Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-14

the Democratic platform was the rule of action OF that
opposition to Gen. Scott and advocated the election
Gen. Pierce.
Mr.. MOORE, of Pennsylvania, spoke of the necessity
OF reform in present lighthouse SYSTEM declaring
that our lighthouse establishment would not compare,
either in point of utility efficiency economy with the
lighthouse establishments OF Europe generally, and espe-
cally with those of France and England.
Mr.. FAULKNER moved TO amend the bill by inserting
therein proviso TO abolish the present military supern
endents OF national armores and restore the civil
intendents which existed prior to 1912.
The Chairman ruled the amendment out of order.
Mr. HOUSTON, under instructions from the Committee
OF ways ana Means, moved to add to the bill section
enactng that much of the making appropriations
for the support of the army for the year ending the Both
june 1901 as provides pay the commissioned off,
GERS and soldiers of the United States serving in Oregon
ana California be and the same is hereby continued in
force for one year from the first day of March, 1852
After debate, on motion of Mr. WEIGHTMAN, the
forces serving In New Mexico included in the pro-
visions OF this section.
On motion of Mr. HAVEN, proviso was added to the
section that said officers and men shall receive only
half OF the increased amount the regular pay allowed
them by law.
Mr.. BSSELL moved to add to the bill an item appro-
prang $40 900 for the purpose testing the practica
bly OF employing cames the plains substitute in
part for horses.
Mr. b. said that the subject of introducing the camel
on the western plains had engrossed the attention of
thinking men-those connected with the administration
Of the Government well othersfor many years. and
for the last one two years the Department of War itself
had gwen special attention to the matter The Secretary
OF war had informed him that he had made thorough
an investigation into the probable of the enter
prise his means enabled him. and he had arrived at the
conclusion that camels might with great proprety and
benefit be introduced into the public service and used
upon the extensive plains Of the West This appropria
ton was now asked to enable the Secretary of War
make the experiment. The Committee Military Affairs
had reflected upon this subject and recommended the
adoption of the amendment he had submitted.
Mr.. EVANS remarked that, in addition to what had
been said by the gentleman from Illinois, he would
that this matter proposed by the Hon. Jefferson Davis
year or two ago. He Mr.. E.. thought that this amend
in the broad arid plains in Western Texas, New Mexico
and elsewhere found to be impossible pursue
hostile Indians.
If these camels should be introduced into the service
our troops could with greater facility overake the In
dians because these animals speed than
horses, and could endure thirst much longer The Sec
rotary of War; from investigation of the subject
satisfied that he could introduce and breed cames the
Western plains and also obtain persons to take of
them. The amount proposed to be appropriated
small and if the amendment should be passed. it might
and probably would prove the enterprise be
full one 1t was indispensaby necessary to have
animal to use on the Western plains which could endure
thirst.
Mr. HOUSTON confessed that he knew less about this
amendment than any that could be offered for he had
examined the subject at all.
Mr. GORMAN said that he had an objection to the
amendment that in his opinion insuperable The
gument in favor of using these cames the plains
the want of water Now it universally known that
the plains in Mexcoust such plains as had to be
traversed to reach Western bordersthe Government
of Mexico had adopted plan which had been found
be not only salvation to their people, but salvation al
to their army for Santa Anna would have been able
to have returned from Buena Vista San Luis Potosi
without the tanks of which the Mexican Government
had provided along the road These tanks filled from
the mountains by means of spouts and they
ranged along the roads to be constantly supplied with
water.
Mr.. BISSELL In reference to these tanks have seen
them dry powder-fask.
Mr.-GORMAN. Well, if they were dry, where is the
water to be had if this not the convenient mode
of bringing water these arid plains The dry
lasts six months and the rainy the length
Of time and the engineers of the Mexican Government
have found this to be the only way of supplying the plains
with water He had these tanks dry and stagnant,
but had been compelled to drink out of them notwh
standing, and so had the gentleman from Illinois, MR.
BIssELL)
Mr. VENABLE said that he had had his attention called
TO this subject during the last year. and he satisfied
that there experiment in which the War Depart
ment could engage which likely TO be profitable
and which would the Government expense The
history of the East presented the fact that whatever i'm
provements had taken place in the modes of ransporta
ton and travel throughout the world the camel still
the ship Of the desert He had any PROPOSE
ton which favoraby recommended itself the
deraton of the House If the experiment should fail the
should prove successful it would great expense
the Government
Mr.. McC0RKLE considered the idea Of introducing the
camel novel, if rot ridiculous The time had been when
the routes to California UNEMPLOYED; but on the
northern route there occasion for being out of
water single hour. The southern route however,
without water and for thirty forty and sixty miles there
was sandy desert but when the emigrant informed
of this he took the other route.
Mr.. BISSELL inquired il there was not q stretch of
some sixty or seventy miles without water?
Mr.. McC0RKLE understood to reply in the AFR
native.
Mr.. BISSELL said that he advocated the employment
of cames independent of the fact of there being water
1t was well worthy the experiment to whether the
camel could not be successfully made Of the plains
and its species propagated.
The amendment was then agreed to.
Other amendments offered to the BILL but none of
them agreed to- except two three changing the
amounts appropriated for certain objects upon the
mendation of the Committee of Ways and Means.
On motion Of Mr.. HOUSTON, the committee then rose
and reported the bill to the House
The amendments made in committee then concur
red in, with the exception Of the making appropr
alton Of $50 900 for the purpose Of testing the practical
bily Of employing cames the plains before taking
the question on which
The House adjourned.