task of exporting the surplus products of its fertile soil, and
importing necessary articles from abroad, are indispensably necessary.
A meeting has been held of the citizens of Jacksonville, and the
adjacent country, for the purpose of deliberating and enquiring into
the expediency of constructing a railroad from some eligible point on
the Illinois river, through the town of Jacksonville, in Morgan county,
to the town of Springfield in Sangamon county. This is, indeed, a very
desirable object. No other improvement that reason will justify us in
hoping for, can equal in utility the railroad. It is a never failing
source of communication, between places of business remotely situated
from each other. Upon the railroad the regular progress of commercial
intercourse is not interrupted by either high or low water, or freezing
weather, which are the principal difficulties that render our future
hopes of water communication precarious and uncertain. Yet, however
desirable an object the construction of a railroad through our country
may be; however high our imaginations may be heated at thoughts of
it--there is always a heart 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