Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-28

with the Secretary of the Treasury. of those
who usually inclined to the belief that discretion will be
abused when vested with executive officers But since the
appears the Senate be exavagant will propose
that the blank be filled up with the words " three thousand
five hundred " and if that is acceptable let Senator
propose some other amount
Mr. DAVIS of Massachusetts,. ope that that amount
will be adopted.
The question being taken the motion to fill up the
blank with that sum, it was agreed to.
The bill then reported the Senate and the several
amendments which had been adopted in Committee of the
Whole were concurred in.
There being further amendments proposed the bill
ordered to be engrossed for third reading.
COLLECTION DISTRICTS IN CALIFORNIA.
The Senate then proceeded the consideration of the bill
to create collection dishicsin California.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 81, 1850.
The bill to create collection districts in California, up
on its third reading.
Mr. GWIN moved to recommit the BILL with instructions
to strike out all that part making Benicia port Of entry, and
to make it port Of delivery.
Mr.. DICKINSON moved that the motion to re-commit
lie the table, with view proceed to the consideration
of the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill which was
agreed to.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.
The Senate in Committee of the Whole resumed the
consideration Of the special order of the day. being the bill
making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses Of
the Government for the year ending June 80, 1851; the
question pending being the following amendment offered
by Mr.. UNDERWOOD
Mr. DICKINSON. wish to remind my friends that this
the last week but of the session. and that this is the
last day Of the week. statement in regard to any
thing listened and appreciated whereas extended argu
ment is not therefore hope will vote at every
question that may be presented.
Mr.. CLAY. Mr. President, if no opposition had been
made the amendment should have said word
the subject; and now | shall only occupy very few
minutes The proposition appropriate $780, 600 in order
to ascertain the pactcaby Of great scheme Of river inn
provement be first applied to the Ohio river That i'm
to consist Of the erection of reservoirs Of water
towards the head Of the river to be let out to supply the chan
mel of the river during the dry season. when the water very
shallow. The principle is very obvious II the
which through the channel Of the Ohio could be equally
distributed throughout the year, there would be an abundant
supply for navigation throughout the whole year. But in
Of eshets, at high water vast surplus thrown
through the channel leaving deficiency for Of
two months of the year. The principle is to retain the
plus which is thrown out unnecessarily, as to afford sup
ply at the deficient Of the year. The mode of effect
ing the object is by the erection Of dams upon the head
waters of the river.
The pacticabliy of the object has been ascertaned by
scientific men, by the application Of an uneng principle 1t
has been reviewed by scientific It has been examined
thoroughly by committee, well constituted Of intelligent
members of this body, who have arrived at the conclusion
that it is practicable.
Mr.. President, know it is said that it is humbug. It
said Of Fuons great attempt apply the power ofsteam
to the navigation Of the waters Of the earth, that it
the power Of steam to railroads upon the surface of the eah
that pronounced humbug When teegraphic commu-
ncatioD, which is dusing information with the rapidly
of lightning throughout the whole continent discovered,
it was pronounced to be humbug
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. To test the practcabiity Of il
Congress appropriated $780, 00
Mr. CLAY. And Congress appropriated $780, 900 for the
purpose Of asceranng the praccaby Of communication by
means Of electricity, am reminded by my colleague
What sthe object for which ask the present appropra-
ton It is in which eight States of this Union are d.
rec interested embracing four of the largest States Of the
Union New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia.
There also four States the mouth of the river that are
also directly interested in this project.
What is the sum proposed speak notof the commerce
that floats this vast interior channel Of which
given in the report of the committee. 1t is $4,000 in
necessary ascertain certainly the practcabiy and probable
expense of the object The engineer who has made these
calculations that less than half million Of
dollars will be sufficient to render the Ohio river navgabe all
the year, with Of sufficient least for the
secondary if not the primary class of steamboats,.
Mr. President daily sppropriating money for OBJ
ects far less important in their consequences Of less
eres to large portions Of the Union than the proposed appro
praon For less than the cost Of custom house in New
FORK or Boston, we may effect object for which contend
that if twenty millions applied, and the object could be
accomplished by the application Of that Of money,
would be profitable, just and national appropriation of
money Under these circumstances trust that this small
amountess than appropriated the other day for the
ton of custom house Bangor-for an object in which all
the Western States deeply interested, will be
toned by the Senate, and that the experiment proposed will
be allowed to proceed.
speak all these subjects with great difficulty am
not perhaps sufficiently skilled in scientific requisites to arrive
at just conclusion these subjects But have seen ex-
amnations made by Others and the conviction is strong upon
me that this project will ultimately prevail And s 1t Is
OF those projects which commended to by no aver
sion to Nature herself for do consider some OF the
great engineers OF the world have thought that rivers were
only made for canals think adopt what Nature herself
points out to by constructing reservoirs to supply de
cheney Of water in the channel of the river at certain seasons
of the year. hope that, under these circumstances this
appropriation will be sanctioned by the Senate And rea
entertain very sangune hopes Of the success OF the project
Mr.. BRIGHT. When this proposition was introduced,
and the memorial of the individual who proposes perform this
service was presented the Senate II struck mind as
voaby as it could have struck that of member of this
body. looked upon very much in the same light those
gentlemen do who pleased then as now to denounce as
humbug The Senate, however, entertained the memorial
and referred il to select committee upon which placed
After reading the very learned and scientific report OF Mr. FL
let hearing history of the result OF his experiments with the
for his conclusions the conclusion
in the long report made by chairman, the honorable Sem
ator from Kentucky.
believe il can be that the plan proposed is
practicable and that is neither experiment nor one Of
the humbugs of the day. The advantages that would result
to commerce. should succeed in throwing into the Ohio
sufficient volume OF water ensure least three feet
the channel all Of the year. would be ncacua
b saying nothing of the immense advantages that would re-
sult trade and various other rivers Of the
United States that at certain Of the year are not ma
vgabe for the of IL will cost but twenty thousand
dollars perhaps less 10 make the necessary surveys ard cal
culaons am willing to give it. If al subsequent session