Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-12-18

from the special agent of the government represent
that they adhere to their PROMISE and that council of
their people has been called to make their preliminary
arrangements. general emigration may therefore
be confidently expected at an early day.
The report from the General Land Office shows in
creased activity in its operations. The survey of the
northern boundary of Iowa has been completed with
unexampled despatch Within the last year 1922 ,953
acres of public land have been surveyed and 5000 463
acres brought into market
In the last fiscal year there were
sold. Observation-Disclosures. 1,553,071 acres.
Located with bounty land warrants. .3,20l,S14
Located with other certificates. 1862
Making total of................4, 870,067
In addition, there were
Reported under swamp land grants. .5,2l9,lS8
For internal improvements, rail-
roads, &C. .3,025,920
Making an aggregate Of. .l3,1l5,175
Being an increase in the amount of lands sold and
located under land warrants of $50 220 the
previous year.
| The whole amount thus sold, located under land
warrants, reported under swamp land grants, and
lected for internal improvements exceeds that of the
previous year by 3342372 acres and the sales would
without doubt have been much larger but for the ex
tenve reservations for railroads in Missouri Missis-
sipp and Alabama.
For the quarter ending 3Oth Sept,
! 1852, there were sold. .......... 243,2j5 acres.
Located with bounty land warrants. i ,387,Il6
Located with other certificates. 49,. 1863
Reported under swamp land grants. 2, 485 ,223
Making an aggregate for the quar-
! ter Oh. .'...'....... .......... 4,l3l ,253
Much Of the larger portion of the labor of arranging
and classifying the returns of the last has been
finished audit will now devolve upon Congress to make
the necessary provision for the publication of the re-
suits in such form as shall be deemed best. The ap-
portonment of representation, the basis ofthe new
census, has been made by the Secretary the Interior
in conformity with the provisions of law relating
subject and the recent elections have been made
in accordance with it.
| commend to your favorable regard the suggestion
contained in the report of the Secretary of the Interi
or that provision be made by law for the publication
and distribution, periodically, of an analytical digest of
all the patents which have BEEN or NAV hereafter be-
granted for useful inventions and discoveries with
such descriptions and illustrations may be necessary
to present ineligible view of their nature and
operation. The cost of such publication could east
ly be betrayed out the patent fund, and per-
suaded that it could be applied to object
ceptble to inventors and beneficial to the public
large.
An appropriation of 100000 having been made at
the last session for the purchase of suitable site and
for tie erection furnishing and fitting up of and Asy
um br the Insane of the District of Columbia and of
the Army and Navy of the United States, the proper
measures have been adopted to carry this benecent
purpose into effect
By the latest advices from the Mexican Boundary
Commission it appears that the survey of the river
Gila from its confluence with the Colorado its sup
posed intersection with the western line of New Mex
leo, has been completed. The survey of the Rio
Grande has been finished from the point agreed OF by
the Commissioners ''the point where it strikes the
southern boundary of New Mexico to point one
hundred and thirty-fve miles below Eagle-Pass which
is about twothrds of the distance along the course of
the river to its mouth.
The appropriation which was made at the last ses-
sion of Congress for the continuation of the survey is
subject to the following proviso
"Pfouided That no part of this appropriation shall
be used expesded until it shall be made satisfactory
y to appear the President of the United States that
the southern boundary of New Mexico is not estab-
lshedby the commissioner and surveyor of the United
States farther north of the town called PaSo than the
same is laid down in Disturnells map, which is added
to the treaty."
My attention drawn to this subject by report
from the Department of the INTERIOR which reviewed
all the facts of the case and submitted for my decision
the question whether, under existing circumstances,
any part of the appropriation could be lawfully used
expended for the further prosecution of the work.
After a careful consideration of the subject, to
the conclusion that it could not and informed the
headof that Department. Orders were Immediately
issued by him to the commissioner and surveyor to
make no farther requisitions on the Department as
they could not be paid and to discontinue all opera
tons the southern line of New Mexico. But as
} the Department had exact information to the
amount of provisions and money which remained un-
expended in the hands Of the commissioner and survey
Or it was left discretionary with them to continue the
SURVEY down the Rio Grande as far as the means at
Their disposal would enable them, at to dis
t band the commission special messenger has since
arrived from the officer in charge of the survey the
river with information that the funds subject to his
control exhausted, and that the officers and 9TH
unemployed in the service destitute alike of the
means of prosecuting the work and of returning to
e their homes.
The object ofthe proviso doubtless to arrest the
survey of the southern aud western lines of New Mex
ice in regard to which different opinions have been
expressed for it hardly to be supposed that there
could be any objection to that part of the line which
h extends along the channel of the Rio Grande. But
the terms the law are SO broad to forbid the
of any part of the money for the prosecution of the
# work. or even for the payment, to the officers ant
agents, of the arrearages of pay which justly due
n to them.
earnestly invite your prompt attention to this sub
: ect, and recommend modification of the terms o.
f the proviso to enable the Department to
much of the appropriation as will be necessary to dis
o charge the existing obligations of the Government
and complete the survey of the Rio Grande to it
mouth
1t will also be proper to make further provision b.
law for the fulfment of treaty with Mexico TO
running and marking the residue of the boundary lint
n between the two countries
Permit me invite your particular attention to th
It interests of the District of Columbia, which con
r fded by the Constitution to your peculiar care.
Among the measures which seem to me of the great
est importance to its prosperity the introduction
of copious supply of water into the city of Washing
ton and the construction of suitable bridges acros
the Potomac to replace those which were destroys
by high water in the early part of the present year.