Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-12-14


from the estimate, there will still remain within
the limits of Texas, New Mexico and Califor.
mia. eight hundred and fifty one thousand five
hundred and ninety eight square miles, or five
hundred and forty five million twelve thousand
seven hundred and twenty acres; being an adj
diton equal to more than one third of all the
territory owned by The United Suites before their
acquisitions and including Oregon, nearly as
great an extent Of territory as the whole of Eu-
rope, Russia only excepted. The Mississippi,
so lately the frontier of our country, is only its
centre. With the addition Of the late acqusi-
tons, the United States are now estimated to be
nearly as large as the whole OF Europe. It is
estimated by the superintendent Of the coast
survey, in the accompanying report, that the cx.
tent of the seacoast of Texas on the Gulf of
Mexico, is upwards of four hundred miles, Of
the coast of Upper California, on the Pacific, of
nine hundred and seventy mile !, aud of Oregon,
including the Straits of Fuca, of seacoast of the
Pacific, one thousand six hundred and twenty
miles, and the whole extent both on the Pacific
and the Gulf of Mexico, two thousand and
twenty miles. The length of the coast on the
Atlantic from the northern limits Of the United
States around the Capes Of Florida to the Sa
bine, on the eastern boundary Of Texas, is es,i-
mated to be three thousand one hundred miles /;
ST. that the addition of seacoast including Ore
gon. is very nearly two thirds as great as all we
possessed before; and excluding Oregon, is an
addition of one thousand three hundred and sew
enty miles: being nearly equal TO one half of
the extent of coast which we possessed before
these acquisitions. We have now three great
maritime fronts; on the Atlantic, the Gulf of
Mexico and the Pacific - making in the whole
an extent of seacoast exceeding five thousand
miles. This is the extent of the seacoast of the
United States, not including bays, sounds, and
small irregularities of the main shore of the sea
islands. If these be included, the length of the
shore line Of coast as estimated by the Super
intendent of the Coast Survey, in his report
would be thirty.three thousand and sixty-three
miles.
1t would be difficult to calculate the value of
these immense additions to our territorial possess
sons. 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 endangering the peace of our
south western frontier. Her products in the vi
cnity of the tributaries of the Mississippi must
have sought market through these streams,
running into and through our territory; and the
danger of irritation and collision of interests be-
tween Texas as u foreign State and ourselves
would have been imminent, while the embarrass-
ments in the commercial intercourse between
them must have been constant and unavoidable
Had Texas fallen into the hands or under the IN
iluence aud control of a strong maritime or mil
tary foreign power, as she might have done these
dangers would have been still greater. They
have been avoided by her voluntary and peace
full annexation to the United States Texas, from
her position, was natural and almost lndispen.
sable part of our territories. Fortunately, she
has been restored to our country and now con-
sltutes one of the States of our confederacy.
"upon an equal footing with the ori.ina States.''
The saiutrity Or Climate, ti!c icTrty oil SOL, pc
culiarly adapted to the production OF some OF
our most valuable staple commodities, and her
commercial advantages, must soon make her one
of our most populous States.
New Mexico though situated in the Interior
and without seacoast, is known to contain much
fertile land, to abound in rich mines of the pre-
cious metals and to be capable OF sustaining a
large population. From It's position, ii is The in
termedute and connecting Territory between
our settlements and our possessions in Texas,
and those on the Pacific coast.
Upper California, irrespective of tie vast min
eral wealth recently developed there, holds at
this day, in point of value and Importance to the
rest of the Union, the same relation that Louis
lana did, when that fine Territory was acquired
from France forty five years ago Extending
nearly ten degrees of latitude along the Pacific,
and embracing the only safe and commodious
harbors on that coast for many hundred miles,
with temperate climate, and an extensive int.
rior of fertile lands, it is scarcely possible to
innate its wealth until it shall be broug Int under
the Government of our laws, and its resources
fully developed From its position, it must com
mand the rich commerce Of China, of Asia, OF
the Islands Of the Pacific, Of Western Mexico,
Of Central America the South American States,
t1,,,N
ocean.
A great emporium will doubtless speedily a.
rise on the Californian coast, which may be des-
tined to rival in importance New Orleans itself.
The depot Of the vast commerce which must ex-
ist on the Pacific. will probably be ut some point
on The Bay Of San Francisco, and will occupy
the same relation to the whole western coast of
that ocean, as New Orleans does to the valley
OF the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, To
this depot our numerous whale ships will resort
with their cargoes to trade, reft and obtain sup.
plies. This of itself will largely contribute to
build up city, which would soon become the
centre Of great and rapidly increasing com.
merce. Situated on a safe hurbor, sufficiently
capacious for all the navies as well as the marine
OF the world, and CONVENIENT TO excellent timber
for ship building, owned by the United States, it
must become our great western naval depot
1t was known that mines of the precious met
ais existed to considerable extent in California
at the time of It's acquisition. Recent discover
les render it probable that these mines are more
extensive and valuable than was anticipated
The accounts of the abundance of gold in that
territory are Of such an extraordinary character
as would scarcely command belief were they
not corroborated by the authentic reports Of Off
GERS IN the public service, who have visited the
mineral district and derived the facts which they
detail from personal observation. Reluctant to
credit the reports in general circulation as to the
quantity of god the officer commanding our
forces in California, visited the mineral district
in July last for the purpose of obtaining accurate
information on the subject. His report to the
War Department Of the result of his examlna-
ton, and the facts obtained on the spot, is here,
with laid before Congress. When he visited the
country, there were about four thousand persons
engaged in collecting gold. There is every rea-
son to believe that the number of persons SO EN-.
ployed has since been augmented The explor-
atoms already made warrant the belief that the
supply is very large, and that gold is found al
various places in an extensive district of coun-
try.
Information received from officers Of the navy
and other sources, though not so lull and minute,
confirm the accounts OF the commander of our
military forces in California 1t appears also
from these reports, that mines of quicksilver are
found in the vicinity Of the gold region. One
of them is now being worked, and is believed to
be among the most productive in the world.