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

road by combination of the different modes Of improve
men can only be determined after careful survey Of tho
country and its resources shall have been made Our only
access to them is by toisome journey of months du-
ration through comparatively ackess wastes by circuit
Gus voyage attended with many prvations and dangers
highway commencing at some point in the valley Of the
mississippi and terminating the coast Of the Pacific with
lateral branches, would not only furnish the means of
venen ntercommuncaon, but would lead the establish
ment OF chain of settlements along its ne which would
INK together the widely separated portions of country BY
an inseparable bond Of union.
The gigantic character of the work. however, admonshes
US OF the necessity of adopting every precauon in ascertain
ing the best means Of efecng the object With that view,
should be taken obtain full and accurate information
as to the shortest and best route having due reference
only to distance between the termin but also the soil
climate, and adaptation agricultural purposes OF the inter-
mediate country II the report should be favorable it would
then be for the wisdom Of Congress determine how 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
BY anticipated from the completion of the work. may Justify
liberal contributions Of land money towards construc
tion therefore beg leave most respectfully to call your at
tenton to the subject and to suggest the propey of auho
rzng immediate examination of the country and such
surveys as may be necessary to determine the paccabiy
and probable cost Of the work.
agricultural Bureau.
10 surveying the various interests Of the country no one
can fail to observe how little has been done by Government
promote the cause Of agriculture. II is true the cuva,or
Of the SOIL in with all other classes Of society," enjoys
the protection Of the laws ard the blessings incident good
government But something to be due branch
OF industry which employsmore than half population and
to great extent, sustains the other af
The power the General Government this subject is
limited but this furnishes good why il should
be exercised so far as it does egitimatey extend.
The ordinary adopted 10 afford protection to the
manufacturing and commercial interests comparatively
operative in regard TO the agricultural tariff do but
h directly to benefit the farmer the planter The sta
pie productions of the South are peculiar to that climate and
therefore, in danger competition from abroad Those
OF 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 other countries and
quenty except under extraordinary contingencies, need
protection by impos the beadstus of foreign nations
But still much may be done by Government, at small
cost to promote the interests Of agriculture. The science ID
yet in its infancy and great minds directed the
study and development of its true principles Experiments
in progress ascertain the qualities Of different soils the
comparative nurve properties Of different animal and vege-
table poducons and the utility and efficiency Of various ma
nues in erzng and renovatng the exhausted lands Of the
old States
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. ffssf a8s
Premiums may be offered for the best practical eatises on
the different branches Of husbandy, which be published
and sent al road among the people By like these
spirit OF PhilosoPhc 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 Ofce but the subject is too important to be left in
this dependant condition The last annual report from the
Department recommended the estabshmenof Agricultural
Bureau to afford to this great branch Of American industry the
encouragement which well deserves This no novel
suggestion. had the sanction Of Washington who 10 his
last annual message referring to the proprey Of creating
agricultural board said This species Of establishment con-
tributes douby to the increase Of Improvement by stimulating
to enterprise and experiment, and by drawing to
centre the results every WHERE Of individual skill and OBJ
sevaioD and spreading them thence the whole nation
Experience accordingly has shown that they very cheap
instruments Of immense national benefit
therefore the recommendation Of my predecessor
for the establishment Of separate bureau, 10 be entrusted
with the duty Of promoting the agricultural interests Of the
country The vast extent and rapid development Of the mine
raj Of the country seem to require that adequate pro
vision should also bemade by law for the collection and analysis
Of the various mineral substances which have been may
be discovered 50 that their properties may be understood and
their value correctly appreciated
The purchase Of farm in the vicinity Of the national
ropo to be titled and managed under the direction of the
bureau, has been suggested important auxiliary in illus
atng the best modes Of culture If this idea should be ia
vorab received would respectfully add that Mount Yer
non, whose soil titled by the hands and
scraed by the dust Of the Father Of his Country should pro-
pery belong to the nation, and might with great propety
come, under its auspices model 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 SUI
pernendent appointed, and the other deemed
necessary to secure the prompt and faithful performance of
that duty adopted The which now coming in
daily from all parts Of the Union give gratifying assurances
that the will be completed within the time limited by
law and in highly creditabe all who have been
engaged in it. In some few instances delays may in
Of casualties which could have been avoided
and in one or two Of the most remote Territories, in the
ceipt of the schedules.
The of valuable statistical information collected and
embodied in these will far exceed any thing of the
kind known in past history and it therefore important
that provision should be made 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 tosthe
shas Of some the remote and sparse populated
tons Of the country.
Merican Boundary Survey.
My predecessor reported the President the 18th of
May last in call from the Senate for information
relative to the progress Of this survey that the initial point on
the c, and the point of junction of the Ga with the
Colorado river had been determined and fixed 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
journment to the first Monday in November ultmo. The
temporary alluded being replaced by
permanent ones, and the joint commission Chat on the part
Of the United States having been recognized prior to my
taking charge of the Department. have doubtless assembled
Ell Paso, according the terms Of their adjournment the
purpose Of running and marking the line thence westward to
he river Gila.
II is the determination Of the Department that this work
hall be pressed forward completion with the utmost de-
patch, that possible, the expectations Of Congress- as
Indicated in the appropriation Of 18th May last may be
called.
Public Buildings.