The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-28

IT. ia Editor ef Ae Union

ted States and Mexican boundary commission charged
4 with retaining materials which according 10 custom,
should have been made the property Of the
II Is also stated that there Is not amongst the collection
of materials single contribution from in astronomy
surveying geology, botany, zoology any other de-
partent which aids in the construction Of maps
qured by the treaty goes illustrate the PHI steal gee
4 ography Of the country
As you state that these charges against from
the best authority you win not trust refuse TO insert
my defence in your columns 10 show that your informant
/ has entirely misrepresented the to you.
My instructions commissioner dated in August 1885,
required avail myself Of every opportunity
quire information the geography, natural history &c
Of the countries visited Attached to the commission
chief astronomer and head Of the typographical scer
tihc corps whose duty fix ali astronomical
points and 10 all astronomical lines With this officer
and myself there misunderstanding his duties
The question referred the Secretary Of the Interior
sustained and after the office of chief
mer abolished. The Secretary in sending in
strucons me- defined the duties of the chief surveyor
and myself that misunderstanding could again arise
According them the have charge of all
the surveys, while all the scientific departments
connected with the Of the boundary line placed
under my immediate direction instructed the officers
accordingly, that to alone all reports be made
Of investigations in natural history and uah all eolec-
! lions be deposited"
On my return to Washington in February 1859 know
ing that large collections had been made by Off
under the above orders inquired for them and
my establishment, learned that Of the subordinates
who had had the direction Of certain surveys had taken
possession Of these collections and without my knowledge
or consent had sent them to New York Boston, and else
where for examination and description Furthermore
these claimed them their own; and they even
talked of making reports them the injury of the gov
ernmen and the Jealous collectors and real laborer
alone held responsible for all these collections address
ed letter to the Hon. Alex Stuart Secretary the
terror complaining the appropriation by Off
GERS of the property and requested his aid get
ting it restored stated to him that in order preserve
unity in these several collections prepare report that
viii mbody the whole and to award that share of credit
to each collector that equitably belongs him. abso
utey necessary that they should all be placed my
control '-for the of the government The
Secretary by letter gnied his entire agreement with
views whereupon issued the following order:
UNITED STATES AND MEXICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION
Washington, February % 1853.
SIR The Secretary of the Interior directs "tha all Off
and individuals attached the Mexican boundary
commission who have been employed in making collec
tons in departments Of science directly with
the surveys be required make their respective reports
me commissioner and that all such officers and ndi
vduals as have in their possession such collections be
required deliver the me- to hold them sub
ject TO my order commissioner
In accordance with above request you report to
once in detail the and of the colec
tons by you made adding such facts and furnishing such
pubshedmy wish and intention being that every gem
tenan shall have full credit for his discoveries and lsbors
You will also reception of this take the necessary
ures 10 deliver or cause to be delivered TO commits
sione all the collections above referred that you made
whilst on the Mexican boundary service
JOHN r. BARTLETT, Commissioner.
days afler ia, when
received the following note:
DEPARTMENT OF THE isrERog
Washington March H. 1853.
SIR have inform you that the instructions from this
department of the 23d uo respecting the reports and
collections in departments of science made by officers at
aehed TO the Mexican boundary survey are suspended for
the present aud request that VIII revoke orders
which You may have given pursuant thereto.
R MccLELLAND, Secretary.
/ JoHS r. BAsTiETT, esq,
United States and Mexican Boundary Commissioner /,
countermanded my order directed thereby leaving
all the valuable scientific collections in whosoever hands
they happened be few days after twas superseded
commissioner, when all my control these colec
tons ceased regretted exceedingly that my efforts 10
place the entire collections made in natural history in the
hands Of the had thus been frustrated This
is the why the Union states Athcre is sim
gle contribution in geology, botany zoology from
individually although there is vast deal collected under
my orders The botanical collection made by Mr. George
Thurber who accompanied in all my journeys Is BY
far the largest made by any individual with the min
erals and collected by the secretary Of the commission
DR. Webb in journeys along the eia In New MeSico
Sonora and Chihuahua. These unquestonably the
valuable Of all the scientific collections of the
mission yet they remain in the hands of the collectors
uncalled for by the government forbidden to
oeye them while commissioner, and now they beyond
my control
You state that have furnished "A single contribu
ton in astronomy surveying On the contrary the
the department show that all the surveys msp
astronomical magnetic and meteorological observations
except those connected with the Rio Grade (which
came my hands) placed by me after returned
Washington in the hands Of Major Emory the chief
surveyor his application TO therefor These docu
prepared under my direction and embraced
elaborate plating Of the survey Of the ella made by Lieut.
Whipple correcting the many which previous
/ plorers Of that river had made
Now, TO the publication OF my book and the
ton that : If worth anything, according custom il
should have been made the property Of the
| During my connexon with the commission, KEEP,
private diary, from which with the aid Of the Official
journal, intended TO draw mp detailed report The
rough made the march required writing out
punging mary rning matters quite personal and enlarg
ing Others But this required time accordingly asked
the Senate through resolution offered by General Hons
ton authority prepare my report Of the explorations
and surveys made while the commission under my
charge the Secretary Of the Interior be printed under
his direction But the honorable Senate would
to my request and laid the resolution the table This
forced me 10 apply publishing house in New York,
which advanced the necessary publish IT No pub
lie officer has before met with the that have
4