Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-21

Oregon should be more than mile square and wherever
private claims required to give way TO the public service
the property which taken to be estimated and paid for at
its full value Such is the character of the amendment and
such has been the expectation and conduct Of the officers
the part Of the Government in relation TO these proposed re-
servatons.
day on this subject made the authority OF the Dele
pate from Oregon He believed them believed them
do choose enter into controversy to whether
the information received by the Senator from Mississippi or
the information have received correct Neither OF US
settle that point at present But deem it important, and
the Delegate from Oregon deems it SO important that this
bill should pass now, that do not propose to say one word
in reply. But hope we may now vote.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi moved to strike out the third
section of the BILL and insert in lieu thereof the following
The surveys in said Territory shall be made after what
known as the geodec method under such regulations
Of the Interior or other having charge the
surveys of public and and that said etc surveys shall
followed BY Typographical surveys as Congress may IRON
time to time authorize and direct"
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President, merely rise to express
the hope that the amendment will not prevails not with efe
renee merits, but because its introducing new system
of surveying may endsngef the bill in the House.
better plan, adopt hereafter: But it is new sys-
tenn which requires investigation and may at this time ope
rate defeat the bill.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi Mr.. President, should be
sorry if the amendment should have that effect Some time
gave notice Of my intention whenever the subject OF
position am convinced that the geodetc is the only mode
by which strictly survey be made any where
And that there country where was more neces-
sary than in Oregon and California This Is the result Of
the mountainous and mineral character OF the country Its
valleys being included between mountain ridges afford
the highest facility for geodec surveys and the greatest diff
Guilty the mode in There also districts Of
country entirely worthless and which lie contiguous places
where single would be worth than the thousand
adjoining We require. then. the highest degree Of
accuracy in the survey.
The present system is which is wrong in theory
has inherent errors and those do not compensate each
other but constantly accumulate When the present system
attempted be applied mineral country, these errors
increase such degree that surveys made in the old mode
be in any degree reliable So they must prove IN
either Oregon California believe, ALSO that the mode
which propose, in q country such this if the minute
survey the small angulaon, be confined to the fertile val
eys and Mines be adopted less expense than survey
by the present mode Of the whole country, this mode re-
qures.
AS advance the north the of the present mode
of survey increase Between the 40h and 4lst degree OF
north latitude there would be of 476 eet-neay
one-tenth Of mile degree Of latitude This because the
system of survey which is founded on the supPo
son that the earth plane instead OF being spheroida as
it is known to be-
Mr. President have interest this matter than
any other member of the Senate must have. 1t is matter
of history that adopted the present mode Of survey from
the fact that first system Of land survey had to be applied
fiat and heavily wooded country where the more scientific
method could be advantageousy adopted Mr. Elcot,
man Of high attainments. well Of its defects,
when the system introduced. If the Senator'S own
prairie State Of Illinois had been surveyed by the geodec and
the typographical manner she might present map
accurate that Of the garden cost little if any thing
than the imperfect pas which have been obtained by the
system pursued Still more this true of the mountain dis
trics and the higher attitudes to which going
We have been acting unsound theory, and the theory
being unsound, which result from practice can ever
compensate for themselves.
Mr. President that there is not disposition to enter
into the merits Of this question: and is disagreeabe under
such circumstances press its consideration But scarcely
know how to avoid it. If we adopt the old mode Of survey
for Oregon there is end of the matter. If commence
upon that SYSTEM because we are pressed for tme do not
how escape the evil in the ad0n coun-
try 1t will then be applied California, suppose will
adopt mode Of survey for California at this session. If
there is mode by which the relative merits of the two
methods Of survey be tested, whether BY committee Of
the Senate otherwise, should be very glad to that
adopted have wish to press discussion the
Senate this time. But believe that should
render this, the only opportunity have to adopt sys
tenn which is true in ITSELF and which SO favoraby be ap.
piled the country for which about to order surveys
II is to begin with the mode with which must
later end if TO have accurate maps. believe should
be adopted there hereafter be extended thence the
Atlantic This mode, inapplcabe if not
be applied to the whole country the dense heavy woods
which prevented in the valley Of Ohio from commencing
with this mode Of surveying in great measure
removed Then may present map Of the United States,
such France presents of her territory such Swzer
land has given geography We this matter behind
the civilization of the nineteenth century, and it is time
should up it its advantages should appear in
public acts, and be conferred on our infant colonies.
Mr.. GWIN. have been very favorably impressed with
the plan of surveying advocated by the Senator from Mss
sippi. think it decidedly the best but am exceedingly
anxious that this bill should pass and pass this session. and
am therefore unwilling to incumber it with amendments
that may lead to its defeat willing that there should be
committee raised to inquire into the mode Of survey sug
gested by the Senator from Mississpp and think will
probably be found the best for the Pacific coast but am
willing to incumber this bill
Mr.. FREMONT rise to express my qualification with
the amendment offered by the Senator from Mississippi
think that the old system of surveys ought be broken up
entirely, and satisfied that it is applicable the
western coast In of the States this time least
in OF them, against the law to make survey
and in country much broken up California is with so
many long and steep slopes especially where the lands will
become very valuable think the present mode entirely in
applicable. should be very glad the amendment pre-
vail. Although in the beginning the expense Of this new
system would be little greater than the old, yet short
time it would be about the same and these surveys may be
carried with much rapidy if the old system
spilled to California think that in her condition,
having been born full grown all the scientific improvements
Of the age well be applied to her. and where can be
done without any loss Of time think ought to be DONE
Mr. EWING very slight examination of the subject
has impressed avorby with the mode Of survey suggest
nothing upon the question, but merely to suggest him
modification Of his amendment so as to put in the power
Of the Department direct in that mode if upon
examination and inquiry, it be found eIPedent.
Mr. DAVIS. will accept that modification.
Mr.. EWING. WE'LL If the Senator will modify his
Mr.. DOUGLAS will agree TO that, and hope no OBJ
lection will be made to il.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. will then modify my amend
ment to read as follows