The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-11

| have been arrived at. Ihe ingenuity ind IN
vention displayed upon the subjett are trul,
surprising, and it is riskingj little to say that
the arm has been nearly, If not crtiieiy, per
fected by several of these plans. These arm
commend themselves very strongly for thei
great range and accuracy of fire at long dis
tanees; fJE the rapidity with which they car
be fired; and their exemption from in ury b.
exposure to loug continued rains. With tbs
best breechfoading Al NJ, one skifful man wculc
be equal TO two, probably three, armed with
the ordinary niuzz!e loading gun. True policy
requires that steps shouii be taken TO intro
,luce these arms gradually into o,:r service
and to this end preparations one hit TO be mat!.
Tor their manufacture in the public arsenals.
The pr9pr ETY. of further provision to secuss
our searorts, particularly New York, in the
event of foreign invasion, is alluded to, and
the plan Of Lieut. Norton commended.
The remainder of the report we publish iu
full, as follows: .-.- .r-
PAYMENT OF VOLUNTEERS.
There are large claims before the Govern
ment for pay alleged to be due TO volunteer
troops called out at various times and different
places for the suppression of Indian hostilitics
1t is due alike to the claimants aud to the
Cove; ;nmeilt that these claims should be set
tied. by payment when they are just. and a
final rejection wuen they not. The acsi III
Of Congress is necessary before such an a6-
justment can take place.
EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS.
4 report is presented from the officer in
charge of the Office of expo ations and surveys,
exhibiting the operations that have been COS
Quoted under this office during the past year.
The military road from Fort Wail,-W to
Fort Benton, for which special appropriation
was made. has been conlmoaced, and nearly
two hundred and sixty miles o. ii completed.
Steamboats, can navigate the Oregon river to
Fort W;ilia Waila, and the Missouri river to
Fort Benton, thus affordng. excepting for the
distance of six hundred miles. a line o.! steam
boat conlmun caton between the Atlantic and
Pacific, across the widest PARTON OF pos
sessions Without considering the facilities
which the construction nf Il Rad over the il,-
tcrval* referred to affnrd TO en,igran,s
trsv' rising that po ti''n the continent, in
military po mt "f view it is of Very great I'M
portancr. Among the most powerful of cur
Indian iribcS are those which iHhatit tie re-
gions 1T ellie end OF the pro!cs Il i'ne. To
keen these Indians in subjection, TO have the
means OF ans,o'ting troa,,s and material RAJ
idly and at small cost + OH one section to the
other. and to build up communities the up
per waters of G Oregon and Missouri. strong
on n dis: cnse wi military protet ton, and
t firnis. replies to Il cnuinn marching over,
are objects that render the work ii measure OF
sound economy. If not Of necessity itself. 4
further appropriation for its complexion is now
necessary Reliable information has been re-
gently furnished 10 the department of the ex-
;s'ence of great mineral wealth in the moan-
tain through which a portion OF the road pass
The texperimeHt of sinking artesian wells
urun the public lands has been further prose
81.
results. and theapproI ration fertile object hav-
my become exhausted twas directed that the
work should be suspended. ] he details of the
expcyiuents are set forth in the accompanying
reports II may he considered now demons
;frated that ta bring water from snhterraucan
streams TO overflow the SUI faces of the great
y Hcste.n plaus is. fer any asunable amount of
impract;cahle
An expedition was organized during the
asst season tn explnre tila c"untry in tic Vi
;;nity OF tie San Juan river OF New Mexico,
md to search for practicable route through
hat regicn, between Santa Fs aud the south
,rn settlements of Urah This duty has been
l.ut the results have not yet bees
aid before the department.
second expedition was sent into the Ter
itory Of Nebraska to explore certain tributa-
les Of the Yellow Stone, the sources of that
liver. and of the Missouri. A portion of its
abors has been accomplished, and the opra-
ions will be resumed in the ensuing spring.
4 large amount of geographical and scicn-
iic information has been added. at small cost,
trough the abors of the different field par
les, to our knowledge Of the resources of the
egions west of the Mississippi. Considerable
racts of country yetfeniain unknown and the
of continuing these explorations is
yident. when it is considered that they oIcn
he country travel; shorten and afford newin- |
OrBation concerning elni"rant routes and des-
guate those portions of the wild territory that
re susceptible of settlement. Very great ben |
fits to the whole country would be derived. !
eyoud all doubt by furnishing from the Office
# explorations and surveys moderate sup /
,ly of geological maps of the United States |
nj Territor; ;es. An opportunity now presents /
tself by which the preparation of a complete 1
map by some of the a5lest men of
cience in America can be secured at very
rate of compensation No similar
expenditure weuid result in anything Ike an
quail benefit to-the country at large.
Experience has demonstrated that, to insure !
b, III ,st effective and economical performance
f the duties connected with reconnoisances,
uryeys, and explorations, a company of en- .
sted men. of similar organ zati.n to that of /
he saprcrs and miners. should be added to The !
ir,As of tonngrai hcal engineers. These II ell !
v..I'd he under the command and instruction
f the fierrs of ! at corps. aud would furnish
D parties i'll the fell. with Il great saving Of
ulc money, thnrou ah]y trained assistants in |
lace IF inexperienced employees. | would .
that such company. not to exceed !
fly in number. should be established by law.
l would res pectfpliy invite your attention to
he report or Lieutenant Michler, who, under
ssignment of the W.r Department, was en-
aged upon the survey of an inter mic ship
anal near the isthmus of narien. via heat
lto and Truando rivers Since his return
rom the scene Of his fell oyer4tions, consid-
rable progress had been made in the reduc-Al
on of observations and preraring the maps.
ntl the want OF mems compelled him to sus-
end progress aud Discharge the computers
nd draus htsmer. 7 he wal liable information
rocured by lieutenant Nichler should not be
1T in its V. finished condition in the archives
+ the bureau. prevent which small ap-
l.. Il \ -