The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-07
Our Washington Correspondence.

WhsHINGToS, Aug. }, 1856.
The Guano Bin-Necessity of Protection TO Amer
can Discorerers-M Measures Tsken BY oth.T Ma
tons to Secure Ample Supplies af this Lavatactie
Mahure-Beacfts Likely 10 Result from The
Bill, &C., &c.
The Guano bill which passed the Senate some
days ago. and which is before the House, is one
of great value to the agricultural interests Of this
country. The facts which we're stated in my last
letter would seem 70 shox that the consumers OF
guano cannot well olsect to the terms OF the bill
But should there be any such objection. the remedy
is in the hands Of Congress- that body will at all
lines have the power 10 modify and repeal the law
Without some liberal incentive American nayiga
tors viii scarcely think IL worth while 10 20 out OF
their way in pursuing their voyages in the Pacific in
search Of guano deposits, or il any such should be
found, to hazard the requisite expenditure OF time
and money TO secure the title by occupation.
The public benefits which the industry Of the
country will derive from these discoveries are main
ly the following:-
]. The vast advantage TO agriculture in furnishing
full supplies CT guano al greatly reduced prices and
OF s,rreerior quality.
2. Increased employment and liberal remluert
lion for labor.
Q. Steady employment fJr al the surplus CONNER
cial marine Of the country. Returning cargoes at
profitable rates Of freight viii at all seasons await
ships making the home voyage from tho Pacific.
The necessity Of some literal protection 20 stlnu
late enterprises OF this nature must be apparent from
glance az the outfit which i necessary to sustain
an expedition and 10 establish the permanent legal
occupation Of the Territory acquired in the manner
proposed.
4 ship Of proper tonnage to receive cargo, accom-.
panied by fast sailing schooner TO act as tender,
IL the trst charge, and involves the expenditure OF
some twenty-five o. thirty thousand dollars Tor the
first twelve months. Then follows the mouthly pay
Of hfiy TO one hundred men, at wages ranging from
twenty To thirty dollars per month. As this force i
70 lc stationed for length Of time a. distance OF
nearly two thousand miles from the continent. al
the necessaries Of life and the OF protection
ard retreat must be provided FOR them.
This recapituls.on Of essentials embraced in an
outfit for discovery and occupation, viii show hog
important are the details OF such enterprises and
how necessary il is that parties engaged should be
assured in advance that when success has been oh
tanned. the results will not he snstched away from
them for want OF government recognition aud pro
lection.
This government. alone has been supine 10 regard
to this important agricultural question: 10 all the
States OF the European continent the government
and PEOPLE arc alive 70 this subject. France, Ger
many, Spain. Belgium. Holland and Sardinia i'm
port largely Of this fertilizer and Ia search Of i
wherever il can be obtained. England. in addition
10 the advantages she enjoys from the monopoly Of
the Peruvian trade, has recently obtained from the
government of Muscat the cessi0n OF those islands
containing guano lying on the coast Of Arabia.
This, to some extent renders her farmers indepen-
dent Of Peru.
Under these circumstances il would seem 70 be
but an Z OF reasonable foresight for us 10 seek
some means OF supply free from the oneIous burdens
imposed on the trade by those who now hold control
Of the article.
II Is not creiitable % the intelligence, the indus
try or the enterprise Of the American people to re-
main dependent ON the libprality of a petty South
American republic for one OF the great necessities 81
the age. The proposed legislation will remove this
stigma from our national character and the legisla
ton OF the country.