Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-12-21
GLASGOW, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, DECEMRER 81 Isas.

VI tDG hlldUllC ITOI1 tnG DOTtneTu llIIlllS VI
the United States around the Capes of
Florida to the Sabine, on the eastern boun.
Diary of Texas, is estimated TO be 5000
miles; so that the addition of sea coast, in
GLIDING Oregon, is very nearly two thirds
as great as all possessed before, and inclu-
ding Oregon, an addition of 1870 miles;
being nearly equal to one half of the ex-
tent of coast which we possessed before.
We have now three great maratimc fronts,
on the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and
the Pacific, making in the whole an extent
of coast exceeding 5000 miles. This is
the extent of the sea coast of the States,
not including bays, sounds. and small irreg-
ularities of the main shore, and of the sea
islands. If these be included, the length
of the shore line of coast, as estimated by
the Superintendent of the Coast Survey,
would be 33O63 miles.
1t would be difficult to calculate the val
ne of these immense additions TO our ter.
ritoriaI possessions.
Texas, lying contiguous to the western
boundary of Louisiana embracing within
its limits part of the navigable tributary
waters of the Mississippi, and an extensive
. sea coast, could not long have remained in
the hands of foreign power, without en-
dangering the peace of our south west
ern frontier. Her products in the vicini-
ty of the tributaries through these streams,
running into and through our territory, and
the danger of irritation and collision of in
terests between Texas, as a foreign State,
and ourselves, would have been immnet,
while the embarrassments of commercial
intercourse must have been constant and
unavoidable.
Had Texas fallen into their hands, or IN
der the influence and control of strong
maratme or military or foreign power, as
she might have done, these dangers would
have been still greater. They have been
avoided by her voluntary and peaceful an
; nexation TO the United States. Texas from
her position, was natural and most indis>
: pensable part of our territory. Fortunate
ly, she has been restored to our country,
and now constitutes one of the States4of
our confederacy, with an equal footing with
the original States. The salubrity of the
: climate and fertility of the soil, peculiarly
= adapted to the production of some of our
e most valuable and staple commodities and
%. her commercial advantages, must make her
, soon one of our most populous States.
I New Mexico, though situated in the in
} contain much fertile land, and to abound
: in rich mines of the precious metals, and 10
be capable Of sustaining large population.
, From its position, it is the intermediate and
. connecting territory between our settle
5 ments and our possessions in Texas and
}. those on the Pacific coast.
n Upper California, irrespective of the
;, vast mineral wealth recently developed
e there, holds, at this day, in point of value
! and importance, to the rest of the Union
n the same relation that Louisiana did wher
e that fine territory was acquired from
= France forty-fve years ago. Extending
S nearly 10 degrees of latitude along The
Pacific, and embracing the only safe anc
J. commodious harbor on that coast fol
: many hundred miles, with a temperate
j. climate and extensive interior of fertile
: lands, it is scarcely possible to estimate its
e value until it shall be brought under The
1 government of our laws, and its resource!
C fully developed. From its position, il mus
r command the rich commerce of China, o
Asia. of the Islands of the Pacific, of West
l. ern Mexico, of Central America, the South
j. American States, and of the Russian pos
y sessions bordering on that ocean. A grea
IS emporium will; doubtless, speedily arise
J. on the California coast which may bt
Is destined to rival in importance New Or
J. leans itself The depot of the vast com
A. merce which must exist on the Pacific, viii
s, be al some point on the bay of San Fran
d cisco, and will occupy the same relation t
ID the western coast of that ocean as New
/. Orleans does TO the Valley Of the Mississip
h ri and the Gulf of Mexico. To this depot
d our numerous whale ships will resort wit
re their cargoes 10 trade, reht and obtain sup
,e plies This trade will largely contribut
J. 10 build up a city which will soon becom
rs a centre of a great and rapidly increasin
d, commerce.. Situated on safe harbor, sui
n fciently capacous for all the navies, as we
l. as the marines of the world, and convent
Is ent 10 excellent timber for ship building
es owned by the United States il must becom
K our great Western depot.
e. It,was known that mines of the preciou
x metals existed to considerable extent i
y California, at the time Of its occupation
y. Recent discoveries render il probable, tina
I'D these mines are more extensive and valui
ry BILE than was anticipated. The accounts {
u.s. the abundance of gold in that territory ar
e. of such an extraordinary character a
he would scarcely command belief were The
I'd not corroborated by The authentic report {
x officers in the public service, who have vi
&c, tied the mineral districts and derived ii
facts from personal observation. Relu
ur tant to credit the reports in general circ'
he alton as to the quantity of gold, the Office