The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-02-24

tion, briefly referred to by telegraph a few
days ago:
An appropriation OF S45, 900 having been
made for the purpose, the secretary Of war
has appointed Capt. J, Pope, of the U. S.
topogra phical corps, with detachment of
$50 U. S. troops. to proceed on the mission
of furthering the great project of construct
ing a railroad to the Pacific. DR.. Shumard,
formerly surgeon and geologist TO Capt. Mar
cy's expedition, will also accompany this
one in the same capacity.
The immediate destination Of the exped-
tion is the region of the Pecus, and its OBJ
iect that of ascertaining whe ether water can
be obtained on the Llanos de Estacado, by
means of artesian wells Heretofore no wa
ter has been discovered on those vast plains
through which the Pacific railroad would
have TO pass, on the southern route, and
which, if supply of water cannot BY some
means be obtained on them, must present a
scarcely surmountable obstacle to the under
taking.
Capt. Pope and DR.. Shumard sailed from
N. Orleans on Wednesday last for Texas,
and will be joined by the detachment of
troops at either Indianola or San Antonio,
and at once proceed 20 the plains. 1t is
supposed it will require about eight months
to accomplish the object in view.
THE TRADE WITH AFRIcA-Evrry year is
placing the profitable trade with western
Africa further from our reach. England is
rapidly gaining it from us. The following
facts, which have been communicated to the
Philadelphia North American, arc a striking
illustration of this truth
Four English steam propellers now keep
up regular and profitable monthly com
munication between Plymouth and the civ
ilzed settlements of western Africa. The
result is an increased and valuable commerce.
Among the shipments in the steamer Can
dace, which lately conveyed President Rob.
erts, of Liberia, to England, there were,
am credibly informed, 5000 ounces Of gold.
The market value Of this item alone is equal
TO Ssl4O, 900
1t is to be regretted that there is not sta
ted and active intercourse between the Uni.
ted States and the western coast Of Africa.
There should be line of steamers on that
route at once, equal to that from England.
In commercial point Of view, such an
enterprise holds out great advantages The
British traffic with that coast has increased
most rapidly. The staple article shipped is
palm oil, of which the quantity entered q
4.7O0 tons in 1927, to about 900 tons in
1854. In 1850 the import was say 30, 900
tons, showing great increase in so short q
period. The gain in price of this commod-
! ity is in nearly the same ratio, for it has Ia
ken the place Of the talow supplied by Rus
sa when peace prevailed, while large guam
titles of it are required and used in the Uni
ted States.
Ground nuts for the manufacture Of oil
are an exceedingly important article of ex-
port, for the French and English people are
getting more into the use of the oil. The
French employ it as salad oil, also for
burning and for lubricating machinery. Cam
wood, (for dyes) ivory and arrow-root, are
the principal other articles brought from
Africa. Sugar can be made in any quantity,
and the best cotton and coffee grow indigo
nously. Each Of these can be supplied in
unlimited quantities bv the application of
capital and labor. The augmentation OF
these valuable products depends mainly on
the increase Of intercourse, and the trade
exists under such peculiar circumstances that
steam alone will develop it TO its greatest
dimensions"
An authorized geological and mneralolo-
glcal survey is to be made Of Iowa, TO dis
cover the beds of iron ore, coal and lead,
supposed to underie portions of that state.
Brigham Young is building two large and
! beautiful houses adjoining that which he oc-