Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-10
Value Of ships and cargoes..

sThe losses during the year 1851 have been unprece
dened far heard from No less than sail of thi
fine fleet Of 1851 the Honqua the New Bedford the Ara
bella, the America, the Armata, the Mary Mitchell
the Henry Thompson have been wrecked there and ef
behind monuments Of the dangers which meet thes
hardy mariners in their adventurous calling There ar
reports of other losses and wrecks these
and though several Of them lost not shoals, bu
otherwise yet these enough to tell of imperfect by
biography and to show the national importance Of look
ing to it for it may be that in of loss in the ice
the knowledge of sheltered anchorage and which
survey would give would have prevented the exposure
to the ice which induced the loss.
I" All our with what is called the East is
not so valuable as this was for 1S49 and 1850
I'VE by the above statistics that in these two years
more American seamen engaged in that small dis
trct Of ocean than employed in whole navy, at
any time that in these years these hardy mari
fshed up from the bottom of the sea- and by their
energy created and added to the national wealth. the
value of more than eight millions of dollars And we
that owing to the dangers of the land and
ice the hidden rocks and unknown shoals that vessel
in every twenty that went therein during the Of
1851 has been left behind total wreck and that the
lives Of their Of not less than fer every
twenty engaged in that business, have been put in eo
psrdy mostly for the want of proper charts No protec
ton that squadrons this give our
commerce with any of the States Of Christendom can
compare with that which good chart Of that part of the
would afford TO this nursery Of American seamen
and to this branch Of national industry
81 learn that in lat GAO 15rN long 1872 w. Captain
Middleton of the barque Tenedoz of New London dis
two in extent That the ship Ajax Of Hayre
lost rock south Of the Isle of St. Lawrence ten
miles from land That the entire feet of whalemen in
the Arctic complain much that charts are wrong
That the coast is badly explored, but little known sc.
That several Of vessels have been being wrecked
by unexpectedly making land rocks under the bows
night That they have found in the Arctic Circle low
sandsps, extending five six miles That also in
ochotsk there hidden dangers That the Hon
qua in 1851, was totally wrecked sunken rock in
that sea.
"I am also informed that sthe Indians are very
friendly; that they wanted to trade; that the whalemen
frequently went shore sc. That Captain Taylor
brought specimens of Of metals from the Arctic
shore that he obtained information from the natives OF
the existence of gold among them, also iron that
when shown implements of various kinds they him tc
understand plenty The mountains. Such also the
with gold; they knew the metal, and pointed, al
such existing among them"
With these before the Department have no hest
tation in expressing opinion favorable the
suggested in the resolution, in recommending such
reconnaissance and survey win establish accurately thu
positions Of the prominent capcs bays headands,
harbors
To fix the positions Of the rocks and shoals that endan
ger the navigation there and examine the Fox Aleu-
tan Islands, would be the work of two three properly
appointed vessels only for short time When the sea-
closed for these attitudes the vessels could
be bene6cialy employed in an examination Of the
OF China and Japan, and the regions thereabouts
whose photography is % defective, and an accurate
kno~~lSe Of which is Becoming every day more and
moro imports4ee. M t
In reply 70 the latter ause 81 the resolution VIZ
whether any vesses belonging 70 the service can be
used for that purpose and also what would be the
pense Of such reconnaissance respectfully tina
this Department has its command the vessels ne
cessay for the contemplated service unless by reducn,
the numbers Of vessels attached to squadrons for
eign service, and which by recommend
am Of opinion that the necessary vessels be bull
at our navy yards purchased for exceeding
$4,000, and that additional appropriation beyon
that sum- need be made The and tear Of the YES
sels pay Of the officers and crews stores provisions
struments &c be provided for out Of current appro
priations. The accompanying report from the Chief
the Bureau Of Ordnance and photography and paper
prepared by Commander Rnggod and Lieutenans Maur,
and Page, respectfully submitted as throwing add
tional light upon the subject.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obedien
servant, WILL. A. GRAHAM.
Hon. w. r. KING,
President Of the Senate.
IN Arr, TT