Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-08

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gress in this work accomplished during the pas'
season.. ~ ~. 50 .sRr
The roads in course Of construction in the Ter
ritory Of Minnesota have been prosecuted with
the means al the disposal Of the department, and
document in the report from tho Topographica
Bureau will show the system pursued and me pro-
gress made in their construction. With regardt 70
those in Oregon, Utah, and New Mexico, special
Instructions have been given from thus depart
ment, Of which copies are appended, designed, IN
each case, TO secure, in the first place. practica-
BILE wagon road between the termini, with such
Improvements aferward as the balance Oh the ap'
preparation would allow. The roads IN New Mex
leo, from Taos 10 Santa Fe, and from Santa Re TO
Dona Aha. authorized by the act of July IL, 1854,
have not vet been commenced The location OF
these, or al least Of the latter, will depend in a
great measure, upon the success which may at
tend the efforts 10 obtain water along the route by
wells, for which the act makes provision. The
cheapest method ofobaning il will il ID believed,
be by boring for which purpose implements could
not be obtained in that country. Measures have
been takenfo procure the necessary tools and APP
paratus In connection with the examination and
trials 10 be made for the supply ofwater by Ar
tesian wells on the routes for the Pacific railroad.
When these have been completed, the same appa-
ratus can be economically used for the wells on
the military roads. slF Wa
Since the date Of my report of February 8, 1854,
communicating TO Congress copiesof all reports
then received from the Engineers and other per-
sons employed in explorations and isurveys TO as
certain the most practicable and economical route
for a railroad from the Mississippi river to the
Pacific Ocean, the six parties engaged in those
surveys have completed their field duties; reports
from four of them have been received and printed
under resolution Of the House Of Representa-
lives, passed at the last session. Thetwo remain
ing reports, il is expected, will be ready Tor the
printer in the course of next month. No provi-
sion was made, by the resolution above cited, for
engraving the maps-without them the reports
are comparatively useless. III ssifsg ~
In making surveys of this character, the maps
and reports being hastily prepared in the fed and
generally at night, after day Of fatguing duty,
require careful revision in the Office, and are con-
sidered as merely preliminary to the more elabo-
rate results which finally take their place. Hence
il has been found necessary TO return some Of the
reports for revision, and in some cases to replot
the work and make new maps. xxi
When all the reports and maps are received,
they will be laid before Congress, with general
report and map exhibiting all the routes and
such profes and other drawings as will be neccs-
sary 10 illustrate the subject. Ns
An appropriation having been made, at the last
session, for continuing these surveys, party has
been organized TO make further explorations be-
tween the plains of Los Angeles and the waters
Of the Bay of San Francisco, 10 determine whe-
Their there be practicable. route for a railroad
through the mountsin passes Of the Sierra Neva-
da and coast range which extend 10 the sea coast
at Point Conception. second party is making
preparations for testing the practicability OF pro-
curing water by means of Artesian wells, upon
the arid plains which occur in the several routes
The results OF the surveys already made will,
when assembled and compared, probably indicate
the direction in whichp further explorations shall
be made by parties organized to take the field next
spring, as early as the reason will permit
refer 10 the report of Captain Meig's Of the
corps Of engineers, the officer in charge of the
Capitol extension, for very satisfactory account
of The progress OF that work. The exterior fac
ing OF the wall has been retarded by the difficulty
OF obtaining, under the contract, a sufficient sup
ply of marble, but the brick work IS well ad-
vanced. The walls OF the Senate chamber and
Representatives hall are finished, and these
will be placed under roof during the present
winter. Il is expected they will be completed by
the meeting of the next Congress; but the delay
in the supply Of marble may so retard the COM
pletion of the outer walls, and the corridors de-
pending thereon, as 10 prevent their being occu-.
The STYLE Of the work, both in finish and
strength, has been Of higher standard than was
contemplated when the estimates were made, but
the administrative capacity and professional skill
Of the officer in charge, have so kept down the
expenditure that il is believed the cost will not
exceed the estimates made foran inferior building.
The notifications made in the interior plan of
the structure are now so tar compeied as TO be
seeu and easily understood, and feel additional
assurance as 10 the successful solution. of the.
difficult problems Of acoustics, optics, and venii-
lation, presented especially in the construction OF
the Hall of Representatives. ~. ~
Operations on the work designed 10 supply tins
CITY with water have been suspended for want Of
funds II is hoped that appropriations will no
longer be withheld from this important work.
have seen no reason 10 change the opinion that n
was judiciousy planned and located MY conf
dence is strengthened that Il will be completed nj
a cost within the estimate, and will secure the
object IN view with more certainty, and, taking
into view the permanence Of the work, It's capa-
city 10 supply future wants, and the absence OF
machinery entailing annual expense, more eco
nomically than any other mode that has been sug-
gested. ED ,m sa44tf13r M ts...H. 1904
By the civil and diplomatic appropriation act
approved August 4, 1854, this department was
authorized 10 purchase for 100000 the large fire
proof building at the corner Of and l7h streets,
which has long been occupied ~ common by bu-
reaus fine Treasury, Interior Navy and War De-
partments. The lease under which il was held
expired on The 30fh Of June, and the owner, who
had given the department due notice, refused 10
renew II for less rent than $4,000 per annum,
which Congress had refused 10 appropriate. A
thorough survey Of The building was made BY
competent engineers and builders, who estimated
It's value in It's actual condition Al Sl97 0f2--$f97
Q97--and $1o53f2, respectively, and afier some
negotisti the owner agreed TO accept the amount
of the appropriation In payment Tor the building
and in satisfaction of oil claims for damages, an
also Cor arrears OF rent accrued since the iermina
lion OF the lesse--nesrly three months, which
could not be paid, as the act was regarded AZ
making an appropriation either for purchase or
rent, but not for both. .sl1Jel3e tse4l.i y sfi
II is true the plan ofthe building was not con-
sidered AZ the best adapted for public officers,
but Congress had refused 10 allow the rent
demanded by the owner, and had thus lef the
department no alternative but 10 .pnrchsss or va
cafe Il. Between these conditions there was
scarcely a choice. Accommodations elsewhere
could not be procured, without. much diff
Guilty. and should have felt great reluc-
lance 20 place In insecure buildings the val
liable records stored there, some OF which,
IL destroyed by fire, could not be replace
mt cost less than the price Of the build
ing, while others could moi be replaced st all the
purchase was therefore concluded upon the terms
stated. | have submitted an estimate for repairs
and improvements sufficient 10 put the building
in proper condition. Much OF the repairs now
proposed would have been equally necessary had
the government VACATED the building, instead o.
purchasing, az The lease provided that the build
ing should be restored in good state Of repair:
The cost of the addiio2al improvements viii
hardly exceed the amount o. the rent that was
released in the contract Of purchase s4.el
IL is hardly necessary TO remark that Inc pur-
chase Of this building In, no degree obvistes the
necessity heretofore frequently presented, o. re-