Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-12-27

sea coast, including Oregon, is. very nearly
two-thirds as great as all possessed before
and including Oregon, an addition Of
l,51O miles; being nearly equal to one
half the extent Of coast which we pos
sessed before. We have now three prea,
maratime fronts, on the Atlantic, the Gull
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 Irregularities ofsha main shore,
and Of the sea islands. lss.ese be- in
'cluded, the length Of the shore line Of
coast, as estimated by the Superintendent
Of the Coast Survey, would be 33,O43
miles.
1t would be difficult to calculate the val.
ue of these immense additions to our ter
ritoria) possessions.
Texas, lying contiguous to the western
boundary Of Louisiana, embracing within
its limits a part Of the navigable tributary
waters Of The Mississippi, and an extern
sive sea coast, could not long have re-
manned in the hands of foreign pow er,
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 embarrass-
ments of commercial intercourse must
have been constant and unavoidable.
Had Texas fallen into their hands. or
under the influence and control of strong
maratime or military foreign power, as she
might have done, these dangers would
have been still greater. They have been
avoided by her voluntary and peaceful
annexation to tie United States. Texas
from her position was natural and most
Indispensable part of our territory. For
tunately, she has been restored to our
country, and now constitutes ore of the
States of our confederacy, upon an equal
footing with the original States. The sa-
lubrity of the climate and fertility of the
soil, peculiarly adapted to tie production
of some of our most valuable staple com
modities, and her commercial advantages,
must make hes. soon one OF our most pep
ulous States
New Mexico, though situated in the
interior, and without sea coast, is known
to contain much fertile land, and to abound
in rich mines OF tie precious metals, and
to be capable 81 sustaining large popu-
lation. From its position, it is the inter
mediate and connecting territory between
our settlements and our possession in Tex
as and those Oh the Pacific coast.
Upper California, irrespective Of the
vast mineral wealth recently developed
there, holds at this day, in point of value
and importance, to the rest of the Union,
the same relation that Louisiana did when
that fine territory was acquired from
France forty-fve years ago. Extending
nearly ten degrees 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 gov
eminent of our laws, and its resources
fully developed. From its position, it
must command the rich commerce of Chi
ma, 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 great emporium will, doubtless,
speedily arise on the Californian coast,
which may be destined to rival in Inpor-
lance New Orleans itself. The depot Of
the vast commerce which must exist on
the Pacific, will be at 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 orr nu-
mereus whale ships will resort with their
cargoes, to trade, reft, and 'btaia supplies.
This trade will largely contribute to build
up city which will soon become centre
of great and rapidly increasing COM
merce. Situated on safe harbor, suiii-
GENTLY capacious for all the navies, as
well as the marines of the world, and
to excellent timber for ship
building, owned by the United States, it
must become or great western depot.
1t was knownthat mines Of the precious
metals existed to a considerable extent in
California, at the time of its occupation.
Recent discoveries render it probable that
these mines are more extensive and valu-
able 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 report
of officers in the public service, who
have visited the mineral districts and de-
rived the facts which they detail from
personal observation. Reluctant to credit
the reports in general circulation as to tie
quantity of gold, the officer commanding
our forces in California visited the min
eral district in July last for the purpose
of obtaining accurate information on the,
subject. His report TO the War Depart
ment of the result Of his examination, and
the facts obtained on the spot, are here
with laid before Congress. When he vis-
tied the country there were about 1000
persons engaged in collecting gold.---
There is every reason TO believe that the
number Of persons so employed has since
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