The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-24
The consideration Of any other business until that bill is

the consideration Of any other business until that bill is
'':eSsu SeSesala = aSrs.,oss .asrssd .vrs.d.
Mr. SoULE, have aiSs only word to say. Mr.. Pres-
dent laughter,l and it win not be word an hour iD
length; but only very few minutes. have just been
told will be vouched for by the honorable senator
from Michigan, showing what is the present condition of
Bencia, do not wish TO dstan the Senate, and there
fore will not read the whole letter. but will only notice
this fact contained in It. The writer says that within the
last sixty dsyslhe letter bearing the date Of September
lssosixty new houses have been erected in Benicia
is making The population has been represented TO me
as being three thousand persons. 1 cannot vouch Tor
nat fact but i comes to me IL shape which entities i
70 great credit No denies the advantage TO which
have alluded in connexion with this place. nor any
one deny the dangers Of approachng the port Of San
Senate That will not derac from the advantages which
San Francisco may possess. and which have no doubt
Will long enjoy The creation OF port OF entry at Benicia
EWl not only facilitate comerce, but will also secure
have already adverted to another fact alude to the
9mcay o. enectIng insurance on ships 70 lie at San
70 lie the whole year at Benica, .g.t3FE WI VIZ
Twill close these remarks BY reading from two papers
which find amongst the documents that were furnished
3 the committee BY the Treasury Depar9ent In an
official communication of Brevet Major General P. L.
Smith, dated Sonoma. May 25th 1885, addressed 10 the
General-iD-chief OF the army, find that
master General from Bangor, Maine, To San Francisco
bsween The expense Of landing ii. cargo a. Be-
neca and san Francisco is in money IN fapor Of the fr
mfr, S,60O, and in time, iloo months" A aaN 7
read next from a communication addressed to the
Quartermaster General, by Brevet Allen, brevet major
and assistant qaarermaster, dated March aoh 1850:
n reported in my last letter the arrival Of the ship
Charles Cooper. ireighed viii badings This immense
discharged within ten days from this time, falling within
this ood n BEEN az ps
rod o. three months nor at cost less than fifteen thou
And lastly read from the letter Of Commander John
sion United States navy. bearing date Angus, a7h.
1850: sst tfa ss .tl
NArIosAL HorRL Washington. Angus, 27, 1850
sia In reply 70 your inquiry OF this morning, have
others that might be urged, which consider conclusive
upon the necessity Of establishing poof entry at Be-
navigation, and evidently only proper point for
the mee'ng of the seagoing ships with the smaller river
meno and San Joaquin rivers must always be carried
Tor Inc I'm supply Of the mining regions Above thar
numerous shoals OF Suison bay and the navigation of the
Fancsco by The river craft and aboy naned en-
extremely diicnt and dangerous render IL mprac
ery In making the attempt. have known many OF those
eis driven essk N erreme peril to take shelter a, Be
tended not only by runous delays but by grevos secce
oliie and property There have been my knowledge,
as many as two or thee drowned bodies day
up into The straits victims of he perIous navigation
steamer, purchased at Of twenty Ave dot
Benica and San Francisco frequently lost her entire
cargo by delays. and forcsd abandon The enter
navigation
lam, very respectfully, your oesdisn, ser servant.
Commander United States Navy.
To e. CookE, esq. -0.
Mr., GWIN.. | also have some testimony which
wish TO lay before the Senate Here is the report Of
Major Vinion, distinguished officer who was sent out
there for the express purpose OF examining the coast
This gentleman is friend of Benicia, and he gives
Why Renica shOud he n nf nd
thats, that so long il remains military post, it would
be very convenient to have military stores unshipped
that point:
"By the united judgment of Major General smith and
Commodore jones' place situated Of the
straits Of knquines, called Benca has selected
the most favorable locsy for naval and military de-
pots IL with great rencnnce therefore,
h a.. al do 9, m0 q E
aoking 10 many attrbntss which requisite In de-
esy is uninvung In the exueme possessing an aspect
neither Of beauty Of useiuiness Hills, trees
rom the water, and dwelling onward tho interior for six
miles, uiiey destitute OF wood but beyond that region
small clusters aording but scsny supply for present
consumption. Fresh water - only found in small
shared with the citizens OF the oil Denica Having
view, them that these great elements which invsr
residence of n community wanting this pace think
tue detects OF the position are made manifest.
81 has been supposed that the Of tine straits
OF the may be relied for Of the
tfoops; but hink this erroneous il is ony at ceran
SACRAMENTO and San joaquin rivers that fe OF the
straI paiaabe, and tn u Is deemed by be un
whoe,ome well iiiy feet IN depth dug by Lieut.
Coonel Caseys company, but the water proved backsh
and unsuitable for
Anesian wells may, by Perssvering probably remedy
this great eyil aud Is the only resnce have No
expense should be spared to procure scientific we'll
PRACTICAL men push vigorously the farch for by
such means and most earnestly urge the subject your
enterprise upon which the welfare OF the depot
and fts Inhabitants 10 70 depcnd Pfevioas my de-
paeure for Oregon caused 10 be purchased ius tfu
ent botiuK aud placed under the
uo,-r " be found he an A..
though he has with iu success, lrel confident
with perfect appsfatus water OF a good qualify may
be Obtained convenient 10 the depot But qua
against failure through such means, the commanding
general Is desirons Of providing IN another manner
sdpply OF wuter for the use oil the post
"a proposes that point adjaocnt some Of the
larger buIldngs contain foa 2UO O08 700
gallons be consrucIedhe bricks aud OF which
lotnsd he Brought lhe United States. But
as expensive as Areslan wells they would cost
les, than sich m Water remains 10 be pro
vded rnd ihe choice o means is LETT Tor decision.
SaH ood csefns have becn Constructed the store
noise nady erected. bui tbe supply from them only
adeq iii the raiuy seaaon. f@ ~
:. Wood be tbained on Suson bay and the Sac.
rveT, bat procured by under the pres
Of wages Tor labor, would form item
pendure snrpsssng the belief OF The crednlous and
II aru pied by the labor OF troops. deseTtion would
esitaby follow nihat,on OF te military ioTcc
employed Coat when discovered and do des
OF ITS being overcome this difficulty but fail
ing researches other aIterna'ivs than the
resource above mentioned" min N#.# ea
In regard 10 Benica, he says:
The diic uies attending present the sending OF sup
plies rom the United States inosiy ound IN the tran
oil commodities into vessels bound Bencis
This would superinduce the OF resident
AZ. San frHncsco (when schoones otherwise
enpoysd tno expense Of having lighters small vessels