Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-23

the General Government TO accomplish the work One two,
three years. the furhest whereas If it is TO be
pshed by the State according to the provisions Of this BILL
they within two years, you need not expect,
especially under the condition Of the finances Of the State
mentioned by the other gentleman from Florida, M YULEE
the completion Of the work for fifteen years the
least In that state of things ask my friend from Florida
Mr. WEsTcorT) il he get the General Government TO
undertake this work. upon the report OF the typographical
gneers, will il not be done Will not your State set
tie faster and become improved more rapidly, by the plan OF
operations have suggested than in the which the bill
provides
For the purpose sir of testing the views Of Senators the
subject will now offer my amendment tits simply, sir, TO
appropriate dollars out OF any money in the treasury
otherwise appropriated to be expended by the Secretary
Of War; in exploring the everglades in Florida, with view to
ascertain the praccabiy Of draining the and that he
report to be made at the next session Of Congress- or
soon thereafter may be practicable
Mr. WESTCOTT II is true, as stated by the Senator
from Kentucky that have had Typographical made
with the view Of asceanng the precise estimate OF the amount
necessary be appropriated to effect the draining of the
gades and to make the proposed canal That is but
far respects the objects Of this bill that information
would be perfectly useless Congress Now what nforma
ton have got We have got information that is authentic
beyond dispute We have got authentic information, de-
rived first from The Surveyor General of the State secondly
from the Commissioner OF the Land Office thirdly, from the
Secretary of the Treasury fourhy, from the intelligent
gentleman sent by the Secretary of the Treasury to examine
the lands We have letters from Judge Sheriff, who well
acquainted with the situation of the lands from Col Harvey,
from Gen. Gadsden, and Others who aversed that country
thirty years ago, all Of them concdng in the statements that
these lands perfectly worthless TO the Government and
surveyed would pay the cost OF surveying Then,
sir with all the information necessary to be obtained by
Congress- unlessand will at meet the question pro
pounded by the Senator from Congress
at disposed TO enter upon system OF public improve
men why should refuse put in the power OF the State
to bring these lands into available condition Congress
prepared to do it, That is the question, if mistake not
which the Senator from Kentucky propounds the Senate
Is Congress prepared upon the business Of improve
tn lands
overlooked by the Mississippi and its tributaries and
which only be redeemed by the construction Of canals
embankmen The Senator says that there obstacle
these improvements being made by the General Government
Mr. President there who entertain constitutional
objections to the power Of Congress improve either
private public lands, and to enhance their value by max
ing public improvements within the States for the power
would be abused long the Federal Government owned
foot Of land in the new States But, as said on former
day. have objections besides these constitutional objections
OF all methods under heaven that be devised for max
ing public improvements of this character those undertaken
by the General Government always the most expensive
and the most likely be inecacious when effected OF all
public improvements, those devised, carried on, and
pleted by the Federal Government the worst. | do
not TO deact from the intelligence and capacity of
our corps OF typographical engineers fortunate in
being acquainted with several Of them, whom regard
most valued friends. Among them the intelligent
persons to be found in this or any country But look the
public works that have been conducted by this Government
works of the tfng character and you viii find
that mpediments continually interviewed proact the work
You will find that all sorts of expenditures accumulated
upon you You will find that it takes year prepare
enter upon the work another year TO make the necessary
connosances and surveys another year put result
the calculations in proper form, in printed statements and
maps another year to bring the matter before Congress
other year two TO have criticised and and
three four after that to get passed authorizing
the commencement Of the work.
This is the way in which Improvements, undertaken and
carried by the Federal Government managed where
the persons carrying the works interested in their
NE hIp
incredible. would inquire of the Senators from Arkansas
how long the Federal Government have been endeavong
get the raft removed from Red river! Ten twelve years.
believe. Sir happened accidentally look debates in
Congress when that work first proposed and remember
that we assured that could be completed in eighteen
months.
SENATOR. The work completed.
Mr.. WESTCOTT. II ,cds, after fashion, bet il filed
up again. In 1888 work undertaken in Florida. II
cost eight hundred thousand dollars and the
work is now not worth single dollar And so with all
public works where the persons employed not interested
in the work being well done SO with all public works Ex
cep those Of peculiarly scientific character, the army Off
GERS the worst persons to be employed them They
gallant in warfare, but they know very little Of other
matters. There fewer practical among them than
among our civil engineers throughout the country and
would rather trust the execution Of work to practical
civil engineer than 10 the whole corps of Typographical eng
nees as high respect as have for most Of them But this
is not such work belongs properly TO them We do not
expect this work in very superior style requires
carved MARBLE elegant columns superb gliding
thing Of the kind On the contrary all that plain
old fashioned work. such the unskid accomplish
Any dig ditch. Sir should lie opposed 10 the
Federal Government undertaking it, because do believe
would be done in twenty years and when DONE which
would be whenever the officers became tired Of remaining
there among the mosquitoes aud the frogs would be
than half done should be- II would he executed
infinitely better by officers appointed by the State, VINO would
be interested in having il done efiectually.
As before said, il the State accepts this grant, there win
be no possibility Of msappyng the proceeds for every
plus dollar must for the support Of education within the
region thus ceded and reclaimed.
While up will answer objection, rather misstae
ment that made by the Scuator from Connecticut He
stated that there not million Of oveffowed.
There two millions FIVE hundred thousand overlooked.
Ofhee million have been surveyedor number Of years
and far from being available my friend from Connecticut
supposes, they worthless the rc-abou $50
only having been disposed Of on, Of that whole Of million
of II the lands should I've reclaimed they win be
worth perhaps dollar and quarter per acre. with regard
the sand bottoms they will be worth the Of survey
ing. Sir hope the amendment Of the Senator from Ken
lucky viii he rejected for extremely anxious that this
matter should be decided without further delay.
Mr.. BALDWIN. am prepared vote for this bill
in the shape in which il has been reported by the committee
On the contrary, inclined favor the amendment pro-
posed by the honorable Senator from Kentucky, well for
the which have been assigned by him. for others
which apparent upon the face Of the bill itself reported
The object which the Government Of the United States has
in view in making this grant the State Of Florida iii be
made ALL is to the accomplishment Of the work for
which the lands 10 be granted. Now IL appears TO me
that this bill affords such security to the Government
Ne ssf l... - III