The southern press., 1850-09-04

MARCH %, 1850.
Mr.. BococK, from the Committee on .Narai Affairs,
made the t0tlO1cing
''''' REPORT:
The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was
referred the petition Of David Myerle, asking in
demnity for losses sustained in his attempt, made
under the supervision and direction of the Secre-
tary of the Navy, to introduce eprocess Of water
rotting hemp in the United States, have had the
same under consideration, and submit the follow
ing report:
1t appears to your committee that this claim has
been before Congress on several previous occa-
sions, and, so far as they are advised, has inva-
riabiy received the favorable consideration of the
two Houses to whom it has been referred but,
owing to the difficulties which stand in the way
oflegislaion for private purposes by the Congress
of the United States, the bills reported by said
committees have always hitherto failed to become
laws.
For full history Of the case as then presented
by the evidence, respectfully refer to the re-
ports heretofore made, and more especially to the
report of the Committee on Naval Affairs of the
House Of Representatives, made at the first session
of the 29th Congress. For the sake of conve-
nence that report is herein set forth at length,
follows, viz:
"HoUsE OF FREPREsENrATIvEs-,Junel IL, 1886.
Report Of Mr.. HOLMES, Of South Carolina.
"The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom
were referred the memorial and accompanying
"That from the memorial and accompanying
evidence, it appears that the memorialist, previous
to the year 1S4O, had been lorg and extensively
| engaged in the manufacture of cordage, and was
possessed Of much useful knowledge on the sub
ject Of the growth, preparation and manufacture
of hemp.
"That it had long been considered an object OF
the highest national importance, and as vitality es-
sential to our true independence of other nations
for one Of the most important eemepts Of nation
al defence, to introduce and establish the pracca-
bility and safety of the process Of water-rotting
hemp in the hemp-growing regions Of the United
States, for the supply ofits navy and commercial
marine.
"That, previous to the period named, many ef-
forts and experiments had been made, both under
the sanction and encouragement Of the govern
! ment and by individual enterprise, to accomplish
this important end but that all such efforts had
proved unsuccessful and abortive, and had left a
deep AM abiding impression on the public mind
that the said process was impracticape in our eli
mate owing to its unhealthiness, and, practised,
would produce pestilence and destruction Of life
wherever it was attempted. That so violent were
the prejudices against the operation, after all the
efforts that had been made, that scarcely ton OF
water-rotted hemp was made in the whole hemp
growing region Of the United States.
''That, Notwithstanding this state of public
opinion and prejudice was almost UNIVERSAL at t. c
period named, the knowledge and experience OF
the navy commissioners and the Hon. j. X. Paul
ding, then Secretary of the Navy; to express the
utmost confidence III the entire practlcabllity and
safety of said process, and Of the feasibility of
cessfuy overcoming, by a course iproper exper.
iments the deep-rootrd I'rejudices against it.
"Tlat cUncurrng IN The views oithe memorial
lst, and Justly considering it object Of the high
est national consideration, and emlneny entitled
to the patronage and encouragement or tue Gov
ernment, the Secretary ot the Navy, Mr.. Paul
ding, urged the mcmnrlaliSt to aUamdon the busi-
ness in which lie Was then engaged, us far as It
should be necessary, and to enter upon and carry
OUT in the heart oIth hemp growing region OF the
| West, the experiments necessary TO establish both
the prac,icablty and safety to health Of the pro-
cess of water-rottug hemp. That, to induce HIM
to do so, he rendered him the patronage of the
Government, and made the mos, liberal promises
of encouragement and indemnify against loss,
and, if successful, Of the most generous reward
from the Government. That the navy commits
sioners, at the time, fully concured IN the views
Of the Seer -tary, and, as the memorlalls alleges,
the chairman and several members of the Naval
Committee Of the House of Representatives warm
ly coincided in the same.
'"That, under these assurances and promises,
and with much zeal and patriotic pride, in antici-
patton Of the successful accomplishment Of the
same time Of conferrng great benefit upon his
er business and enter at once upon the expert.
ments proposed. 30. '."
"That until Congress should act in aid Of the
objects Of the department-which action seems TO
have been relied upon, both by the memorialist
m nd he instead of a contrart-to