The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-05

recton Of Congress is desired in relation to future
payments for service on this line. ''
On the Doth and 18th November, 1850, there
was paid to E. X. Collins and his associates, for
service on their line, Sl63, 900, leaving the former
indebted 10 the United States in the sum OF $780,,
600 with interest, and the latter In the SUM OF
1886 900, for advancements made IN aid OF their
enterprise, which will become due IN April next
with interest.
Mr.. William H. Aspinwall repaid the whole
amount of the advancements received by him in
mail service prior to the 18th February last, ac-
cording to settlement then made, and, having
executed his contract with great puncuality, has
had further settlements with the Department TO the
30th Of September last.
| respectfully recommend that a line for the
transportation of the mails from San Francisco TO
Macao, Shanghai, or other point in Eastern Asia,
either by steamers sail vessels, be also establish
ed. Such line would furnish regular and early
means of communication between our squadrons
in the Pacific and the China seas, enabling their
early cooperation whenever occasion might re-
quire, and would contribute much to the facilita-.
ton OF that commerce with the East, to which
reference has been already made.
In consequence Of the adaptation Of mail steam
principally for speed and transportation, it has
been doubted by officers of great intelligence whe.
Their they can be converted into war steamers Of
the first class without much additional expense,
since they have neither the strength to bear heavy
ornaments nor to Withstand cannonading. But
as long warfare at sea, unlike that on land, per-
mis the seizure Of the private property of the peo
pie of an enemy when found afoat on the ocean,
they can always be employed with great advan-
tage under light ornaments against the commerce
OF an adversary. With speed to overtake mer-
chant vessel, and at the same time eude the pur-
suit of IA cruiser, they must prove most form,-
dable means Of annoyance TO merchantmen.
The operations of the National Observatory and
Photographed Office continue to be conducted
in manner highly satisfactory, and are adding
rh IN Of Inn IylaHe IN
Of ocean navigation. BY virtue Of the authority
contained in the act Of Congress, approved March
Sd, iS49, have recently appointed an agent in
the city Of London to make sale of copies of the
charts prepared at the Photographed Office, for
the mere cost of printing them, with the charges
Of transportation and reasonable commission, so
| as to difuse the information afforded by them 10
nautical persons generally.
The astronomical expedition, under Lieutenant
Gss, to Santiago de Chill, with view to new
determination of the distance of the earth from the
sun, by observations carried on at the same time
there and here, and other scientific objects, has
prosecuted its labors successfully, and has been
signally favored by the Chilian government and
people, as is manifest from the hattering mention
Of it in the recent message Of the President to the
Congress Of that country, and from his applying
and procuring to be attached to it a number Of
their young men students Of astronomy.
The preparations for the publication OF an
American Nautical Almanac, by Lieut.. Davis,
under the direction Of the Department, are in an
advanced state Of progress. 1t will appear, in
letter appended from him, that he has solicited
and engaged the labors Of scientific person., No-
rious parts Of the United States as assistant CONG
putors, and there is every reason to hr,e tlot,
when this work shall be completed, it Wj'i lut
only be highly valuable to navgaiors, but viii be
worthy OF the scientific character Of the country.
The exper ments Of Professor Page in testing
the application of electro magnetism a motive
power, in mechanics have been continued since my
report made III compliance with resolution of
the Senate III September last, by virtue of the APP
preparation Of March 3, lS49 and he is now en-
gagged in preparation for trial trip of locomo-
tive on railroed propelled by this power
The meteorological observations of Professor
Espey, which are still in progress under the ap-
preparation made at the last session Of Congress,
will be detailed in his report to be presented to
Congress.
The course ofexperiments in gunnery, and the
preparation Of ordnance and ordnance stores all
kinds at the navy yard in Washington, have been
conducted in manner h ghly satisfactory to the
Department, and, in consideration ofthe great i'm
portance Of this particular duty to the effectiveness
Of our naval armament every where, and the labor
and responsibility of the officer charged with il, |
with Difference recommend that his compensation
be made equal to that of n commander at sea.
A board of naval officers has been convened,
agreeably to your Instructions, for advice and IN
formation on the question of rank between officers
Of the military and civil branches of the naval SER
vice, and the relative rank of officers of the army
and navy when acting together, on WHICH the opin-
ion of the President was requested by resolution
Of the House of Representatives at the last SEES
sion, and their report will be laid before you as
soon as received
The Joint board of officers of the army and
navy, who have been engaged in the examination
Of our Pacific coast with reference to harbors for
tifcations, lighthouses, navy yards, and docks,
is expected to finish its work in the present month,
and return to the seat Of Government. The Sc
lection of a site for navy yard and dock on that
coast has been deferred until the reception Of the
report Of the board and personal conf renee with
the officers comprising it.
BY virtue Of the authority conferred on the
head of this Department in the act of Congress,
approved September %, 1850, to purchase Ameri-
can waterrot.ed hemp in open market for the use
of the navy, provided the price shall not exceed
that of 1.-THE foreign article for the last five yeas"
the hemp agents at Louisville and ST. Louis have
been instructed to make inquiries and receive pro-
posas as to the price of the article; but no suf-
fcien information has yet been received to Justify
purchases of the quantity required.
| subjo the reports of the respective heads Of
bureaus Of this Department, and Of the command
ant of the marine corps, pres enting estimates for
the fiscal year ending the 30th or June, 1859, to-
gether with an aggregate statement Of the appro-
priatons required for all objects under the SUPER
vision of this Department, the sum total Of which
mates for the extraordinary Objects
as follows, viz : Transportation Of
the mail, improvement Of the navy
yards, nautical almanac, &c. 2,2l099O
To show the amount proposed for the
support Of the naval service, includ-
ing he marine corps, for the year $500, G2l
The above aggregate, it will be perceived, is less
by more than one million of dollars than were the
estimates for the present year. To it, however,
must be added the amount which may be required
for the floating dry-dock basin, and railway on
the coast of the Pacific, of which estimate will
be supplied so soon as the contract shall be made,
and the price Of the whole work agreed upon
take the liberty to suggest that tie appropra-
tons for the annual support of the navy should be
separated from those for fixed and permanent OBJ
jects on shore, and more especially from those for
extraordinary objects under the supervision of the
Department, which, however mporantas subjects
of public interest, are not necessarily connected
with it.. If, in analogy to the bills for the erection
Of Notifications, and for the support Of the military
academy, related to the army, distinct bills
were prepared for navy yards and docks, and the