Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-12-19

aud sixty-one square miles, or seven hum
dred and sixty three millions five hundred
and ffty-uine Thousand and forty acres
I These estimates show, that the territories
recently acquired, and over which our ex-
elusive jurisdiction and dominion have been
extended, constitute country m)re than
half as large as that which was held by the
United States before this acquisition. II
Oregon be excluded from the estimate, there
will still remain within the limits OF Teas
New Mexico, and California, eight hundred
and fty-one thousand five hundred and
ninety. eight square miles, or FIVE hundred
and for forty-tive millions one hundred and
twenty thousand seven hundred and twenty
acres, being an addition equal to more than
one-thirJ ct all territory owned by the Uni
ted States before this acquisition. and in
GLIDING Oregon, nearly as great an extent
OF territory as the whole of Europe, Russia
only excepted. w.. .......
The Mississippi, SO lately frontier ofour
! country, is now only its centre. With the
addition of the new acquisition, the United
States are now estimated to be nearly as
large as the whole of Europe. .r
1t is estimated by the Superintendent:
of the Coast Survey, in the accompany
ing report, that the extent Of the sea coast
OF Texas, on the Gulf Of Mexico, is up
wards Of 400 miles; Of the coast of Upper
California, on the Pacific, $40 miles; and
of Oregon, including the Straits Of Fuca,
of $50 understanding the whole extent
Of sea coast on the Pacific 1870, and the
whole extent on the Pacific aud the Gulf
Of Mexico 1920 miles. The length of
the coast Of the Atlantic, from the north
ern limits Of the United States, around
the Capes Of Florida to the Sabine, on
the eastern boundary Of Texas, is estima-
ted 10 be 5000 miles; so that the addition
of sea coast, including Oregon, is very
nearly two-thirds as great as all possess
ed before, and including Oregon, an addi-
ton Of 1910 miles; being nearly equal
to one half the extent Of coast which we
possessed before. We have now three
great maritime fronts, on the Atlantic,
the Gulf Of Mexico, and the Pacific, ma
king in the whole an extent Of coast ex-
cecding 5000. This is the extent Of the
sea coast ofthe States, not including bays,
sounds, and small irregularities Of the
main shore, and Of the sea islands, II
these be included, the length Of the shore
line Of coast, as estimated by the Super
lntendent of the Coast Survey, would be
33,C63 miles.
1t would be difficult to calculate the va
ue of these immense additions 10 our ter
rtorial possessions.
Texas, lying contiguous to the western
boundary of Louisiana, embracing within
Its limits part Of the navigable tributa-
ry waters of the Mississippi, and an ex-
tcnsive sea coast, could not long have re-
manned in the hands Of a foreign power,
without endangering the peace of our
southwestern frontier. Her products IN
the vicinity Of the tributaries through
these streams, running into and through
our territory, and the danger Of Irritation
and collision Of interests between Texas,
as foreign State, and ourselves, would
have been imminent, while the embar-
rassmen:s Of commercial intercourse must
have been constant and unavoidable.
Had Texas fallen into their hands, or
under the influence and control ola large
maritime or military foreign power, as
she might have done, these dange RS would
have been still greater They have been
avoided by her voluntary and peaceful
annexation to the United States. Texas,
from her position, was a natural and al
most indispensable part Of cur territory
Fortunately she has been restored TO our
country, and now constitutes one Of the
States of our con!ederacy, upon an equal
footing with the original States The sa-
lubrity Of the climate and fertility Of the
soil, peculiarly adapted to the production
Of some of our most valuable staple COM
moditles, and her commercial advanta-
ges, must make her soon one Of our most
populous States.
New Mexico, though situated in the
interior, and without a sea coast, is known
to contain much fertile land, and to a.
bound in rich mines Of the precious met
ais, and to be capable Of sustaining large
population. From its position, it is the
intermediate and connecting territory be-
tween our settlements and our possessions
in Texas and those on the Pacific coast.
Upper California, irrespective of the
vast mineral wealth recently developed
there, holds, at this day. in point Of val
ue and Importance, to the rest of the u
MON, the same relation shat Louisiana did
when that fine territory was acquired
from France forty-fve years ago. Ex-
tending nearly 10 deg, Of latitude along
the Pacific, and embracing the only safe
and commodious harbor on that coast for
many hundred miles, with a temperate
climate and extensive interior Of fertile
lands, it is scarcely possible to estimate
its value until it shall be brought under
the government Of our laws, and its re-
sources fully developed. From its posi-.
ton, it must command the rich CONNIE rec
Of China, Of Asia, Of the Islands Of the
Pacific, Of Western Mexico, Of Central A.
merica, the South American States, and
of the Russian possessions bordering on
that ocean. A grea. emporium will,
doubtless, speedily arise on the CaliCor-
MIA coast, which may be destined to rival
in importance New Orleans itself The
A. = 4 81