The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-12-15


are now estimated to be nearly as large as the
whole Of Europe.
II Is estimated by the Superintendent Of the
Coast Survey, in the accompanying report, that
the extent of the sea coast of Texas, on the
Gull OF Mexico, il upwards OF 400 miles, of the
coast Of Upper California on the Pacific. go
miles; and Of Oregon, including the Straits Of
Fuca, OF bjJ milca--mak king the whole extent
OF sea coast on the Pacific 1920, and the whel
extent on the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico >
02o miles, TIE length of the coast Of the At
lantlc, from the northern limits Of the United
States, around the Capcs of Florida tn the Ss.
bine, on the eastern boundary of Texas, il esti.
mated to be 1000 miles; so that the addition Of
sea coast, including Oregon i. very nearly two.
thirds as great as all possessed before, and in.
GLIDING Oregon, IN addition of 1870 miles; be.
ing nearly equal to one half the extent of coast
which we possessed before. We have now three
great maritime fronts, on the AtlaGtic, the Gulf
of Mexico. and the Pacific, making in the whole
an extent OF coast exceeding 1000 miles This
~ the extent OF the sea coast OF the States, not
] includicg bays, sounds. and small irregularities
of the main shore, and of the sca islands lf
these be included, the length Of the shore line
of coast, az estimated by the Superintendent Of
the Coast Survey, would be 80, 1863 miles.
l, would be difficult 10 caIcUale the val.
D
torlal possessions.
Texas, lying contiguous To the western
boundary Of L.ouisi ana, embracing within
It's limits part Of The navigahe tributary
waters of the Mississippi, and an extensive
sea coast, could not long have remained in
the hands of foreign power, without en-.
dangerlng the peace Of our southwestern
frontier Her products in the vicinity oI
the tributaries of these streams, running in
TO and through our territory. and the dan.
ger of irrltl'ipn and collision Of interest
between Texas, as foreign Stale, and
ourselves, would have been imminent, while
the EMBELLISHMENTS of commercial inter.
s""rro .,aa' hoe LvUu Cv'1etdlI a"d ,r'o-
yoidable,
Had TeXa, fallen into their hands, or IN.
der the influence and control Of strong
warltimr or military foreign power as she
might have doae, these dangers would have
been s,jIl greater. They have been avoid.
ed by her voluntary aud peaceful ounrxl.
tdn 10 the United States. Texas. from
her rrsrlon. was 4 natural and most indis.
pensabc part % our territory. Fortunately,
she has been restored " our country, and
now constitutes one of the Stlut: o. on
conlederacy upon an equal footing witl
! the original States. The salubrity nf the
| climate and fertility of the soil, peculiarly
adapted 10 the production of some of our
most valuable staple commodities, and her
commercial advantages, must make her
soon one of our mos populous States.
New Mexico, although situIjd IN the
| Interior and without sea coast, is known
TO contain much fertile land. and to abound
in rich mines of the precious metals, aud Ia
he capable of sustaining I'rg' prpuhri"n.
From IT'S position, ii is the intermediate
and connecting TERRITORY between our sell
dement's and our possessions in Texas aud
those On the pacific coast.
Upper California, Irrespective orrhc vast
mineral wealth recently dpvcl ped there,
holds, at this day, in point u; value aud I'M
| portancP, 10 the rest of the Union, thr
same relations that Louisiana did, when
| that hne'crrltory was acquired irnm France
(orIy-fve years ago. Extending nearly
l0' of latitude along he Pacific, and EN-.
hracinJ the only safe and commodlous har.
Dor on that coast, for many hundred miles
with a temperate climate and extensive in.
terror of fertile lands, tits scarcely possible
20 estimate lis value, until il shall be
! brought under the government of our laws
and lis resources fully developed. From
| It's position, 1t must command the rich com.
merce of China. of Asia. of the Islands of
| the Poetic, of Western Mexico. of Central
! America, the South American States, and
/ of the Russian possessions bordering on
| that ocean. y grea, emporium Will, doubt.
less speedily arise on the Californian coast
which NAV he destined tn rival in import.
ancc New Orleans itself. The Lepo, of the
vast commerce which must exis, on the Pa.
cIlic, will be ut some point on the bay Of
San Francisco and will occupy the same
! relation tn the whole western coast of tina,
ocean rs New Orleans does to the Valley
of the Mississippi AMI the Gulf of Mexico
| To this depot, our numerous whale ships
will resort with their cargocs. 10 trade, ref,
and obtain supplies. This trade will large.
ly contribute to build up n city, which will
soon become a centre of a great and rapid.
| ~ increasing commerce. Situated on a
safe harbor, sufficiently capacious for all
the naves, as we'll as the marines of the
world. and convenient to cXcellen, lmbe I
for ship building, owned by the United
States, II mus, become our great Western
depot.
Ii was known that mines Of the preciou,
metals existed to a considerable cXten, II
California, at the time of its occupation
/ Recent discoveries reader i, probable. that
these mines are more extensive aud valu
able than was anticipated. The account,
OF the Abundance OF gold in that terrl,or,
aro Of such an extraordinary character a,
would scarcely command belief, were the,
not cnrrohori,rd hv the authentic report u
officers IN the public service, who have Wis
tied the mineral districts, and derived III,
facts which they detail from personal ob
Servaupn Reluctant Ia credit the report,
in general circulation IA To the quantity -
ull ihp mfr ppt,, Hnrs,linr ans