The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-12-27

pedient to confirm the collections thus
made, and to direct the avails (after such
allowances as Congress may think fit 10
authorize) to be expended within the ter
ritories, or to be paid into the Treasury
for the purpose of meeting appropriations
for the improvement of its rivers and har-
bors.
A party engaged in the coast survey was
dispatched TO Oregon, In January last.
According to the latest advices they had
not left California, and directions have
been given them as soon as they shall have
/ fixed upon the sites of the two light houses
and the buoys authorized to be constructed
in Oregon, to proceed without delay to
make reconnaissance of the most import
ant points on the coast Of California, and
especially to examine and determine on
the sites for light houses on that coast, a
speedy erection of which is urgently de-
manded by our rapidly increasing COM
merce.
have transferred the Indian Agencies
from Upper Missouri and Council Bluffs,
| to Santa Fe and Salt Lake, and have
caused to be appointed Sub Agents in the
valleys of ella, Sacramento, and San Jo-
aquin river. Still further legal provisions
will be necessary for the effective and
successful extension of our system Of In
dian intercourse over the new territories.
| recommend the establishment of
Branch mint, as it will, in my opinion,
afford important facilities to those engaged
in mining, well as to the government,
in the disposition of the mineral lands.
[ also recommend that commissioners
be organized by Congress, to examine
and decide upon the validity of the pres
ent existing land titles in California and
New Mexico, and that provision be made
for the establishment of new offices for
Surveyors General in New Mexico, Cali
fornia and Oregon, and for the surveying
and bringing into market the public lands
in those territories. These lands, remote
in position and difficult of access, ought
to be disposed of on terms liberal to all,
but especially favorable to the early emf
grants.
In order that the situation and charac
ter of the principal mineral deposites in
! California may be ascerta ined, | recon-
mend that Geological and neurological
Exploration be connected with the linear
survey, and that the mineral lands be di-
vided into small lots suitable for mining,
and be disposed of by sale or lease, so as
| to give our citizens an opportunity of pro-
curing permanent right of property on
! the soil. This would seem to be as i'm
portant to the success of mineral as of
agricultural pursuits. The great mineral
wealth of California, and the advantages
which its ports and harbors, and those of
Oregon, afford to Commerce, especially
with the islands of the Pacific and Indian
oceans, and the populous regions of east
ern Asia, make it certain that there will
arise in a few years large and prosperous
communities on our western coast. Il
therefore becomes important that a line
of communication, the best and most ex.
peditious that the nature of the country
will admit, should be open within the ter
ritory of the United States, from the
States of the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico
10 the Pacific. Opinion, as elected and
expressed by two large and respectable
conventions lately assembled at 81. Louis
and Memphis, points to Railroad as that
which If practicable will best meet the
: wants and wishes of the country. But
while this, if unsuccessful operation,
would be work of great national Impor
: tance, and OF value to the country which
1t would be difficult TO estimate; it ought
, also to be regarded as an undertaking of
vast magnitude and expense, and one
which must, if indeed it be practicable,
encounter many difficulties in its con-
struction and use. Therefore, to avoid
+ failure and disappointment, to enable Con-
gress to Judge whether in the condition
!. OF the country through which it must
: pass, the work be feasible; and if it De
found so, whether it should be undertak
/ en- as National improvement, or left tc
/, individual enterprise, and in the latter al
d Tentative, what aid. if any, ought to be
extended to it by The Government, | re-
! commend as preliminary measure,
n careful reconnaissance Of several proposed
routes, by scientific corps, and repor
}, as to the practcability of making such {
|, road, with an estimate Of the cost of 1t:
e construction and support. For further
If views on these and other matters connec
If ted with the duties of the Home Depart
a ment, refer you TO the Report of the
IS Secretary of the Interior.
: recommend early appropriations fo
n continuing the River and Harbor i'm
: provements which have been already be
gun, and also for the construction of thos,
Of for which estimates have been made, a.
e well as for examinations and estimate
" preparatory to the commencement ofsuci
l. others as the wants of the country AM
n especially the advance of our populatio,
IS over new districts and the extension @
l. commerce may render necessary. Al