The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1850-01-08
Respectfully submittedi
w. NJ. MEREDITH,
Sec. of the Treasury
DEPARTMENT of the Interior.

We anticipated much pleasure in reading
the first report from this Department, be-
cause il was likely to embrace larger va.
riety Of interesting topics than any of the
other reports. The Fea,ling of it hiss no.
disappointed us, though il consists rather in
suggestions and recommendations than in re-.
suits. This was matter Of course, he.
brief period this Department. has had, the.
act to establish it having been passed at the
close of The last session of Congress, could
not be fruitful in much hey ond mere pre-
parations for subsequent repurts. Important
duties, the Secretary tells US, were transfer
rcd from the Executive, State, Treasury
and War Departments, and these duties,
many of them onerous, were soon found rnn7
ming into much detail, and no means had
been furnished by Congress for their per
formancc. In these circumstances. the Sec
retary must have been greatly embarrassed,
and il is to bis credit that he has accomplish
cd so much
The heads, into Which TIE Report Is divil..
ed are public buildings the patent office, an
agricultural bureau, the pension office, pub
lie lands and a Pacific railroad. On each OF
these. much and varied information Is given.
In regard to the first, the Secretary remarks
that there is among the inventions of the
dav, mixed with the well-directed and use
ful, much that is wild and visionary, and
therefore aborlive and sometimes the vague,
and for the present useless, foreshadowing
important future discoveries vet the sGgrc-
gate value Of the labor and study OF this
class Of inventors is pronounced beyond all
estimate. \ large surplus fund has accumu-
lated from such contributions, and it is re-
commended that this be applied hereafter
for the encouragement of the inventive arts
and the reward OF successful inventors.
An Agricultural Bureau is strongly recon-
mended, and there can be little doubt thas
Congress will establish one. The agricul-
tural intefes; as the Secretary remarks, stands
first in importance in our country, and EN-
bodies within itself the principal elements Of
our national wealth and power. The chief
nations of Europe have their agricultural
| boards, under the direction of highly scien-
tific men. Belgium has the best organiza-
ton of this kind, and is the best cultivated
,ounfry in Europe
Tho business in the Pension Office con
tinues to be large. The invalid pensions, of
which there are now ~ Is on the list. have
increased $50 daring the last year. The
claims for bounty land warrants, fled prior,
to November, are about $4,000, and about
10000 remain to be filed. OF the former,
about 5000 have been suspended or rejected.
To satisfy these, not less than l4,6O0,OOc
acres OF land are required.
The Report gives many Interesting facts
in regard TO geological explorations and sur
veys in Michigan, Wisconsin. and Iowa. DIR.
,Jarkson's report is favorably noticed as con-
tanning full ard able description Of the &c
oIosical characteristics of .he rich copper de
nOsites on the islands and shores of lake
Superior. DIR. LOcse e's magnetic observations
though not nli that IS yet demanded, are re-
aar,lc,l with peculiar interest. Mlessrs. Fos-
Ter and Whitney, who succeeded DR.. Jack
SOIL or tho lattcris recommendation, have
pressed forward the fela work in Michigan
with diligence. and so has DIR. Owen in Wis
consin and Iowa.
Much Is said about the ultimate disposition
Of lands IN the new territories A Survey
or Generals Office for each territory is urged.
Judicial commissions, to examine and settle
old Spanish titles in New Mexico and Cali
fornia, arc necessary, as the cover, to CON
siderable extent, the mines Of eold and quick
silver. The right 10 the mines. which passed
from the Spanish Crown to the Government
Of Mexico, Is believed to have passed to the
United States. All the dcposites, therefore,
wherever found in the new territories, are
the property Of our Government The lar
gest piece of gold, which has been brought
to tho mint, wei9hs 80 ounces. The Exec
utive has no power, by any existing law. to
regulate the mines or protect them from in
trtision. y geological exploration is recon;
mendrd as preparatory TO the division Of the
gold district into small and convenient lots
The Secretary thinks the best way TO dispose
Of these lands is by sale or lease, rcservIn9
a part Of the gold as rent. and on the con-
diIion that, when collected. It shall be depos-
tied in the mint hereafter to be established
in that region. After retaining for rent and
ASSAY enough of the gold so deposited. he
would have the balance paid back in cosu.
or its value in drafts on 1.-The Treasury or
, Mint. Leases he thinks preferable To sales
where the gold is on the surface, bot other
wise where il is found in rocks. These l'It-
D ter must necessarily be sold, as they car.nos
n be worked bit by capitalists with heavy m
vestmentS.
v Since the discovery Of the mines. gosd IN
: California has not ranged higher than sic
Ar ounce. Its actual value ia fraction over
i. SIS. The specimens OF qui ksilyer, whiek
lis suIphuret Of mcrcuryor natiSe ennabar
: thus far assaved at the mint range from l6 :
10 5J..i5 per cert Of metal. The strsirm o.
4 This mineral, which Is several feet N tissA
d ness, has been traced for considerable ~
u tance. -
Il o,her parts Of tibis Se.ori 's saa 8, =,
~. -