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 straight direction, and this route is upon such low
ground as to retain water in many places during the season, and in all
parts such as to draw two-thirds or three-fourths of the river water at
all stages.