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Show 1836- 1837] Flagg's Far West 81 involves, we can only deem the idea of a city here as the chimera of a Utopian fancy. For more than twelve miles above the confluence, the whole alluvion is annually inundated, and forbids all improvement; but were this site an elevated one, a city might here be founded which should command the immense commerce of these great rivers, and become the grand central emporium of the Western Valley. Upon the first elevated land above the confluence stands the little town called America. This is the proposed terminus to the grand central railroad of the Internal Improvement scheme of Illinois, projected to pass directly through the state, 48 uniting its northern extremity with the southern. The town is said to have been much retarded in its advancement by the circumstance of a sand- bar obstructing the landing. It has been contemplated to cut a basin, extending from the Ohio to a stream called " Humphrey's Creek," which passes through the place, and thus secure a harbour. Could this plan be carried into execution, America would soon become a town of importance. Ohio River. * For America see Ogden's Letters, our volume xix, p. 44, note 30, and Woods's English Prairie, our volume x, p. 397, note 77. The scheme known as the " Internal Improvement Policy " was authorised over the governor's veto by the Illinois general assembly on February 27, 1837, in response to the popular clamor for its adoption. The object waa to open the country for immigration and hasten its natural development by constructing railroads and canals as yet not needed commercially. Ten million two hundred thousand dollars were appropriated by the act, including two hundred thousand dollars to be given directly to the counties not favored. Surveys were made, and speculation was rife. Then followed a collapse, and six million five hundred thousand dollars were added to the state debt The scheme waa later referred to as the General Insanity BiH- ED. |