Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-30
FOR THE NATIONAL 1srELLIGENcER.
/. cAMELs FOR THE ARMY

FOR THE NATIONAL IsTELLIGENcER.
.cAMELs FOR THE ARMY"
The Recommendation Of the Secretary of War to en-
ploy cames for the purposes Of army transportation
seems to meet with great favor from various quarters
The habits these animals being capable of subsstng
food than that required for horses and doing
longer without water are considered peculiarly adapted
to Western region, where large tracts must be ira
versed which afford water and with scanty heritage
The only doubt have heard suggested is whether their
feet would stand the various changes incident to our
climate and enable them to pass through mud ana over
dangerous streams Of water" Nationa Integencer Of
December 23d, 1884,
The doubt suggested in the last sentence Of the above
article is reasonable and is expressed evidently for the
purpose Of ascertainng whether not the objections
mentioned nsuperable and such to
the admitted advantages Of capaby to subsst scant
herbage and to do without water for several days.
In mud, particularly in going down muddy hills, the
camel travels with much less facility than on dry soil
yet its difficulty slipping account Of the formation Of
its hoo does not inconvenience the march Of caravan
more indeed much the character Of road
mpedes the progress Of wagon train The camel fords
streams as well the horse and evnces greater
stitutonal anpathy water than the horse said
by that it cannot SWIM On what authority this
statement is made have been unable to determine but
grant it to be true it will not impair its usefulness to
the in the interior Of continent either
fordable or readily passabe by artificial means.
In estimating the probable advantages of the camel to
u.s. let turn from Africa with which the popular mind
in this country almost entirely associates the ANIMAL to
ASIA its home, and let there examine its existence
and service We find that from time immemorial the
animal has been extensively used in Arabia Syria Asia
Miner to the foot Of the Caucasian chaN the south Of
Tarary and part Of India that is to say, between the
18th and the SD degrees Of north latitude and far
east the 120th degree of longitude from Greenwich
Culver states that they have been known to exist in the
neghborhood Of Lake Baika in Siberia, where during
winter they subssted the bark and tender branches of
the birch and other trees The general superficial cha
racter climate, and temperature Of this known oamel
and resembles very closely those Of large portion Of
the interior Of continent in which it thought the
camel may be servceable Both ribbed with noun
tain chains broken only by which open upon salt
deserts rocky sppes large portion Of the soil being
without vegetation, without water, a1d uninhabtable.
Both are ntersected by rapid streams and broken by
ravines worn by mountain torrents. The dromedary
says Coombar steady well patient and capable
of performing long and tosome journeys, is especially
of indsputabe service in this vast country, PERSIA
where the villages at long distances from each
other and where, in the country between them, are
neither roads practicable for carriages bridges to
scross the deep ravines by torrents the noun
tain ranges being only broken by passes which open
upon deserts covered with crystalized SALT &C. &C.
Both regions lie within the Of climate, the
warm and the mild" the temperatures of which
respectively $50 and 50 and in parts Of both are
found heat in the day. succeeded by chilly cool
ness at night.
With regard to the tenderness of the cames foot we
informed upon the authority of Buckhardt McFar
lane, Abbott and Others that is opinion
to suppose it tender that the underpar Of the foot
covered with extremely tough and piable skin, which,
yielding in oil directions enables the animal to travel
either sandy stony regions NcFarlane says that
the camel does not suffer inconvenience from travelling
rocky tracts covered with debrs that although he
met hundreds day, lin Asia Minor,) he never saw
wounded hoof
With respect to temperature it must be borne in mind
that immense traverse the mountains Of Media
in the coolest winters, the thermometers sometimes
ranging below zero; the animals sleeping at night upon
the snow with the only protection Of carpet thrown
the head and sustaining without injury the extreme
transitions Of temperature from valleys to ice
covered peaks.
The more the Recommendation Of the War Department
is examined the positively will its merits be ap-
preciated 1t is too, strictly national It was first in
oduced by the present Secretary of War when chairman
Of the Senate Military Committee, and was approved by
Mr.. CONRAD when at the head Of the War Office, who
also presented to the consideration Of Congress W.
A n y H.. Coln h,ea