Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-07

can be best accomplished by railway turnpike, or plank
road, or BY combination Of the desn modes Of improve
men only be determined after careful survey Of tho
country and its shall have been msde Our only
access 70 them now is BY tosome journey Of months du-
ration through comparatively tracke wastes by circuit
Gus voyage attended with many privaons and dangers
highway, commencing at point in the valley of the
Mississippi and terminating the Of the Pacific, with
lateral branches, would not only furnish the Of
venent inercommuncaton, but would lead the establish
men Of chain of settlements along its ine which would
link together the widely separated portions of our country by
an inseparable bond Of union.
The gigantic character Of The work. however, admonshes
US OF the necessity OF adopting every pecauton in ascertain
ing the best means of efecng the object With that view
care should be taken obtain full and accurate information
as TO the shortest and best route having due reference
only 70 distance between the temin but also to the soil
climate and adaptation to agricultural purposes Of the
mediate country II the report should be favorable il would
then be for the wisdom Of Congress determine how far the
probable augmentation of the value Of the public land, the
increased facilities in the transportation of the mail and the
other advantages already referred to- which may be
bly, anticipated from the completion of the work, may Justify
liberal contributions Of land money towards construc-
ton therefore beg leave respectfully call your
enon to the subject and suggest the proprey of auho-
raing an immediate examination of the country and such
surveys as be necessary determine the practicaby
and probable cost Of the work.
agricultural Bureau.
ln surveying the various interests of the country no one
fail TO observe how little has been done by Government
TO promote the cause OF agriculture It is true, the cuvaor
OF the SOIL IN common with all other classes society," enjoys
the protection Of the laws ard the blessings incident to good
But something to be due to branch
Of industry which employsmore than haour population and
to great extent, sustains the other
The the General Government over this subject is
limited, but this furnishes good why il should
De exercised 50 far as it does legitmaiely extend.
The ordinary means adopted 10 afford protection to the
man mt rvrn ard
operative in regard to the agricultural tariff can do but
hnle directly to benefit the farmer the planter The
PIE productions Of the South peculiar that climate and
are in no danger Of competition from abroad Those
the North and West in consequence of the fertility of the
soil and the low prices at which land be bought pro-
duced at less cost there than in other countries and
quenty except under extraordinary contingencies need no
protection BY mposs on the beadsus of foreign nations
But still much may be done by Government at small
cost promote the interests Of agriculture The science 10
yet in its infancy and great minds directed the
study and development Of its true principles Experiments
progress ascertain the qualities Of different soils the
nuve properties Of different animal and vege-
table productions and the utility and efficiency Of
nures IN erzng and renovang the exhausted lands Of the
old States. Hta g.a
Encouragement may be afforded TO enterprises like these
and facilities furnished for the collection Of Seeds plants and
vegetables from all parts of the earth, and their distribution
throughout the country $st
Premiums may be offered for the best practical reatses on
the different branches of husbandry which can be published
and sent al road among the people, BY means like these
spirit Of phosophc inquiry may be stimulated, and great
impulse given to the interests Of agriculture Much has al
ready been done in this respect through the agency of the
Patent Office; but the subject is important be left in
this dependant condition The last annual report from the
Department recommended the establishment Of Agricultural
Bureau to afford to this great branch Of American industry the
encouragement which well deserves This no novel
suggestion. II had the sanction of Washington Who 10 his
last annual message referring to the poprey of creating
agricultural board said This species Of establishment
tributes douby TO the increase Of Improvement by stimulating
to enterprise and experiment. and BY drawing to common
centre the results every where Of individual skill and OBJ
servatoD and spreading them thence the whole nation
Experience accordingly has shown that they very cheap
instruments Of immense national benefit" ll.ts
therefore the recommendation Of my predecessor
for the establishment of separate bureau to be entrusted
with the duty of promoting the agricultural interests Of the
country The vast extent and rapid development Of the mine
raj resources Of the country require that adequate pro-
vision should also be made BY law for and analysis
Of the mineral substances which have been or NAV
be so that their properties may be understood and
their value correctly appreciated.
The purchase Of farm in the vicinity Of the national me-
opos to be titled and managed under the direction Of the
bureau has been suggested an important auxiliary in Illus
tang the best modes Of culture II this idea should be h
voraby received, would respectfully add that Mount Yer
non whose soil titled BY the hands and Is con-
secated by the dust Of the Father Of his Country should pro-
pey belong to the nation, and might with great popey be-
come under its auspices, model farm to illustrate the pro-
gress Of that pursuit to which he much devoted.
Census.
Shortly after the passage of the of 23d Of May, 1885,
for taking the seventh census and for other purposes
appointed and the other deemed
necessary the prompt and faithful performance of
that duty adopted The returns which are now coming in
daily from all parts Of the Union give gratifying
that the will be completed within the limited BY
law, and in highly crediabe all who have been
engaged in it. In few instances delays may occur in
of casualties which could not have been avoided
and in two Of the Territories in the re-
cept of the schedules. a..a a,
The amount Of valuable statistical information collected and
embodied in these returns will far exceed any thing of the
kind known in past history and is therefore important
that provision should be made at early day for printing
such abstracts may be deemed Of practical utility, in
style and form worthy Of the subject and of the country.
The report of the superintendent will show that additional
legislation may be necessary do full justice toshe
tons Of the country.
Mexican Boundary Surrey.
My predecessor reported the President, the 18th Of
May last in cali from the Senate for information
relative to the progress Of this survey, that the initial point
the Pacific, and the point of junction Of the Ga with the
Colorado river, had been determined and xed that the in
tervenng line Of boundary had been and Marked and
temporary erected thereon for distance of about
thirty miles, and that the operations Of the joint commission
had been suspended about the LIST of February last an adj
ournment to the first Monday in November uimo. The
temporary monuments alluded being replaced by
and the joint commission Chat the part
the United States having been reorganzed prior to nv
FL Pao according the Of their adjournment for the
purpose Of running and marking the line thence westward to
he river ella.
II the dissemination of the Depaent that tb;. vL