The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-11

pafmeni have attempted 10 present hen nor have
deemed II proper, IN this communcaiiop 10 offer ny
Views as 10 The means or The mode by which he
government may consluuonaiy aid in The attainment Of
the contemplated object
The absence Of navgable streams 10 large portion OF
our recently acquired territory and The existence OF the
vast ard and mountain described in another pau
OF this report have entaed upon The government very
heavy charge Tor the transportation OF supplies and Tor
he service OF troops stationed along our new ronuer
and operating against the predatory and nomadic lndians
Of those regions The Co.'S OF transportation wilhn tha
country LOT purposes connected With military defence
amounted, m the year ending june 1883 10 43l 77o o.
The modes OF transportation now used-wsgons drawn
by bores mules or oxenbesldes being very expensive
are necessarily ccuous IN the routes travelled SLOW
aud generally 20 unsatisfactory as TO prompt inquiry Iof
meaEs which may be attended with bette. results 10
any extended these wagon trains must depend
erage than twelve miles per day. IL often hsppens
in avesng The country just referred TO, That long spaces
are in which there neither grass wafer
aud here the consequence must be pryalion and
great destruction OF The animals employed, ii the fall
ue OF the objects oil The expedition These sconvenences
are felt in all movements between the distant posts OF
thai section and seriously obsnct, sometimes actually
defeat the pursuit OF the mounted lndrns OF the plain
who, by their intimate knowledge of the places where
The small supplies OF water and grass are TO be iound
enabled 10 lily across the most arid region afe having
committed depredatons our frontier population, or
upon the trains oil merchants and emigIants.
Beyond the difficulties here contemplated in come xon
with transportation 10 the INTERIOR it is proper 10 look 10
those which would arise in the transportation OF supplies
for The defence OF Pacific coast in the contingency oil
war with maritime power Our experience has been
confined to state OF peace, and 10 the OF routes OF
communication which pass beyond the limits OF ter
rores. Reasoning from the difficulties which have been
encountered in supplying points where was necessary
only to Traverse p0t OF the space which lies between
the Pacific coast and the points of supply it may be
claimed conclusion that it would not be practicable,
with the means now possessed to send across The connen.
the troops munitions, and provisions which would be
CURED for the defence Of the Pacific coast railroad.
such has been contemplated 10 connect, by the most
eligible route the ssipp river with the Pacific ocean,
huf tial
ranspor, troops and to supply depols along The route
and at the extremity Of the lines but there would still be
vast region OF the interior too remote from ,s depos
materially TO iee lis effect
On the older continents regions reaching from the
rid TO The frozen zones embracing arid plains and pec-
lous mountains covered with snow, cameis used with
The best results They The OF transportation and
communication in the immense commercial intercourse
with Central Asia From The mountains oil Crcassa the
plans OF India, they have been used Tor various military
purposeeto transmit dispatches, transport supplies, to
draw ordnance, and substitute fur dragoon horses.
Napoleon, when in Egypt, used with marked success
the domedary. feet variety OF the same animal in sub
DUNG the Arabs whose habits and country were very
similar to those OF the mounted Indians OF western
plains. learn, from what is believed TO be reliable
lhory that France is about again 10 adopt the drome
Diary in Algeria for similar service to that in which
they were SO successfully used 10 Egypt.
For like military purposes os sapIesss and TOR re-
ply want now seriously felt in service; and tor
transportation with troops rapidly moving across the
country, the camel, it is believed, would remove OBJ
and efficiency OF troops on the western frontier
For these considerations, II is respectfully submitted
that the necessary provision be made tor the introduction
OF sufficient number OF both varieties OF this ANIMAL to
test its value and adaptation to our country and our ser
vice.
In connection with the means 10 be adopted 10 over.
existing difficulties in the transportation OF troops
and army supplies, further invite your attention The
condition OF Fort Yuma, al the junction OF the ella an.
Colorado rivers. IL Is now supplied from San DIEGO by
the overland route, a. enormous expense. Attempts
have been made 10 send supplies through the Gulf OF
California and the Colorado rver; but the latter BY
oil the shoals al its mouth, not being practicable for
sea-gong vessels whia considerable distance OF our
southern boundary il becomes necessary, point
within the limits OF Mexico, TO iranshp hdraug ht
boats TO haul the stores the Mexican territory
The importance of possessing port this purpose
too apparent under existing circumstances to require
justify explanation.
The works oil haTbor and Improvement have made
satisfactory progress during the past under the d
recion OF the chiefs oil the two corps OF engineers 10
whose reports herewith submitted refer for particular
information with regard to the several works. These
ports have been made IN more than usual detail IN or
der TO embrace the information which the Senate, by a
resolution passed the 81 OF March las requested the de
partment TO transmit with the annual report.
The appropriations for these works having been made
in August 1882 the arrangements Tor executing large
majority OF them had been made before catered upon
the duties OF this department In determining upon the
few plans that have been submitted TO me- my has
been that such only should be adopted could be
cuied with the existing appropriations The general pro-
vision in regard 10 these works is a simple iii ecuon to
apply certain sum to specified object without any in
tmaon oil an intention on The part OF Congress to max
further appropriations and deemed il to be improper
expend those appropriations IN commencing works
scale which the department has not TO complete,
and which must IN good measure be lost, unless Goa
gress make further appropriations for them. These
views, however, were not held by the department when
Of the works authorized by the act OF August 1884,
planned but the mode, extent, and cost OF the
eral improvements seem TO have been considered as
matters of discretion, and the plans adopted for their
ecuon do not seem TO have been governed, in regard
TO costs. by amounts OF the appropriations but would
require, Tor their completion. large additional grants,
amounting some cases TO almost ten oid The original
appropriations In some cases, corporations aud assoea
tons OF c,zens have come forward with offers OF vol.
untaTy contributions in aid OF the appropriations made By
Congress tut as not deemed competent for this
department 10 receive money from such sources, either
by way OF loan or gut regulation was adopted under
which, States, ciies corporations, Individuals desiring
10 aid any work, are permitted 10 construct portions OF IL
under the direction oil The ocer in charge, who supern
tends their operations and audits the Tor work
done, Tor payment by the contributing parties but does
not receive the money or assume any control whatever
over IT, Such parties, moreover have been distinctly in
formed that they TO have claim whatever upon
the government for reimbursement OF the expenditure
thus made by them
In the prosecution oil these works oil internal improve
men, the department has encountered OF those diff
hcnlties which TO be expected from the indefinite
nature of its powers in regard TO them In
the rgb, OF the United States to pier erected Tor tbs
provenen ef harbo disputed by the riparian pro-
1 prie,ors The pier, which had originally abuited on
tension Tar into the lake, and these parties who
titled the accreton, claimed the pier aso attached
thereto. The United States having Possessed no u,e
TO the submerged SOIL or other jurisdiction Than that
claimed by the general government over nsvigabe
waters. the question involved the power TO preserve
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