OCR Text |
Show Congress, again received the attention of the Committee on the Public Lands, and again received their indorsement (See Appendix E) ; but owing to the preoccupation of President-making, it was not considered. The extent of dry land which was formerly the bed of the gulf may be set down approximately as one hundred and seventy miles in length, eighty miles in width at its base, diminishing to ten miles at its head. The base and greater portion of the lands are beyond our border, and within that of the Republic of Mexico; and in order to accomplish the work contemplated by the bill, a canal must traverse Mexican territory for some forty miles. Thus is perceived the magnitude of the contemplated work, and it must be equally apparent that nothing less than a sale of a large quantity of land would be likely to command capital to do the work. Our neighboring Republic of Mexico, with a view of developing her resources, invites immigration by offering her lands not only as a gratuity, but aiding those who may occupy them by removing all duties by import and export, and all other government burden for ten years. Your committee therefore are induced then to believe that the Mexican Government will liberally aid and facilitate the proposed measure, and that the inappreciable line between the two Republics will not prove a barrier to our general welfare. When we take into consideration that the applicant inaugurated this measure some nineteen years ago, and at his own expense ascertained the fact of the practicability of irrigating this desert by a survey actually made at his personal expense, and having waited the tardy action of the Government up to the present time for its consummation and co-operation, it should be received as evidence indicating his ability and determination to carry out this great work to a successful termination. It will be observed that this bill does not propose to donate these lands to Mr. Wozencraft and his associates, |