The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-18
G "A NJ Il L y FO II TIL u STRIPES AND
PLAINS OF NORTH AMERICA.

.
CAMELs FO n TIL u STRIPES AND
PLAINS OF NORTH AMERICA.
We refer the reader, to-day, to an able
paper, In another column, from the pen Of
Captain WEBER, respecting the practica-
bilty Of introducing from Africa camels for
the Plains and Steppes that lie between the
Western confines of the United States and our
possessions on the Pacific coast, to be used
both for war and transportation purposes.
We think, Captain WEBBER's arguments
are irrefutable, and we hope that the gov
eminent will take hold Of the subject forth
with, and il nothing can be done under ex-
isting laws, to promote the bringing Of this
valuable animal from his native deserts in
to this country and toward substituting him
for the horse in the Dragon service, that the
subject will be considered and investigated
in all its relations and laid before the next
Congress, for its elaboration. 1t appears to
us, that, under the laws organizing the Dra-
COON regiments Of the regular army, the
Secretary Of War is fully empowered to sub
stitute camels for horses, provided the sub
stitution Of them will not cost more than the
use Of horses. The horses at present in use
could be sold, and we believe that they could
be replaced by camels at amuch less expense,
than ahorse equipment and that the forage and
sustenance Of a regiment Of camels would
be much less than those Of horses, nobody
will dispute. But admitting, that the War
Department has no power to change the ex-
isting horse equipment Of our Dragons, it
will not be denied, that it has the power to
select the means Of transporting munitions
Of war, or any other thing it can lawfully
send to California, and that It is Just as per-
fectly competent for the Department to fetch
camels from MagadOre to Corpus Christi,
load them with supplies or munitions of war,
and send them to California pia the Grand
Pass Of the Rio Grande and the ella, as it
is for it to send such things to California
across the plains, on mule-back or in wag-
ons, or by way Of the Isthmus or Cape Horn.
If we are right in our position, and we think
we are, we hope the government will look
into this matter without delay.
But, let the government do what it may in
the premises, the scheme Of Capt. WEBER
and the National Intelligsncer's correspond
ent, commends itself eminently to private
capitalists. What is to hinder some Of our
New York, Philadelphia, or Boston enter
prising merchants, to unite and import forth
with hundred or thousand camels into
Corpus Christi, form caravan at that point
to startby given day for California, by way
of the Gila river,-a route that is traversa-
BILE all the year round by horses, without
meeting with snow or even a temperature
below so degrees Of Fahrenheit, on its high
est points,-and propose to transport emf
grants and their baggage, merchandise, pub
lie stores, &c., on camel-back for stated
sum- Nothing in the world. The scheme
is perfectly feasible Such a caravan could
reach California in three weeks from Corpus
Christi, with all ease. Besides caravan of
5000 persons, is just as easily conducted as
one Of hundred, and the greater the num-
Der, the greater the security. But there is
nothing to prevent the passage Of camel car
avans across the plains from Independence
once in every three weeks from May to Sep
TENDER Of every year, and in the winter
months the beasts could be put on the south
ern or Corpus Christi route. There is Moth
ing, to our mind, impracticable in the enter
prise. 1t is one that will make quicker
return, than any that can be put on foot
Will our capitalists boggle at til Surely
not, when we absolutely see them talking
seriously about building railroad across the
same vast extent Of desert, and steppe--a
thing that could not be completed, even if
practicable, within fifty or hundred years.
In commercial point Of view, the intro
duction Of camels from Africa into the United
States, could not fail to pay and to pay rich
ly too. Let the supply Of these animals be
steady, and you will hear no more Of mules,
horses, and oxen dragging wagons across the
plains and steppes between Missouri and
California. Elnigrants would seize upon
them eagerly, and the roads to California
would be lined with travellers on camel-back,
vending their way with speed and comfort
to the haven of their desires, instead Of, as
now, tramping on foot in WEAKNESS and I'M
certainty. People go now singly, as well as
in parties. With camels more would 60
singly, because there would be greater de-
gree Of independence. But il is not merely
for travel to California, or for Dragon SER
vice against the Indians, that camels would
be more useful than the horse. They would
soon come into general use in all parts Of the
United States, and especially in the slave
States. They would take the place of
horses and wagons for long or short journeys