The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-19
mo. So.

Mr. Pan Alien reported, as daly enrolled, the
act tor the relief of Augustine Serry, tlc act per-,
hitting the division Of lots in the city of WASH
ington, and the act relative TO revenue bosis,s.
M. Coles from the executive, informed the
speaker that the president had approved and sign
ed the two first ofsaid acts.
Mr.. Coiss also delivered, from the president,
the following message III writing
To the Senate and Rgnse Of Representatives. Of re
Uniisa Stotes.
Inow render TO Congress the account of the
fund established for d~efraytng the contingent "a.
pances Of government FOR the year 1898; of the
10000 dollars appropriated for that slirpose,
1909 dollars were deposited in the hands OF tie
Sttorney general ofthe United States TO paw cx-
penccs Incidental to the prosecution of Aaron
Burr, aaI his aceomplices for treason and mis-.
dsniean0rs aiiedged TO have been committed by
tasin, $50 dollars were paid to the orderof CO.
vernon Williams, on the same account; and the
balance CT 700 dollars remains in she treasury
1nexPended. TIL: JEFFERSON.-
january IS, 1909.
Read, and ordered to lie on The table.
Mr. Lesois reported Il bill 70 incorporate the
trustees ot the Presbyterian church in the town
of AIe2andria. wiich WAS rs.d 4 first and second
time, and made The order Of tie day for Monday
next.
Mr.. Neisoaprexcnted memorial of sundrv late
officers ofthe revolutionary army, residing with
IN the state of MAJ yland, praying Communication 0f
bali pay for life, in leu Of the communication of
five years full pay, Sc. Referred to a co1imittee
appointed on the memorials OF sunagy late ofi-
GERS OF the revolutionary army
| The biIl from the senate supplementary to the.
act tor establishing an uniform rniiitia was road
twice, and referred to the committee on military
and naval Embellishments
Mr., BarvsN, from the committee appointed on
the Esd lit. presented q bill authuri zing the pre-
sIdcnt of tie United States 10 grant permission
toTessels to ds part from thu ports of the United
States for tine purpose of importing salt-It was
read a FIRST and second time, and made the order
of the day on Monday next.
The following letter was presented by Mr.. lar
wsH with the bill:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
January TN, 1909.
had the honor to receive your letter Of the
goth ut requesting such information as ] may
possess respecting the means ofobtxining inirne-
date and permanent sapP!:=. GO sSiit iorlr the es-
tablishmen,s OF the United States. g..
The annexed statement A. shews the annual
consumption OF imported SAX for each of the cu-
lendar years lS02-1s07, after dcduoting the
quantities. used for the cod fishery, and also for
picked hsl and salted provisions exported from
the United States.
The annual average Is almost three millions o.
bushels, weighing each So lbs. equal TO rs 600
tons, and reqa'lins IN tscC l25.0O0 tons, OF ship
ping ior It's ilnpsrfation 1t uinst Also ae obser-
/ wy NN'N 'N aDRF[ IlLIAAAltNGAL, fCAtl
calculated by the allowances on fs, e.y and
Ira wbackS and the slowaRce being in fact,
greater tasn the amount &c @dty on SIT employ
ed'n the cod fishery, tins qI.nt ~ Of imported
'Ait actually consumed in the United St.tes is
greater than appears by the statement.
The statsIlcut Z, Is intended to shew the gross
amoant OF salt Annually imported for the years
l8o4-i5oY, and the countries froImwhich impor-
ted. The menncr in which the accounts are
kept at the treasury, has renJeredit more conoc,
nientt 10 give ihc amount IN this instance for the
years ending the 30th September than for caler.-
dar years.
1t will be perceived by the statement A. that
the domestic establishments Save iot encreased,
even in the same ratio as the population of the
United States, for the average Of their consump-
lion OF imported salt is greater for the last than
for tn. first years OF the statement. Consider
ing also, the regularity of the importations. and
the well kaown fact, that the article has been
principally imported az ballast from England,
there IS reason 10 believe that the quantity OF salt
now nthe country. is very inadequate to the sup
ply ot The present wear and | AM confident that
there can be no reasonable expectation of the de-
hciency being supplied for that year from inter-
nal resources.
L am therefore clearly of opinion, that every
encouragement should be given TO imInediats
.sp0rtatiohs, and that measures should, ae
trs same time be adopted or the purpose of
insnrlng for the succes ding years, a supply from
dumestc establishments
The only means of promoting Immediate inn
portstlohs, appear to be, 1st either TO except salt
from the operation ofthe nen-inteFcOurse act, or
to pat of the general operation OF that act, till
the frstof July heNti which last alternative APP
pears IN every respect The most eligible 2ndly,
to authorize The president to permit American
vessels to proceed, daring the continuance OF the
emSalgo, to such foreign ports as may be desig~
mated by law, tor the sOle purpose Of bringing in
cargoes OfsAIt.
The intcrnai resources must be dra syn from
either tbs salt springs in Various parts Of tho
Western States, from the Onoldage spring in
The state OF New. York, OF from the Atlantic
shores.
Tho high price Of salt in tho Western States
docsnot arise from the actual eSpencc incurred in
manufacturing the article for it does not cost
more than IS cents per bushel at the Indiana or
Wabash Saline and yet its market price has not
been less than TIVE dollars. 1t follows, that th.
price is Kept up by reason Of the quantity made,
being much less than the actual demsnd, and
therefore that no considerable addition can be,
expected from that quarter none certainly be-.
yond the wants of that part otthe country.
The quantity Of salt made at the Onond ago
Springs may c~crtNiniy be considerably Increased.
i have been informed that about 100000 bushels
are nov annually made and that tho amount