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that of mining, within the distance of fifty leagues on either side of the line of

transit."

Finally, "In the name of the supreme government, and under the most solemn assurances, it is declared and promised that all and every one of the concessions mentioned shall be honourably fulfilled, now, and at all times, pledging the honour and public faith of the nation to maintain the projector, Don Jose Garay, as well as any private individual or company succeeding or representing him, either natives or foreigners, in the undisturbed enjoyment of all the concessions granted, holding the national administration responsible for any acts of its own or its agents, which, from want of proper fulfilment of this covenant, might injure the interests of the proprietor."

Under this grant, topographical, geological, and hydrographical surveys of the line of communication across the Isthmus have been made. They were made under the direction of Mr. Moro, an Italian engineer of high distinction, assisted by two other scientific gentlemen. "The entire line of country was carefully surveyed and mapped. The face of the land, its productions and capabilities, were examined with untiring perseverance," and a very full report was subsequently drawn up, which has been published, with accompanying maps, all of which are now in the possession of your petitioner.

"From these surveys it is established that the entire distance from sea to sea is 135 miles in a straight line, and presents a wide plain from the mouth of the Coatzacoalcos to the port of the Mesa de Tarifa, a table or elevated plain on the line of the Andes, which rises to the height of 650 feet above the level of the sea, and at the distance of five miles again descends to a plain which reaches the Pacific. The summit level to be overcome is only 650 feet. Thirty miles of the Coatzacoalcos are navigable for ships of the largest class, and fifteen miles beyond this for vessels of light draught, leaving only about one hundred and fifteen miles of rail-road to be made. It would occupy too much space to enumerate all the details of these surveys, and which go to show so strongly how easily a railroad can be constructed across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. It is sufficient to say that the absolute practicability has been clearly ascertained."

"The entire course

In other respects it affords great facilities for construction. of the Coatzacoalcos is bounded by forests, which can supply immense quantities of the proper kind of timber suitable for the construction of a rail-road, and all of which is, by the terms of the grant, the property of the company undertaking the construction of the road. Limestone, strong clay, asphaltum, and building stone of the best quality, suitable for bridges where necessary, are placed, as if purposely by nature, all along the direction of this route. The Zacatecos and other Indians can be found in quite sufficient number to carry on the work, and at those points where foreign labour is indispensable, the temperature is such as to allow them to pursue their labour without either inconvenience or injury to their health. The climate, though warm, is healthy. The natives are mild, submissive, and tractable. There are ample sources whence to obtain a stock of domestic animals and beasts of burden. Throughout the whole line secured by this grant, as well for the purpose of a communication across the Isthmus as for the settlement of the country by foreigners, all the productions of the equatorial and temperate regions are found in the greatest abundance;" for the valley of the Isthmus produces the former, and on ascending to the more elevated country bordering on the valley, the climate of the temperate zone is found there as well as its productions. At each end of the rail-road are suitable places for fine harbours, as well as to depth, size, and security from storms. It is true there is a bar at the mouth of the Coatzacoalcos. By different navigators the water has been sounded, and from twelve to eighteen feet have been found on it at low water. Commodore Perry, in his surveys in 1847, found twelve feet. At a small pass at the entrance of the ocean on the Pacific side, there is, at low water, seven feet. Your petitioner, however, is convinced, from the character of the obstruc

tions, that they can, at a small expense of time and money, be easily removed, and will then open an entrance for vessels of large size into ports equal to any in the world. He is prepared to show this to the satisfaction of your honourable body.

Such are some of the physical advantages connected with this route. There are others, however, no less important. The distance from the mouth of the Mississippi to San Francisco, by the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, is 3,294 miles; by the Isthmus of Panama 5000; thus showing that the route by the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is 1,706 miles shorter than by Panama. The distance from New York, by the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, is 4,744 miles; by the Isthmus of Panama 5,858; making the route by Tehuantepec, from New York to San Fran cisco, 1,104 miles shorter than by the Isthmus of Panama.

The mere statement of this fact carries with it its own importance, for it is an axiom that, in all human operations, the saving of time is the saving of labour and money. This fact is already exercising its influence, for enterprising men are at this very moment turning their attention to this route, without the advantages of an artificial communication across it.

In time of war, too, the route by the Caribbean seas would bring us under the guns of hostile forts and fleets, without any port of our own to resort to, either for shelter or repairs; whereas, by the Tehuantepec route we would be all the time within the limits of our own sea-for such, in truth, the Gulf of Mexico may be considered in relation to us.

The petitioner then adverts to the advantages offered to emigrants to hold lands in fee; and to the tendency of the project when completed to produce friendly relations between the United States and Mexico on the basis of mutual interests. He pledges himself to obtain from the Mexican government all the necessary guarantees for the security of all parties concerned, and concludes as follows:

As to the praticability of the route, it may be well to give the very words of the distinguished engineer who surveyed it, and all of which has the confident conviction of your petitioner as to its truth. He says:-"The careful survey of the line of transit over the isthmus demonstrates the practicability of the project, since it presents no one serious difficulty which may not be readily conquered by means of capital and science, the gigantic development of which at this auspicious period seem to have placed at the disposal of the engineer an inexhaustible and unlimited powers."

Your petitioner has brought the principal facts to the notice of your honourable body, in the hope further steps may be adopted which will insure a full examination of the results of the survey, in the firm conviction, on his part, that such an examination will establish the value of this route to the United States in a communication with its possessions on the Pacific shore.

P. A. HARGOUS.

LIST OF ACTS PASSED AT THE LAST SESSION OF CONGRESS.

Private Bills. For the relief of B. O. Payne, of Albany, N. Y., Joshua Barney, U. S. agent, Joel Thacker, Mary G. Leverett, James Morehead, Major Charles Larrabee, Capt. Alex. M'Ewen, David Thomas, of Philadelphia, John P. Skinner and the legal representatives of Isaac Green, Dr. Adolphus Wisliszenus, W. Gott, Edward Quinn, George Newton, Robert Ramsay, Elizabeth S. Cobbs, Daniel Robinson, Jesse Washington Jackson, Mrs. Anne W. Angus, Elizabeth Mays, Nancy Tompkins, James Glynn and others, Jas. H. Comley, Jesse Young, Stephen Champlin, William De Buys, late postmaster at New Orleans, William Fuller and Orlando Saltmarsh, Esther Russell, Reuben Perry and Thomas P. Ligon, the owners of the Spanish Restaurator; Anthony Bessee, G. F, de la Roche and W. P. S. Sanger, Zilpha White, Hugh Riddle, Thomas Badger, Archibald Bell and L. P. Finch, Noah A. Phelps, Charles Waldron, Col. Robert Wallace, aid-de-camp of Gen. Wm. Hull, James B. Davenport, Flisha Thomasson, James P. Sexton, Joshua Holden, Elizabeth Bur rise, Simon Rodriguez, M. F. Johnson, Joseph Bryan, the heirs of W. Evans, William Fuller, Charles Savage, Captain John Percival, U. S. N., John Morrison, John Hibbart, W. Harding, Sarah D. Caldwell, John B. Smith, Simeon Darden, S. C. Bryan and others, Capt. Dan Drake Henrie, Eliza A. Mellor, Philip J. Fontaine, Levi H. Carson, B. Cogswell, James Y. Smith, Thomas T. Gamage, Salsy Darby, Charles Wilson, Solomon Davis, Peterill Grant, Sizur B. Canfield, the legal representatives of Capt. G. R. Shoemaker, Chas. Benns, James Norris, Chas. M'Lane, James Fagate, Commander J. J. Young, U. S. Navy, John Campbell, John Savage, W. U. Wilson, Andrew Flanegan, the heirs of J. F. Perry, J. Bleakly, N. Garrott and R. Morrison, George Center, Henry Washington, Thos. Douglass, U. S. Attorney, East Florida, Jos. F. Caldwell, Creed Taylor, Jeanette C. Huntingdon, Mary Macrea, J. M. Moore, Thos. Talbot and others, Timothy Cuvan, Patrick Walker, James Hotchkiss, James M. Scantland, William Plummer, William L. Wigent, Nehemiah Brush, P. Chouteare, Jr. & Co., Henry D. Garrison, James G. Carson, Peter Capella, John Caho, Elijah Petty, Jas. F. Sothoron, Thomas W. Chinn, Capt. Alex. Montgomery, A. Q. M. of the U. S. Army, W. P. Yonge, Lowry Williams, Mary Buck, Amelia Convillier, J. W. Hockett, H. Carrington, Peter Shaffer, Polly Aldrich, Eve Boggs, Jas. H. Noble, Hervey Jones, Satterlee Clark, Daniel Wilson, Sidney Flower, John T. Ohl, M. R. Simmons, Catherine Clark, Polly Dameron, A. S. & A. W. Benson, H. M. Barney, John B. Nevitt, George R. Smith, J. Melville Gilliss and others.

An act for the relief of the citizens of Cedar Bluff, in the state of Alabama, and for other purposes.

An act to authorize the judges of the courts of the United States of the 5th circuit to hold the circuit court for the district of Kentucky.

An act concerning the selection of jurors in certain courts of the United States.

An act declaring Fort Covington, in the State of New York, to be a port of delivery, and for other purposes.

An act to transfer the towns of Vinal Haven, North Haven, and Isleborough from the collection district of Penobscot to that of Belfast, in the state of Maine.

An act to provide for the payment of horses and other property lost or destroyed in the military service of the United States.

An act to authorize the coinage of $20 and $1 gold pieces at the mint of the United States and its branches.

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An act for the settlement of the claims of New Hampshire against the United States.

An act amendatory of the act entitled "An act amendatory of the act entitled 'An act to incorporate the Provident Association of Clerks in the Civil Departments of the Government of the United States, in the District of Columbia,' approved March 3, 1825.

An act supplemental to the act approved the 6th day of July, 1842, entitled, "An act confirming certain land claims in Louisiana."

An act to extend certain privileges to the town of Whitehall, in the State of New York.

An act to make arrangements for taking the seventh census.

An act granting a half section of land for the use of schools within fractional townships nineteen south of range eighteen west, county of Lowndes, state of Mississippi.

An act to aid the State of Louisiana in draining the swamp lands therein. An act to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1849.

An act to provide for carrying into execution, in part, the twelfth article of the treaty with Mexico, concluded at Guadaloupe Hidalgo.

An act making appropriations for the support of the Military Academy for the year ending 30th June, 1850.

An act making appropriations for the payment of revolutionary and other pensions of the United States for the year ending 30th June, 1850.

An act making appropriations for the payment of navy pensions for the year ending June 30, 1850.

An act granting five years' half pay to certain widows and orphans of officers and non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, both regulars and volunteers.

An act to establish an additional land office in the State of Missouri.

An act in relation to the Fox and Wisconsin river reservation in the state of Wisconsin.

An act making appropriations for certain fortifications of the United States for the year ending the 30th June, 1850.

An act to provide for the final settlement of the accounts of Thomas C. Sheldon, late receiver of public moneys at Kalamazoo, Michigan.

An act to allow subsistence to certain Arkansas and other volunteers who have been prisoners of war in Mexico.

An act for the relief of the forward officers of the late exploring expedition. An act to settle the title to certain tracts of land in the state of Arkansas. An act to amend the act entitled "an act supplemental to the act for the admission of the states of Iowa and Florida into the Union."

An act to incorporate the Oak Hill Cemetery in the District of Columbia. An act for the relief of the President and Directors of the Union Bank of Florida.

An act to authorize the citizens of Ozark county, of Missouri, to enter less than a quarter section of land for the seat of justice in said county.

An act making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the year ending the 30th of June, 1850.

An act for the relief of Samuel A. Grier.

An act to provide for the settlement of of the accounts of public officers and others who may have received moneys arising from military contributions or otherwise in Mexico.

An act to extend the provisions of all laws now in force relating to the carriage of passengers in merchant vessels, and the regulation thereof.

An act requiring all moneys receivable from customs and from all other

sources to be paid immediately into the treasury, without abatement or deduction, and for other purposes.

An act to establish the home department, and to provide for the treasury department an assistant secretary of the treasury, and a commissioner of the

customs.

An act making appropriations for the support of the army for the year ending the 30th June, 1850.

An act making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending 30th June, 1850.

An act making appropriations for the present and contingent expenses of the Indian department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with the various Indian tribes, for the year ending June 30th, 1850.

An act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government for the year ending the 30th June, 1850, and for other purposes. An act to extend the revenue laws of the United States over the territory and waters of Upper California, and to create a collection district therein. An act declaratory of the act for the admission of the state of Iowa into the Union.

An act to extend the provisions of an act, approved the third of March, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, for carrying into effect the existing compacts with the states of Alabama and Mississippi with regard to the five per cent. fund and school reservations.

An act to continue the light at Sand's Point on Long Island.

An act to amend an act, entitled "An act for authenticating certain records," approved February 22, 1849.

An act making appropriation for light houses, light boats, buoys, &c., and providing for the erection and establishment of the same, and for other purposes.

An act for the better organization of the district court of the United States within the State of Louisiana.

An act concerning the pay department of the army.

An act to establish the collection district of Brazos de Santiago, in the state of Texas, and for other purposes.

An act authorizing the payment of interest upon the advance made by the state of Alabama, for the use of the United States government, in the suppression of the Creek Indian hostilities in 1839 and 1837 in Alabama.

An act to authorize the secretary of war to make reparation for the killing of a Caddo boy by volunteer troops in Texas.

An act to authorize the issuing of a register or enrolment to the ship Annie Teft.

An act in addition to the act entitled "An act to incorporate the Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown steam packet company.'

An act to cause the northern boundary line of the state of Iowa to be run and marked.

An act to continue the office of the Commissioner of Pensions.

An act to grant the right of way to the Mobile and Ohio railroad company. An act to provide for the increase of the medical staff, and for an additional number of chaplains of the army of the United States.

An act to define the period of disability imposed upon certain bidders for mail contracts.

An act to grant to the Atlantic and Gulf rail-road company the right of way through the public lands of the United States.

An act for changing the location of the land office in the Chippewa land district, and establishing an additional land district in the state of Wisconsin. An act for authenticating certain records.

An act to establish the territorial government of Minesota.

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