Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-01-05

vcyor General in New Mexico, Califor-
MIA, and Oregon, and for the surveying
and bringing into market the public h,nds
of those Territories Those lands, re-
mote in position and difficult of access,
ought to be dispo c' of on terms liberal
to all, but especially favorable to the early
omigrants.
In order that the situation and charac
ter of the principle mineral depositcs in
California may be ascertained, | recon-
mend that geological and mineralog.
cal exploration be connected with the
linear surveys, and that The mineral lands
be divided into small lots suitable for
mining, and be disposed of, by sale or
lease, so as to give our citizens an oppor
tumty of procuring a permanent right of
property in the soil. This would seem
to be us important to the SUCCESS of min
ing as of agricultural pursuits.
The great mineral wealth of California,
and the advantages which its ports and
harbor and those of Oregon afford to
commerce, especially with the islands of
the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the
populous regions of Eastern Asia, make
it certain that there will arise in few
years large and prosperous communities
or Cur western coast It therefore be,
comes important that a line of communi-
cation, the best and most expeditions
which the nature of the country will ad-
NIT should be opened within the terrific
ry of the United States, from the navi-
gable waters of the Atlantic or the Gulf
of Mexico to the Pacific. Opinion, as
elected and expressed by two large and
respectable Conventions, lately assem-
bled at St. Louis and Memphis, points to
a railroad us that which, il practicable,
will best meet the wishes and wants of
the country. But while this, if in sue
cessful operation, would be work of
great national importance, and of value
to the country which it would difficult to
estimate, it ought also to he regarded as
an undertaking of vast magnitude and
expense, and one which must, il it be in
deed practicable, encounter many diff
culties in its construction and usc.-
Therefore, to avoid failure and disap-
pointmcnt; to enable Congress to Judge
whether, in the condition of the country
through which it must pass, the work be
feasible; and, if ii be found so, whetherit
should be undertaken as II national i'm
provcment or left to individual enterprise:
and, in the latter alternative, what aid, if
any, ought to be extended to it b, the
Government, l recommend, as n prclim-
mary measure, careful reconnaissance
of the several proposed routes by sci
entiiic corps, and report as to the prac-
ticability of making such road, with an
estimate of the cost of its construction
and support.
For further views on these and other
matters connected with the duties of the
Home Department, refer you to the re-
port of the Secretary OF Interior
recommend early appropriations for
continuing the river and harbor improve
ments which have been already begun,
and also for the construction of those for
which estimates have been made, as well
as for examinations and estimates prcpar-
atory to the commencement of such 9th
crs as the wants of the country, and espe-
cially the advance of our population over
new districts, and the extension of com
mcrcc may render necessary An csti-
mate of the amount which can be advan-
tagcously expended within the next fis-
cal year, under the direction of the Blu
reau Of Typographical Engineers. accom-
panies the report of the Secretary of
War, to which | respectfully invite the
attention Of Congress.
The ccssion of territory nude by the
late treaty with Mexico has greatly cx-
tended our exposed frontier; and render
cd its defence more difficult. That treaty
has also brought us under obligations to
Mexico, to comply with which military
force is requisite. But our military cs-
tabishment is not materially changed ,as
to its efficiency, from tn: condition in
which it stood before the commencement
of the Mexican war. Some addition to
it will therefore be necessary; and re-
commend to the favorable consideration
of Congress an Increase of the several
corpse Of the army at our distant western
posts, as proposed in ,he accompanying
report of the Secretary Of War.
Great embarrassment has resulted
from the effect upon rank, in the army,
heretofore given TO brevct and staff com,
missions. The views of the Secretary of
War on this subject are deemed impor-