216 
VIEWS OF LOUISIANA. 
der. Little Prairie, thirty miles below New Madrid, on the riv-? 
er, is a considerable settlement.* 
The settlements of the Arkansas, are principally in the neighs 
bourhood of the Arkansas Post, or extend up the river, and are 
the least considerable of the territory. 
There are besides, a number of small groups through the 
White river country ; but so scattered and remote, that it is dif¬ 
ficult to obtain any information respecting them. A number of 
families in the course of the present year, have removed to 
Spring river, and others are preparing for it. Several families 
■who arrived at St. Genevieve from the District of Maine, have 
actually set out for the same place. A village has been com¬ 
menced at the mouth of Spring river, and consists already of 
a store, tavern, 8tc. There seems to prevail a rage amongst the 
frontiers-men, for emigration to that quarter. 
The emigrants to this territory, are chiefly from North Ca¬ 
rolina, and Kentucky ; of late, the western part of Pennsylvania 
contributes considerably to its population. The excellence and 
cheapness of the lands, besides the permission of holding slaves, 
will cause this territory to be preferred by emigrants from the 
southern states, to any part of the western country, unless it b& 
on the lower parts of the Mississippi, whose unhealthy climate, 
mdependant of the high price of lands, will counterbalance ma¬ 
ny other advantages, 
It is perhaps good policy in our government, circumstances 
considered, to thicken the frontier, and to suffer the intermedi¬ 
ate space to fill up gradually. But it is scarcely necessary to hold 
out inducements for this purpose; it has already taken a start, 
which it will be almost impossible to arrest. The uncertainty in a 
great number of the land titles, particularly of the large claimants, 
presents an obstacle to the torrent of emigration ; but I should 
not be surprised, if in five years, this territory should contain 
sixty thousand souls.f 
* At present entirely under water, by the earthquake. 
f A combination of the most unexpected events have contributed 
in checking this emigration , the uncommon imhealthiness of the last 
Season, the dread of Indian war, and the earthquake . 
