delay and at great expense. Superadded to these, is the national consideration of warlike defence; for past experi- (-nce has proved, that whilst the population of Kentucky and West Tennessee are mainly to be relied on for defending from invasion the great emporium of the West, the brave and hardy mountaineers of East Tennessee are equally necessary to the protection of Mobile, and all the contiguous portions of the Gulph of Mexico. The development of wealth in the middle countries of our State has not been more the result of favorable soil and climate, than of natural advantage and facility in the navigation of the Cumber- land river; that noble stream, has but few impediments to a safe passage for steam boats far above Nashville. The nature of thrne impediments is now so well understood that there would be but little danger of injudicious application of any means that might be appropriated to their removal. The time has now gone by, when the successful navigation of the Cumberland is considered by any portion of our citizens, as being exclusively beneficial to Nashville. The history and experience of the last seven years, has given ample testimony of the direct benefit resulting to every county west of the Cumberland mountains. The deep richness of all the counties watered by Elk, Duck and Cumberland rivers, is very unfriendly to the construction of public roads upon the ordinary p!an, the population residing in the neighborhood of great and leading market- roads can not with the labor and time justly devot::d to th;1.t duty, continue such repairs as our present laws contemplate for all public high- ways.· The existing laws, it is believed, are not unreasonable in their general provisions, and although more than one attempt has been already made to encourage private investment in turnpike stock, the terms of incorporation have in none, been sufficiently approved. The western .district of the State is peculiarly blessed with
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