Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-23
may therefore be expected a, an early


the suggestions contained in the report Of
the Secretary Of the Interior. that provis
ion be made by law for the publication
and distribution, periodically, Of an Ana
iytical Digest of all the patents which
have been or may hereafter he granted ior
useful Inventions and discoveries; with
such descriptions and illustrations as
may be deemed necessary, To present an
intellIgible view Of their nature and op
erations. The cost of such publication
could easily be betrayed out of the pat
ent fund, and | am pursuaded that it
could be applied to no objec: more accep
table to inventors, or beneficial 10 the
public at large.
The report from the General Land Of
fee shows increased activity in its ope-
rations. The survey of the northern
boundary Of Iowa has been completed
with unexampied disp alcb. Within the
last year 9. 522,953 acres of Public Land
have been surveyed, aud S.032, 463 acres
brought into market. In the last fiscal
year there were sold $50 .07l acres and
sntred with Bounty Lend Warrants AGO.
l34. and located with other certificates
1858. making a total of ,S70.067.-
In addition there were reported under
swamp lands. land grants 5,2l9. 9.lSS--
For internal improvements, railroads.
&c. 3025.92O; making an aggregate of
l3, l5,l75, being an increase of the a.
mount Of lands sold and located under
land warrants of 5i9,220 acres over the
previous year. The whole amount thus
sold, located under land warrants. re.
ported under swamp lands, grants, aud
selected for Internal Improvements ex-
ceeds that Of the previous year by 81
342,372 acres, and the sales would with
oul doubt have been much larger but for
the extensive reservation for railroads in
Missouri. Mississippi and Alabama -.
For the quarter ending 30.h September,
1852, there were sold 242.255 acres; To-
Gated with other certificates. l5,6f9; re-
ported under swamp land grants, l.iS5..
233; making an aggregate for the quarter
of 4.i3I.253.
Much The largest portion of the labor
of arranging and classify ing the last cen
sus has been finished, aud il will now
devolve upon Congress to make necessa-
ry provisions for publication OF the re-
sult in such form as shall be deemed
best .
The appointment of representation, on
the basis of the sensus, has been made
by the Secretary of the Interior, in con-
formi,y with the provisions of the law
relating to the subject: aud the recent E..
lections have been made in accordance
with il.
An appropriation Of 100000 having
been made al the last cessIon for the pur-
chase of a suitable site and for the eroc-
ton. furnishing and fitting up an Assy-
lum for the Insane of the District of Co.
lumbia aud Of the Army and Navy Of the
U. States, The proper measures have
been adopted to carry ,his benifcent
purpose into effect
By the last adsices from Mexican
Boundary Commission, il appears tha.
the survey OF the river Gila. from its
confluence with the colorado to its
supposed intersection with the western
line of New Mexico, has been complet-
ed. The survey of The Rio Grande has
also been finished, from the point agreed
on by the Commissioners as the point
where il strikes the southern boundary
Of New Mexico To point l35 miles
below Eagle Pass, which is about two
thirds oi the distance along the Course
ot the river to its moath.
The appropriation which was made
a, the last session OF Congress for The
continuance Of the survey, is subject to
the following proyiso: Provided that
no part OF this appropriation shall be us.
ed or expended until il shall he male
satisfactorily appear to the Presiden,
OF the United States that the southern
boundary of New Mexico is no, eslab,
lished bv the Commissioned aud Survey.
or of the United States. farther north than
the town called Paso, as the same is laid
down in Disiurnales' map, which is ad
ded To the treaty"
Ny attention was drawn to the subiee
by report from the Department of tn
Interior, which reviews all the facts 1
the case, and submitted to my decision
the question whether under existing CIR
cumstances any part of the appropriate
could be lawfully used or expended 10
the further prosecution Of the work.
After careful consideration of the sub
ject ! came to the conclusion that it coul
not, and so informed the board Of the de
pariment. Orders were Immediately is
sued by him 10 the commissioner and sur
veyor to make no further lequisition o
the department, as they could not be pait
and to discontinue all operations on tn
southern line of New Mexico. But a
the department had no exact informalio
as to the amount of provisions and none
which remained unexpended in the hand
Of commissioner and surveyor, il wa
lief, discretionary until then to continue tn
survey down the Rio GraDde, so far a
the means at their disposal would enabl
them. or at once to disband the commits
sion. A special messenger has since al
rived in charge Of the survey on the riv
er, with information that the funds sui
ject to his control was exhausted, and ths
the officers and othars emnloyed in IN