The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-01-16


should not be extended at me but, when once CON-
menced should never be abandoned until completed
suspension Of an incomplete work Of the kind not only
leads to sacrifice in boats and machinery, but dur
ing the incomplseness OF the scheme OF improvement,
embarasses the navigation, and may end in the entire
Improbable expenditure of the money appropriated The
importance of this class of works upon our chain oil great
northern lakes and our extensive and broad rivers OF the
West constituting the great highways OF our internal
commerce. all seem 10 admit and 1t IS trusted that tEe
and experience will lessen the contest upon the question
OF their nationality.
The Red River raft, whilst it is remarkable for its
novelty proves to be the most nfexble obstruction 10
navigation to be found upon any of our great rivers
gneer to exhaust themselves in their endeavors
the liability Of this obstacle to annual reior
nation can only be overcome by Congress persever-
ing and placing ia the hands Of the proper bureau
reasonable to be expended annually, as the work
proceeds and may be found to be Efficient.
The remarks in the report Of the chief Of the opogrs-
phcal bureau relation TO the lighthouse structures
upon the lakes. well deserve attention The ex.rem'.s
them the best Sites and in many cases are used as
such for the erection of lighthouses The end Of the
pier therefore has to be constructed with view to be-
come the foundation Of the principal light house or il
should be placed upon the fast land it is then essential
the safety Ct the navigator that secondary or beacon
light should be erected end Of the pier Thus the
different structures become bnded and both safety ard
durability well economy require that they should
to, and conducted by, the same superintendence The
plans and modes OF construction OF houses requiring
many scientific considerations, should, in my judgment,
be placed under the direction of corps whose studies
and continual employment in those very occupations
ing into the question of transfer Of the whole light
house system the direction of the corps of Opegraphi
madseyet, being fully satisfied iR1t the lighthouse
stem upon lakes should be under the bureau u
that corps, ia confidently recommended that II should
be transferred by authority OF law, together with
this necessary clerks.
hope shall be able, prior to the adjournment of Con
gress to have the pleasure Of lay ing before to be
transmitted to that body, the report Of the modest and
gallant young officer Lieutenant Fremont who hes just
returned exploring territory west Of the Rocky
unn nta aYD
dangerous The Indictment season ofthe year at which
the greater part OF was e.
tains, almost completely unknown to geograpby-TiDes
Of savsges entire strangers to the face OF white man
and peris the most critical and requiring the utmost
fortiiude to encounter and overcome.
From the time Of Lewis and Clarks first expedition to
the better known portion oftha country to the present
day. many travellers have crossed the Rocky Mountains
until Of me 70 u'In ~
Entire families with their household furniture and
domestic stock cross these mountsnsn search OF new
home
In consequence of the conflicting claims Of foreign
saion to the territory west Of the Rocky Mountains,
territorial government. Entertaining, myself no doubt
OF the proprety and expediency OF the measure just
able by the egitimacy ofour claim, shall say nothing
further the subject but will bring to your attention
something nearer home.
The immediate valleys OF the head streams of the Ar
kansas the Platte and the Yellow stone rivers, have
much and valuable land The Platte or Nebraska, being
the central stream leading into from the great South
which propose costing to be erected into terrsria
government, in connection with, and preliminary
would conne the Nebraska Territory to our undispued
possessions on this side of the Rocky Mountains Its
boundary line would commence at the mouth ofthe Kan
and up the Missouri river to the mouth OF the
Running water river and would pursue that stream to
the head of its northern anch and thence due west to
the Wind river chain From this point, turning south
ward, the line would continue along the Wind river
range and the main chain ofth Rocky Mountains to the
head of the Arkansas; and following that stream to the
mo Of k.
the Neosha and Usage rivers again to the mouth OF the
Kanzas.
The eastern section Of the region embraced by these
boundaries, from the Missouri river westward for two
hundred miles, is Of great agricultural beauty and
facilities thickly tmbered on the numerous tributaries OF
the Kanzas Osage and Neosha rivers and fertility equal
to the best land Missouri From the Limit this fertile
portion westward for of 400 miles, the country
entirely covered with rich grasses which improve in
quantity and quality up to the snow Of the mountains
The limits Of this territory include the extreme head OF
navigation of the Arkansas all the good lines OF com
munication with California the road from our frontier to
the Mexican boundary and Santa Fe, and also On excel
lent and more direct pass to Oregon by re-
cent exploration about hundred and fifty miles south
ward OF the great South Pass.
Although the number of inhabitants engaged in
agriculture and other pursuits within those limits do not
afford amount of population at all adequate, at present.
to the formation of full and complete territorial govern
ment yet such inchoate and preliminary organization
might be adopted would be necessary to extend
the control and authority of the general government and
throw its protection around our emgants to Oregon
in their passage through this country.
territorial oganization ofthe country and military
the great streams Of the Continent either
into the Gulf of Mexico the Pacific Ocean, would
longer leave title to the Oregon Territory barren or
untenable claim Its possession and occupancy would
henccorth depend upon the naval superiority on the
Pacific Ocean. Troops and supplies from the projected
Nebraska Territory would be able to contend for its
possession with any force coming from the Natural
obstruction in the Of Columbia river would
ance Of should come to thar Of any navy in the world
The tme indeed might not be Distant when these very
settlements would supply all the elements which nigh,
ho oIa ofp al uuth IN
proper position the Pacific Ocean, In carrying out
these views, would recommend an appropriation Of
for erecting the military postsfrom the missouri
river to the Rocky Mountains.
The discharge that power all Indian affairs
which has been conferred upon the War Department is
becoming every day interesting, involving great
questions Of humanity the means Of education and the
advancement of the Christian religion amongst an un,
fortunate end sen wronged people, with the great and
benevolent design to them from total extinction
The comprehensive duties thus thrown upon US acquire
by knowledge of the fact that the govern
OF the United States the accomplishment Of its
the country west Of the Missssppi river eighty
thousand two hundred and Indians since the
adoption OF emigrationa policy which must very soon
exhaust itself in the enre remova Of all the remaining
tribes within the limits OF any Of the states That NUMBER
(whout embracing, say seven thousand Choctaws and
Mames whose emig ration contracts are made) added
tribes indigenous to the west side OF the Mississippi
and embracing those only Of whom returns have been
made to the Office Of Indian affars, amounting to one
hundred and ixty thousand hundred and nine
teen will show an indian population oil two hundred and
-four thousand and ninetytwo, known 10 the unea
states contiguous borders and entirely ndepend
ent of the and tribes that roam through
the distant forests Of territory, and whose
habits and propensties render mpossibleto
make even remote calculation OF their force
Sucn like ise intimate connection and fiscal
concerns with those tribes under immediate protection,
III at by estimates OF the Indian bureau for the coming
year. demand will be made upon the governnenior the
OF one million one hundred
and ninety Thousand hundred and twentypin
dollars and portion of this sum, amount
ing seventy thousand one hundred and nifty hve
Ill arf nrlvu a..
rious religious denominations impeed by the pure
spirit Christianity is dabused Tor the purp fes OF edu
cation among several Indian tribes, agreeably to
treaty stipulations
Some OF these tribes under the benign protection and
efforts the general government rapidly changing
their condition. and assuming character which entrle
to higher consideration and must speedily press up
on Congress necessity Of deciding the question
our pocymust not undergo essential change
and instead Of stem Of guardianship, adopt that OF