The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-09

in any act that may be passed on the subject
The of discussing officers have been ehaeieu
with more than usual puneuaty during the past year
but vet not with the promputude which the depar
desires 10 enforce Many officers not having stan appoint
ents besides the performance OF their duties
in the active and arduous service OF the ronuef, are
charged with the disbursement Of public money ana Wh
the care of public property This besides the labor 1t IN
wolves subjects them loss which care can avoid
and which upon their pay To reimburse this loss
If not TO their labor concur with the Quar-
ermaster General in recommending that some addiuoha
pay be allowed .M~
cannot too strongly urge the necessity OF etectnai
measures being taken for the prompt settlement OF ae-
of disbursng officers at the treasury The delay 70
which they are now subjected exers most injurious CT
feet by destroying the sautary impression OF watchiu
superintendent of public expenditures parayzes he 81
forts Of this department to enforce promptness IN
ing by keeping in ignorance OF the true state OF omces
accounts and exposes them To loss by ihng 10 give he
notice of errors defects of evidence until the accues
and mutations incident to army life have hef
ability TO reciy the or supply the DINER ohe cause
of the delay been the distribution OF military accounts
between two auditors both of whom in some cases have
to settle different parts OF the same account and even
derent items the voucher 1t Is hoped
this announcement and useless arrangement will be abolish
ed and all the military accounts committed TO single a
ditor IL is scarcely to be expected, however, thai this
measure alone will evil which has resisted the
earnest efforts of this department for long series OF years
1t is however the remedy suggested by our pesen, know
edge of the and further investigation shall deVel-
op other of the delays complained or II VIII also
indicate the additional necessary to complete the
reform
The arrangement made by the Treasury Department by
which discussing officers enabled to keep funds on de-
pose with the assistant easurers OF the United States
proves of great advantage to the service and prom
ises when perfectly understood and carried into iu
effect obviae most Of the Inconvenience heretofore ex
perenced in transmitting funds and making disbursements
parts of the country 1t preserves the control OF
the department the public moneys till the moment OF
their expenditure and enables it, in the event OF the death
of an officer to reclaim its funds without waiting for the
appointment of administrator the settlement OF his
accounts 1t also removes, in great measure those temp
tations which the possession Of large OF money in
times of active speculative excitement cannot ai TO pre-
sent
have again to invite attention to the necessity of some
general provision for the prosecution of suits involving IL
lands and other public interests committed to the
charge of this department. and for the settlement of
counsel fees costs and other expenses incurred
in maintaining the rights Of the United States in such
cases. In the absence of any provision OF law on the
subject this department has been subject to exorbiant
charges and has experienced much embarrassment in the
conduct OF suits.
In pursuance of the views stated in my last annual
report in reference river and harbo improvements the
department has adhered in the directions it has given, to
the design of making them complete possible, with
any operation being undertaken which would be de-
pendent for its completion upon future appropriations
Some works have been completed in conformity with these
views but by reference the reports Of the colonies OF the
two corps of engineers it will be that large major
y unfinished and that in many the balances OF
appropriations applicable thereto not sufficient to effect
results of much value As appropriations were made
the last session of Congress have deemed it unncces
sary to present further estimates at this time.
To the general remarks upon this subject in my last an
nua report have only to add that experience confirms
the opinion that benefit at all commensurate with the
expense has been obtained is to be expected from appro-
paton granted and applied in the mode heretofore pur
sued Much of the expenditure has been utterly lost for
of further appropriations complete what has been
commenced, and works completed have fallen into ruins
for of appropriations preserve them from dapda
ton by the violence of storms the of currents and
the progress OF natural decay rock or snag removed
from navgable channel is benefit gained forever but
artificial protect harbors change the
increase the velocity of currents must undergo detero
ration which, however small will be constant and what
policy may be hereafter adopted in regard to such
works. it will be imperfect unless embrace not only their
completion upon the plans selected but their preservation
from the operation Of the natural agencies which tend to
destroy then well as from injury or occupation 10y tres
passers No will be adequate for these objects
less accompanied by cession of exclusive jurisdiction
the site at least ownership OF the soil Questions
have already arisen which to indicate the difficulties
which must inevitably from the want of jurisdiction
title whenever the powers necessarily exercised in
the prosecution of these works shall conflict with
| the rights or interests Of individuals.
The survey of the northern and northwestern lakes has
made steady progress and the documents accompany
the report Of the Colonel of Typographical Engineers show
unusual progress in this work accomplished during the
past season.
The roads in course of construction the Territory
Minnesota have been prosecuted with the at the dis
p0sa of the department. and document in the report
from the Typographical bureau will show the system pur
sued and the progress made in their construction With
regard to those in Oregon Utah and New Mexico special
instructions have been given from this department. of
which copies appended designed in each to
in the first place practical wagon-road between the
Of the appropriation would allow. The roads in New
Mexico from Taos TO Santa Fee and from Santa Fe to Dona
Ana authorized by the act of July IL 1854 have not
been commenced The location of these at least of the
latter will depend in great measure upon the
which may attend the efforts to obtain water along the
route by wells for which the act makes provision. The
cheapest method of obtaining it WILL is believed be by
boring for which purpose implements could not be obtain
ed in that country Measures have been taken to
the necessary tools and apparatus in connection with the
examination md trials be made for the supply OF water
by Aresinn wells the routes for the Pacific railroad
When these have been completed the apparatus can
be economically used for the wells the military roads
Since the date of my report of February G. 1854 comnu
ncatng Congress copies of all reports then received
from the engineers and other persons employed in exora
tons and to ascertain the most practicable and
economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi river
to the Pacific the six parties engaged in those
veys have completed their field duties reports from four Of
them have been received and printed under resolution of
the House Of Representatives passed at the last session
the two remaining reports is expected will be ready for
the printer in the course of next month No provision
made by the resolution above cited for engraving the
maps without them the reports comparatively
less.
In making surveys of this character the maps and
ports being hastily prepared in the field and generally at
night after day of fatgung duty require careful revision
in the Office and considered merely preliminary
TO the elaborate results which finally take their place
Hence it has been found to return OF the
reports for revision and in replo the work
and make maps.
w hen all the reports and maps received they will
be laid before Congress- with general report and map
exhibiting all the routes and such proes and other draw
ings viii be necessary to illustrate the subject
An appropriation having been made at the last session.
for continuing these surveys party has been organized to
make further explorations between the pans Of Los Ange
los and the waters Of the bay Of San Francisco deter
mine whether there be practicable route for railroad