The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-13

the establishment ola rocket brigade. These proec-
tiles have lately been brought great perfeciionin Eu
rope, And are now regarded formidable addition 10
the efficiency Of their srmirs. That OF the United
states, although comparatively so small should NOT DC
entirely deficient IN any Of the elements when 90
to make up the power and efficiency Of the best cohs
tUed armies Of E1rope. With four regiments OF ar'i-
lety, We nearly without feldpieces and trains we
without hight artillery altogether, and have yet 10
learn It's management and are entirely ignorant Of
the Of 80 formidable weapon the rocket These
de6cercses Ia an arm which, IN modern warfare, prodn-
COS the mcst decisive results, ough. 10 DO remeded
without delay
Il is obviously Of the first importance that the artillery
and munitions Of war furnished TO The troops should be
fabricated and prepared on uniform system according
established patterns and the first step towards this
object to pre- are drawings o. all the parts Of such
system in the utmost detail To accomplish this II Is
intended 10 detail for this especial duty three compe
tent officers, with the requisite number Of drsughrsnen,
the result Of whose labors after due revision and APP
provsl by the Secretary Of War; shall be coniomed to
10 the Ordnance Department the patterns thus estab-
shcd not to be changed without the sanction Of the
same authority by which they were approved
Al estimate for the smsil sum required 10 the
expense incidental 70 such arrangement Is embraced
in the general estimate OF this Department for the
I'M wear.
cannot forbear to repeat the Recommendations made
IN INV last annual report for the establishment of
ticna foundry and powder mandatory, aud The
ton OF mandatory Of small Of the Allie
ghany mountains upon the plan therein proposed The
srrnory and mandatory at Harper's Ferry which is
conducted with great ability by its presen, snporinten-
dent, Colonel Lucas, requires considerable alterations
and repairs. The temporary workshops erected there
are altogether insufficient aud that the usefulness
OF this establishment placed beyond doubt permanent
buildings ought to be substituted. agreeaby to some
welldgesied plan, both their and 20
stion Permission has been granted by the Depart
ment 10 the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad Company TO
run their road hrosgh the lauds belonging the United
States at tins place passing along the line OF the work.
shops. from whence the company have the option Of
choosing either Of routes the leading along the
wall OF the canal and the other by the hill side The
former would have been the advantageous the
United States, as the companys works would have
strengthened the wall which is very defective. and re-
qurcs such extensive repairs that it will probably be
cessay TO rebuild il altogether but the difference Of
expense to the company represented by the esti-
mates OF the Of both routes TO be so great up
wards OF 900, that the river could be in
sisted upon without the United States paying part
the whole of IT, The Department had no authority to
make such an arrangement without the previous consent
OF Congress, and therefore granted the option to the
company il Is understood, however by the parties
the contract that, upon Congress desiring that the river
line should be adopted il may be done on Government
agreeing to pay the difference of expense between the
two routes.
Reflection and experience confirm the view taken in
the last annual report from this Department, the
policy OF selling the mineral lands belonging TO the Unt
ed States Their retention in the hands Of Government
presents an lnsuperable obstacle the exploration Of
the MINES and mpedes the natural progress Of that por
tion Of the country.
The corps Of typographical engineers has been in
creased sgrceaby to the act Of the last session. with
the exception Of the officers whose nomination were no,
acted on by the Senate, and whose places could not,
therefore, be supplied With few exceptions the civil
works under the charge Of the military engineers have
been transferred to corps. and system has been
adopted which, when fully carried into effect, fail
produce the most salu,ary results The several por
lions OF the country where these works being
RED on are divided into districts Of limited extent and
officers are permanently assigned 10 them; by this
method time Is saved and much useless expense avoid
ed, as well as better information acquired Over these
limited commands system of supervision and inspec.
torshp is exercised by the older officers BY means Of
which their superior knowledge and experience are
brought IN aid Of all the plans, estimates and construc
tions,
The officers OF the corps who are employed in the
snpcnn'endence OF works carried on by corporations
and States, OF which there but four are gradually
being Withdrawn according the provisions OF the law
regulating the establishment Of the Army and they will
all be placed national works as soon as It can be done
without injury to those that they conducting
The duties en)oned upon the Department by resolu-
mons OF Congress, ordering certain surveys. have not
been performed for want Of defray the neces
safy expenses These are paid invariably from special
appropriations applicable each object or out Of the
usual animal appropriation Of thirty thousand dollars for
Ing TO this cause the following surveys have been omit
TED That the Tennessee river, from its mouth the
highest point OF steamboat navigation; Of Elizabeth
river from the outlet of the Dismal Swamp canal to
Sewal's point; of Annapolis hsrbor that from the
harbor OF Norfolk, Virginia, to Charleston, South Ca
roina, IN reference to inland steamboat navigation
Partial appropriations were made for survey Of the
Des MONIES and Iowa rivers and il intended to COM
mence the work early in the spring These appropra-
tons are, however quite inadequate, and would re-
hat hav he, ~
upon estimates furnished by this Department Great
delay and expense would be avoided by this procedure
Tor 1t not nnirequeny happens that the appropriation is
exhausted Jnstas the men and materials collected
on the spot to proceed work and the former have TO
be discharged for want Of funds continue them in the
service.
IL IS deemed very important that the annual appro-
pration Tor military surveys should be made We arc
SIN ameIitably lgnUrant Of the geography and re-
sources Of our country and it is essential its defence
as well as 10 IT'S Improvement that the boundaries the
course al the rivers the size and form and obstacles to
Navigation OF the lakes. and the direction and height Of
the mountains should be accurately determined and
delIneaed. Much has been done during the last two
years towards the attainment Of this important branch
oil knowledge; at least hundred points of latitude
and fghy OF longitude, have been accurately establish
ca, aud the whole country west of the Mississippi and
north oil the Missouri, has been surveyed and deleat
ed ne military "Reminiscences made Fluida have
enabled the Department TO present a toerably accurate
map Of the interior Of that Territory which has been
engraved by order Of Congress An accurate map was
made OF the country lately occupied by the Cherokees
when It was supposed that might become the theatre
OF military operations and there exist IN the Topo
graphical Bureau all the materials collected by its Off
GERS IN the military and other surveys ordered by Con-
gress earnestly recommend therefore, that the usual
annual appropriations for the military and other surveys
be continued IN order that these useful operations may
be proceeded with, and especially that complete hydro
graphical surveys may be made OF the lakes.
The singular and important discrepancies which
have been brought TO my notice in existing charts of