The daily union., 1852-09-01

In relation to the suggestion of nv friend from Mis-
snun, Mr. GEYER which has been aequ eseed in by my
colleague Mr. BoaLAsDl must express my doubts as
to The proprey OF separating the appropriation Tor the
Improvement OF the southwestern rivers and Its division
among the Red, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri
rivers. understand that the object TO be gained by ma
king but appropriation for all is 10 avoid the difficulty
consequent upon voting the money in such manner as
TO prevent the department from expending the whole
amount TO the best advantage. In one the appro
pralion may be too small effect the object coniem-
plated, and the work must be left incomplete in other
cases may be larger than is required and then the depart
ment could not take the for the purpose OF hnish-
ing the incomplete work The practical consequence ls
that you must open account for each of the improve
ments commenced and after they carried as far as
possible, or as far as may be necessary you cannot ap
ply the excess on one appropriation to meet the de,
hciency Of another. The mode proposed by the bill
affords the means OF bringing all the odds and ends
together; so that, taking the sum IN the aggregate,
you enable the department, IN the administration OF
the funds placed at its disposal, to govern the dis
bursement with economy than could otherwise
nes y one ho sms an and hn,
the increase OF the whole amount OF the appropriations
understand that the sum mentioned in the bill--$26o
000-would barely supply the material with which the
work is TO be commenced. The cost of the eight snag-
boats which will be necessary will al $4,000 each alone
exhaust the whole sum, and nothing will be left for re-
moving the distractions Ii the amount OF the approp-
alton is increased 10 such extent 10 permit the
work of removing the snags TO be commenced after the
first cost OF the boats has been betrayed then the object
of the senator from Missouri Mr.. GEyERl and OF my
colleague Mr.. BoRLAHDl may possibly be answered.
Until such increase is made, think 1t would be un-
wise 10 make division, for the whole sum must neces
sary be absorbed by the preparatory arrangements be-
fore the removal OF single obstruction is undertaken.
The distractions in the White and Black rivers proposed
to be are OF the same character as those
have been reported to exist in the Arkansas and Red
rivers, and they may be removed with equal acy, and
with the MEANS and can have no doubt as TO the
propriety OF the work OF improving them being under
taken by the general government they directly
within that class OF works generally embraced In bs Oh
this nature.
fMr. SEBAsriAN1 greatly misunderstood my object when
asked for the estimate My object was 10 learn the es
innate, in order that much additional might be pat
into the bill for that river specifically. The estimate as
have it is tor the Ohio river above the falls $50 600
and for the Ohio river below the allslhe Mss's.pp.
Arkansas and Mssour-$2O0,ooo. So the Appropriation
for the whole Ohio rigerfor the Mississippi below the
rapids, for the Missouri, and the Arkansas riverss
$3.50 900 in the aggregate. That is according 10 the
innate and do not propose 10 increase It, when II
was proposed by the senator from Arkansas Mr. BoR-
LAND 10 insert White river it struck me at once that
this was reducing the estimates OF the departments Tor
these other rivers; and that if there separate es
innate for the White river, specific sum ought TO be
put there, that the whole appropriation should not
be diminished for the four rivers named then intend
ed 10 amendment which would make these APP
propra,ions specific in respect to these riverssnch a
modification as i think It is proper that we should
adopt
my amendment have provided for the difficulty which
suggests itself to the mind Of the senator IRON Mis-
sour. intended also to propose an increase OF the
my proposed amendment in this way will leave the
appropriation for the Ohio. Mississippi, Missouri, and
Arkansas rivers as il stands and will move to add, '.foI
the Improvement OF the White river. $4,000" And
them Mr. President, in order that my amendment may
be fully understood the senator from Missouri proposes
separate the different items, and to give specific ap.
preparation for each of the rivers according to fair
innate of their relative importance and necessity.
Mr.. DAVIS. Has there been any survey or estimate
Mr. BORLAND As my colleague has just stated,
there survey some years ago, and estimate was
reported My amendment as modified will make the ap-
preparation for the White river equal to The amounts pro-
posed 10 be given respectively 10 the Missouri and the
! Arkansas,
Mr. DAVIS What is the amour, of the estimate
Mr.. SEBASTIAN. Twenty seven thousand six hun
dred dollars.
Mr. BoRLAND | have no objection to reducing the
Mr.. SEBASTIAN I will sugges, to my colleague to
modify his amendment include also the Black river
The surveys upon both rivers they are OF the same
length, and the same volume OF water The appropra,
for The original survey was made for both MYERS, and
this was joint estimate for both rivers.
! Mr. BoRLAND. | will then modify my amendment
so that il shall read For the survey OF the White and
Black rivers 10 Arkansas, S2s, 900"
! Mr.. CASS IL this were question merely OF adding
the White the Black river TO these classes OF appo-
pations II they had been estimated for, and II the gen.
tlenen from the State had been content without in
creased appropriation would have agreed TO IT. But
Mr. President utterly opposed to an increase IN the
appropriation, simply because am a friend TO this bill
and desire its passage; and 1T is obvious that II we add
the White river, and the Black river. and the Red rver
and IL 20 through all the coors IN the rainbow, the
bill is lo.t-ihe bill is dead II is only three months TO
9TH er session and there s money enough TO last
three, four, five months; and why will gentlemen run
the risk of losing the whole when no more can prohiably
be employed for five months This is all that we
protaby employ Why not let the bill go as Is, with
the original appropriations, and with a rational prospect
OF its passing, instead OF running The risk OF having
lost in the House oil Representatives shall vote against
every Item TO increase the appropriations
/ Mr. BRIGHT. The senator IRON Michigan has SAID
much which intended 10 say. agree IN the view he
taxes that the bill would better be passed IA II is
with a safe deverance from the House OF Representa-
ves than be amended and sent back Tor their concur
renee | understand the senator from Arkansas tc
be one OF its friends and yet he has proposed ad
donal appropriation or Two rivers one OF which never
in history should like very much to vote for this
BILL provided IL can be brought into proper shape bu
should be unwilling TO vote for II, embracing the rivers
named by my friend from Arkansas. had in my mind
idea o moving TO strike out the Arkansas river had
my doubts whether that within the class OF rver
which should be appropriated for out OF the public treas
ury but forbore his account, and was willing tc
take the bill il stood ready to increase the ap
preparation for the Ohio river TO 100000 and Tor the
Mississippi to the same amounts but when one ot tbe
friends OF the bill proposes TO add the Black and White
rivers, il Is asking more than can vote for.
| Mr. BORLAND. Certainly | am indebted. and the
debed to the honorable senator from Indiana for his for
bearance and hope we shall have ii in our power to
return the compliment
Mr. BRIGHT The Ohio is the only river we ask 10
| be improved.
/ Mr. BORLAND II is peculiarly unfortunate for my
Stae and Tor portion OF the State OF Missouri that we
have such names for our rivers as White and Black.