The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-11
Extracts Of letter from .Ns.o York, y.ls 7, is46.

II
Extracts Of q letter from .NsU York, july 7, 1916.
The Democrats Review for July is out IL con-
ains an engraved likeness Of General Jackson, as
he aPPeared near the close Of his life, which is TO-
markedly well executed Ii also contains several orig
nal papers OF considerable merit among which is
i on the Practical Annexation Of England" The
whole number OF articles amount to twelve With
out time 10 particularize, IL may be remarked that
the present number Of the Review fully sustans the
well-earned reputation ofthe work. The "Finsn-
| cial and Commercial Article, ~ by the editor Mr.
KettelI, is usual characterized by research, sbl-
ny, and industry. Junias Smith, esq, also has
| supplied an interesting paper
| Hunts Merchants Msgazne for July has also
punetualiy appeared. The present number is I'M
contributed articles amount TO ten, some of which
! are able and Interesting. The first is on "Ths
Present Stale Of Commerce and Industry in Italy"
There 10 also clever paper by Professor Te'lesni-
| py, of Columbia College, on American Atlantic
Steamers The professor endeayors 10 show
| me great Importance Of connecting the German
states with those Of the United States by regular
| steam communication. j. Il. Bloomfield esq, Of
New Jersey, has contributed paper on The First
Application Of Steam TO the Paddle-wheel and Pro-
peller." very curious part Of this paper goes to
prove, by the evidence Of John Hutchins, OF Viii
,smsburg, Long Island, New York, that John
FITCH was The first person 10 apply steam TO paddle
wheels and screw propeIlers. Mr.. HutchIns as
sisted Fitch IN his experiments made with boat
paced on pond OF water, which at the time (l796
and lIs stood at the head Of Canal street. near Ihs
centre Of the most densely built limits Of the ely,
and was called the Collect. The city prison, alias
the Tombs, occupies, with the State arsenal, a part
OF the spot formerly covered by the Collect MIR.
tiulehlns, who acted Us helmsman for Fitch in the
long boat on which the rude steam apparatus was
placed states that Chancellor Livingston the patron
Of Fulton, with Fulton himself were both present
it seems, however, that Mr. Hutohins may
nave been mistaken about Fullons being on board
as he was supposed at the the time 10 have been In
Europe IL is believed, however, that Chancellor
Livingston was present, and that both were
familiar with the experiments Of John Fitch
Mr.. Hutehlns says that the objection made
to the paddle wheels, by Chancellor Livingston,
was that they "splashed the water about TOO much
To obviate this, Fitch invented and applied the
screw propeller, by means Of which he also drove
forward hls boat The curious part Of the history
OF this unfortunate child Of genius" arises from the
fact that the screw propeller has since been claimed
as an original invention by parties who have 90
tanned patents for il both in England and the United
States! Fitch failed for the want OF patronage,
which Fulton was more fortunate in obtaining. His
discovery OF the application Of the propul-
sion OF boats was made as early 1851. Fulton
however, not the original inventor Of the ap-
Pieahon OF steam To navigation, certainly deserves
great credit FOR his long continued and perseyering
efforts, aided by the wealth Of Livingston in bring
ing the steamboat into successful and permanent OPP
Grafton.
This number also contains notice of the mineral
region on Lake Superior, with paper ION the min
eral resources OF Missouri by J. Ollie esq What
ever opinions may be entertained OF the value or
extent OF the mineral region on Lake Superior, yet
the tenure by which leases held in districts OF
It, by various parties, is an anomaly in the history
Of our government The whole ject has reached
crisis which strongly demands the speedy and de-
cided action Of Congress. To make the thing un-
derstood, will be necessary refer past trans
actions. The country bordering the southern shore
of Lake Superior, embraced within the State Of
Michigan and Territory Of Wisconsin, has only
within afew years been purchased from the Chippe-
wa Indians, with proviso in the treaty that the In
dams were TO remain In the undsturbed occupancy
OF the country until II should be required by the
United States In 1874, application was made to
the ordnance Office, under the Secretary Of War du-
ring Mr. Tyler's administration, uhe department
exercising control over the reserved mineral lands in
the West,) for leases of land on Lake Superior,
three miles square. These were granted without
any express law or authority on the part Of Con-
gress, till the applicants became so numerous that
the permits for locating leases were restricted 10 ona
mile square. BY the terms Of the permits one year
was given for location, and execution Of bonds for
the lease. The leases to run three years. sub
jet TO the action Of Congress, and renewable at H.
expiration of each three years for term Of ni'o
years.
The lessees in the lead region of the West had
been restricted to only few acres. In the copper
country inc leases were made larger, as II was sa d.
to encourage mining operations Six per cent. Of ore
raised for the first three years enure to the
government, increased to 10 per cent for the remain
ing triennial periods.
Without doubling the purity of motives which led
to the granting of three miles square, and the subse-
quent reduction to mile square, granted TO appli-
cants it is yet TO be lsmented that the granting was
ever commenced on so large scale. Ii one citizen
was entitled TO three miles square, it being common
property, every other citizen had die same right A
mile square Is probably amply sufficient had il been
commenced with and uniformly adhered to.
Under these provisions and rules, adopted by the
War Department., large numbers obtained permits,
located them, and secured leases Others who OBJ
tanned permits at later periods made their locations
at considerable expense and trouble in good faith,
thinking all was right yet II seems that the Presi
dent, to whom the subject was referred the 9th Of
May last, came to the conclusion and no doubt Just
ly, that the whole proceeding was without the sane
ton of law on the part of Congress. This decision
cuts off all who have made locations but have not
had time TO execute their leases, leaving them minus
considerable sums of money sunk in expenses,
among which is fee of Ss paid the district attorney
for certifying to the solvency of each lessee and his
suretias, according to a rule Of the War Depart
ment
If the leases in the course OF execution have been
cut off on the ground of iegality, it is clear that all
The leases previously execute1 and held by the COM
panies engaged in mining on Lake Superior, are also
illegal and worthless If the latter are valid so are
the former. If Congress- sanctions part it must
legaze the whole, which, ii seems to me, would be
the wisest course, or to break up the whole and
commence anew. 1t is a knotty case, and must
commend itself to the early attention of Congress
GANDERSON'S FRANKLIN HOUSE,
~ Chestnut street, between Sd and 4th,
Philadelphia.-The subscriber having purchased
of the Messrs. Sandcrsons the lease, furniture and
fixtures of this popular and central hotel desires to