wealth. A serious reflection on the policy of our government.

SANTA FE

April 14, 1826. "A number of our enterprising fellow citizens" (of Franklin) returned from a trading expedition to Santa Fe. In exchange for articles taken out, they brought mules, furs, and specie. Sales are slow there owing to the great quantity of goods taken out. A company of nearly 100, including all those lately returned, will start for New Mexico in a few weeks.

MISSOURI RIVER FLOODS

May 12. The Missouri River is higher than for thirty years. "We learn by a gentleman from the Council Bluffs, that all the bottom lands between that place and this were overflowed-whole farms inundated and the crops destroyed-fences swept away, hogs and cattle drowned, and the inhabitants obliged to remove. Franklin has fortunately escaped. . . .”

SANTA FE ROAD

June 2. Between 80 and 100 persons have gone on the mercantile tour to New Mexico, with wagons and carriages of every description. The amount of merchandise taken is very considerable. "It has the air of romance to see splendid pleasure carriages, with elegant horses, journeying to the Republic of Mexico; yet it is sober reality. In fact, the obstacles exist rather in the imagination than in reality. Nature has made a fine road the whole distance."

June 9. "Six or seven new and substantial built waggons arrived in this place on Tuesday last, heavily laden with merchandise, on their way to New Mexico, owned exclusively, we believe, by Mr. Escudero, a native of that country, and who accompanies his valuable adventure."

STEAMBOATS

April 14, 1826. The Muskingum arrived at Franklin April 11, from Pittsburg, with merchandise for firms in that place. Departed for St. Louis and New Orleans.

Sept. 28. General Ashley and his party have arrived at St. Louis from the Rocky Mountains with 125 packs of beaver, valued at $60,000.

May 10, 1827. Colonel Leavenworth passed through Franklin on the 29th ult., "on his way to the River Platte, to examine and fix on a situation for a military cantonment. And on the 1st inst. four military companies of U. S. Infantry arrived at Franklin by water and proceeded on to join him."

Oct. 9, 1830. On October 6 the Smith, Jackson & Sublette company of trappers and traders passed through Columbia with furs valued at $150,000. Had many large and substantial wagons and a great number of pack horses and mules in the outfit. Thought there were about fifty men.

Aug. 6, 1831. Yellowstone, Captain B. Young, arrived at St. Louis on Thursday last from her trip up the Missouri. Owned by the American Fur Company. Left St. Louis April 15 bound for the mouth of the Yellowstone, carrying goods for the Indian trade. Owing to low water, could not go farther than Fort Tecumseh, at the mouth of the Little Missouri, 1300 miles above St. Louis. "This is 600 miles higher than any steam boat has hitherto navigated." Brought down a full cargo of buffalo robes, furs, and peltries, besides 10,000 lbs. of buffalo tongues.

July 28, 1832. Dated at St. Louis, July 7. Yellowstone arrived in St. Louis back from the mouth of the Yellowstone-700 miles higher than last year. Captain Bennett said there were less snags above the Yellowstone in the Missouri than below.

YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION

St. Louis Enquirer, Wednesday, September 1, 1819.

"And certain it is that Col. Johnson has not gone up the Missouri in his steam-boats, but remains in the neighborhood of Edwardsville." Thinks that he was stockholder in the bank there. "The Edwardsville paper" denied this.

"The steamboat Expedition, foremost of Col. Johnson's fleet, succeeded in getting as far as Fort Osage (270 miles) in a period of six weeks. At that place she gave out and transferred her contents to keel boats. General Jesup had preceded her to Fort Osage and made provisions to meet this failure, which had been long foreseen. The Johnson steam boat is the only remaining vessel of the "steam fleet" which continues her way up the Missouri. She had not arrived at Fort Osage, however, at the last advices, but probably has arrived there before this time, and may possibly reach Camp Martin (370 miles from St. Louis).

"It is exceedingly ridiculous to see in what manner the Messrs. Johnsons have been extolled for their enterprize, their patriotism and their pecuniary sacrifices in carrying on this expedition; when in point of fact they have had incredible advances of public money, have failed in all their undertakings, and occasioned great delay in the progress of the troops. Already sixty or eighty thousand dollars have been expended by these two departments [quartermaster's and commissariat] to meet the deficiencies of the Messrs. Johnson, and the zeal and energy of the officers will leave nothing undone to effect an establishment at the Council Bluffs in the course of this summer."

Sept. 15. The Western Engineer reached Martin Cantonment on the evening of August 15. The officers of the fort gave a dinner to Major Long. His toast was