Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-25

Of the western wing are earnestly recommends
cd tbs room beinr wanted for the accommodate
Ition Of various public Bureaux which are now
located in announcement aud insecure buildings.
Census returns have been received from the
States and Territories except California and
Utah from which partial returns have been re-
ceiyed and the remainder are expected in few
DAYS. The work of classifying and arranging
the census tables is proceeding with raYidity aud
accuracy, $500 additional is asked to defray
the expenses of taking the census.
| Mr. Charles +. Stansbury, an officer in the
Patent Officer was sent TO the Worlds Fair, TO
examine and inform himself relative TO the
many obieets of interest on exhibition. His re-
port, which will soon be forthcoming is expec-
! ted 10 be most valuable and interesting 7docu-
ment, giving descriptions of natural produce
tons, implements, machinery, manufactures,
processes Of manufactures, works OF art and
other objects Of interest peculiar to each na--
! ton
The establishment Of an Agricultural Bureau.
is again urged upon the attention Of Congress.
Agriculture is theg reat interest Of our country:
more than four-ffths of our population being
engaged in it, and vet Il is withouta Bureau de-
voted to the interest, although recommended since
the days of Washington.
The best mode of illustrating the utility Of an
Agricultural Dlredu is TO present condensed
statement of the duties which il should be re-
lquired to perform. II should be charged with
1.-The duty OF collecting and disseminating infor-
lmation in regard to the cultivation of the S oil,
in all its branches. 1t should investigate every
proposed Improvement in the tilage Of the earth
or in the construction Of implements of hus-
bandry. 1t should collect our own and foreign
countries every variety Of seed, fruit, plant, and
negotiable, and distribute them, with fun and ac-
clirate information as to the soil, climate, and
mode of cultivation best adapted to each
Through the agency of our national ships and
merchant vessels arrangements could be made
for the importation of all the valuable vegetable
productions and animals of other countries.
This would enable us to appropriate TO ourselves
the results of the wisdom, experience, and i'm
provements of all the world, in regard to agri-
culture, and we should soon be rendered inle-
pendent Of other countries for many articles
which are now imported at great cost. One or
more officers should be connected with it, thor
oughly acquainted with the principles of geolo-
gy, mineraogy, chemistry, and botany, for the
purpose Of investigating and reporting upon the
character and properties of every variety of
, soil, rock, mineral, and vegetable, and their a.
daptation to useful purposes. To this bureau
should also be intruSted the duty of superinten-
ding the taking of each decennial census, and of
procuring and classifying from year TO year all
the statistical information which can be obtained
in respect to the agriculture, manufactures, COM
merce, tonnage, revenue expenditures, financial,
and banking systems improvements by railways,
canals, and roads, industrial pursuits. and gen.
J eral progress of every State in the Union, and
OF the principal nations of the world. By this
means a vast fund Of useful knowledge, which
cannot now be obtained, would be always ac-
J, ,ssihle to Congress ard the Executive.
4 In tins department of knowledge our govern
} ment is behina England, France, Belgium, Prus-
STA, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Spain, and other
countries in Europe.
1 The operations of the Commissioners TO run
the Mexican Boundary have been delayed by
! differences between the Commissioners on be-
half of the parties to the line, and between off
GERS of the United States Surveying party The
work is now being prosecuted with vigor, but
an extension of the time allowed for its compile
ton is asked.
: The appropriation of a sum of 100000 for
the introduction Of plentiful supply Of water
in the City of Washington, is recommended as
highly essential to the securement of a valuable
blessing to the population, and surety of the
public buildings against damage by fire, which
can be obtained in no other way.