JOHN H. THOMAS. MARCH 30, 1830. Mr. PETTIS, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, made the fol lowing REPORT: The Committee on Private Land Claims, to whom was referred the petition of John H. Thomas, report: The petitioner claims a tract of land in the Western District of Louisiana, containing 1,200 arpents, under and by virtue of a concession and order of survey, made by the Spanish Government, to one Antoine Patin. The date of the concession or order of survey, cannot be precisely ascertained, but the evidence shews its existence previous to the year 1789, and shows, also, that it has been lost. The evidence of several witnesses, who are represented as credible men, shews that Patin, from the year 1789, to 1803 or 1804, occupied said tract as a vacherie, and that his negroes inhabited and cultivated the land in question. The claim was presented to the Board of Commissioners for the adjustment of land claims in that section of country, and was rejected on the ground that the occupation of land as a vacherie, did not authorize the confirmation of the claim. The Committee on Private Land Claims, in 1827, made an unfavorable report also on this claim; adopting the view, in part, of the Commissioners, but intimating a contrary opinion if it were shewn that Patin had no other grant of land from the Spanish Government. The Register of the Land Office in that District proves that there is no record of any other grant to said Patin, as original proprietor. The evidence is clear, that this tract has been inhabited and cultivated, since the year 1789, with the exception of a year or two. The committee, however, are not satisfied to confirm the title to the whole tract, but they are of opinion that the claimant should be confirmed in his title to 640 acres of the tract, under the act of Congress of 2d March, 1805, and that of 21st April, 1806, providing for the adjustment of land titles in the District of Louisiana. They therefore report a bill. OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER. MEMORIAL OF SUNDRY CITIZENS OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, Praying for the improvement of the navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. MARCH 29, 1830. Read, and referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. Wickliffe, Bell, Findlay, Hinds, Denny, Duncan, and Overton. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled: Sundry citizens of Louisville, Kentucky, would, by this memorial shew: That they, in common with all those citizens of the United States who reside West of the Alleghany Mountains, are deeply interested in the navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Some idea of the trade on these rivers can be formed by considering the amount of merchandise and produce received and shipped annually at this place. By an accurate estimate for the last year it has been found that, during the year 1829, there were 365 steamboat arrivals from below; their total tonnage 62,584 tons. The departures were equal in number and tonnage; making the aggregate amount of imports and exports in steamboats to and from places below Louisville, 125,168 tons. During the same period the steamboat arrivals from above were 704; the exact tonnage not known, but in all probability from fifty to seventy thousand tons; which, in going and coming, would bring to, and carry from, this place, upwards of 100,000 tons in the direction of Pittsburgh, Pa. If to this estimate be added the keel and, flat boats which arrive at, and depart from, this place annually, laden with the produce of the Western country, an amount of tonnage would be produced which would astonish any one not personally acquainted with the condition and trade of this section of the country. This view presents but a small part of the trade which is now carried on by the navigation of the Mississippi river, and its tributary streams. All this valuable merchandise and produce, together with thousands of lives, have been heretofore exposed to a navigation rendered highly dangerous by snags and other obstructions. Within a few years the attention of Congress has been called to this subject, and some appropriations made. Henry M. Shreve, an old and experienced navigator, was employed to disburse those funds. Every one was impressed with the importance of the end desired, but the difficulties to be overcome seemed almost insurmountable; some of the first experiments failed; but by the enterprise and untiring exertions of Henry M. Shreve, he has, as we believe, at last discovered the much desired plan by which the navigation of these rivers can be rendered comparatively, if not entirely, safe That plan is no longer to be regarded as a wild projection, or as an experiment. It has already rendered safe and easy some of the very worst channels of the Mississippi. Plumb Point, and Islands No. 62 and 63, which have heretofore been considered among the most dangerous passes of that river, present now only smooth sheets of water, which may be traversed with perfect safety. This plan consists exclusively in the use of a steamboat, the like of which was never before conceived, by the instrumentality of whieh your agent now ploughs up from their beds, and dislodges, those snags or planters which have been so long the terror of all boatmen. The cost of that boat was, as we are informed, about $28,000. Two others might probably be built for the sum of $25,000 each. The expense of building and putting them into successful operation would be but trifling, compared with the great public benefits to be derived from the expenditure. It is confidently believed that three such boats, well directed, would in two years clear out all the snags in the Mississippi river, from New Orleans to the mouth of Missouri; and that when that point shall be accomplished, one such boat would be able, for all time to come, to remove all such obstructions as might be annually formed by the falling trees. Those boats, when they have performed their service, would not be valueless; they could be successfully employed in the other important tributary streams which discharge their waters into the Mississippi; or, they might be sold for the purposes of towing vessels or transporting freight. A channel through the ledge of rocks in the Ohio called the Grand Chain, is also of the greatest importance; and it could easily be made if Congress will devote the proper sum to its accomplishment. We would, therefore, respectfully suggest to the Congress of the United States the propriety of appropriating $100,000, to he applied, under the supervision of the proper Department, to the improvement of the navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. I am of the opinion that one boat, in addition to the present preparations for the improving of the navigation of the Mississippi river, should be built; two can be used to advantage; they may be so constructed as to deepen the channel of that river over the bar at its mouth, which is of some importance to the Government, and an object very desirable to the people of Louisiana. In relation to the Grand Chain on the Ohio river, every necessary preparation was made last Fall for the execution of that work, but the stage of water, during the season, did not admit of removing the rocks at that point; however, that object will be effected as soon as practicable, after the first low water in the river. HENRY M. SHREVE. 1st Session. DRAUGHTSMAN TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 30, 1830. Read, and laid upon the table. Mr. WICKLIFFE, from the Committee on Retrenchment, to which the subject had been referred, made the following REPORT: 1 The Committee on Retrenchment, to which was referred certain resolutions, under the order of the House of the 10th of March, to inquire, among other things, into the expediency of creating the office of draughtsman, or providing some mode by which the copies of maps, charts, and drawings, may be obtained, when necessarily required, for the use of the House of Representatives, have performed the duty assigned, and beg leave to report, in part: That they have not felt themselves embarrassed in their investigations by the vote of the House, heretofore given, upon the resolution to discontinue the expenditure for the objects above. That determination of the House may have been superinduced by one of two considerations, either that the expenditure heretofore was illegal, or that the services of a draughtsman were no longer required. The union of both of these considerations may have had its influence upon many, if not all, who concurred in the resolution heretofore reported by this committee. The objects for which it has been supposed to be necessary to create the office of draughtsman, and which connect themselves with the legislative action of the House of Representatives, are, 1st, correct delineations by maps, &c. of the public lands which have been surveyed, from time to time, in the several States and Territories, for the use of the Committee on the Public Lands; 2dly, correct representations of the various post roads within the United States, for the use of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads; 3dly, copies of such maps, charts, drawings, and profiles, made by the Engineer or Topographical corps, under the act of May, 1824, or under the authority of Congress, for the use of the Committee on Internal Improvements. Ist. As to the maps of the public lands, &c. Of these the committee are informed, that the Committee on the Public Lands are already in possession of copies so far as the surveys have progressed, which copies have been heretofore made out from the originals, or materials furnished from the originals, now in the General Land Office. There is attached to that office a draughtsman, with competent salary, whose duty is understood to be to prepare, for the use of the Government, in connected and intelligible form, maps and |