24th Congress-fst session: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

 APRIL ', 1856.

 REPORT fthp Committee on the Public Lands.
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with the Missouri, there IS large body oi land subject to be overflowed, extending more or less along its whole course With the State of Missouri, which can be easily reclaimed by the means proposed. The quantity would probably amount to 3oo,oou acres. This land is of the richest charac- fer, and might he reclaimed for Sl0O,00O.

 The Missouri river does not overflow its banks 10 sufficient extent to deserve at- tention. The most serious difficulty at- tending this stream, is the numerous ob- str,ictioiis to be found in if in the form of snags and collected drifts of wood. The sum of fifty thousand dollars, 1t IS suppos- cd, would be sufficient to remove these, and make i, safe for navigation.

 Having embraced the second head in the views presented upon the first, we now pro- sceed td ite consideration of the third, which sis .sthe probable quantity, quality and value of land belonging to the United States, which will be reclaimed by such works.n

 We have already remarked that any esti- mate of the inundated lands must be inn perfect. No surveys having ever been made, II IS impossible that We can arrive at ahy lining like certainty on this head. We are of opinion, however, from the general information which we have been able to collect on the subject. that we can suffi- cienty approximate the real quantity, to stioW tia; tia; Congress ;fiiay safely s.ssiys work of so much importance.

 The aggregate quantity of inundated lands on the Mississippi, according to the estimates here presented, is 23,469,260 acres to ascertain how much of this be- longs 10 the United States the amount owned by individuals should be deducted, which cannot be said, upon fair caleu- lation, 10 exceed one million. Although we are inclined to think actual surveys would show that we arc not very far wrong in the aggregate calculation just submitted, jet, for the purpose of bringing our estimate within limits which no reflecting mind can controyert, we will deduct one-half, upon the supposftron that the calculation Is too great, and on the conviction that con- siderable quantity of these inundated lands will prove to be, upon experiment, wholly irreclaimable. This will leave the quantity of II ,234,630 acres of land that can be re- deemed from its present worthless state.

 The quality of this land is the finest on tho habitable globe; the rich and fertile lands of the Nile do not excel 1t and if we take into view its grea. extent, the va ssety of climate, and the great variety of staple articles which it may produce, we may safely say that there IS not an equal extent ot land in the known world that can vie with It for fertility of soil and the varie- y of Its productions. Extending from the northern line of the State of Missouri to the southern extremity of Louisiana, every spe- cies of produce which can be raised with m this range of latitude will be the rich re turn of the farmer and the planter. It Is the opinion of your committee that the United States do not own any lands as valuable as these would be if reclaimed independently of the fertility ofihe soil, thei contiguity to the Mississippi river, ant adaptation 10 such variety of importan, staples, give them value that can scarce iy be properly estimated. Wheat, hemp, tobacco, cotton. sugar, rice, and indigo, are the principal os these staples, and will abun- danty repay the farmer and planter for his industry and labor. As the importance of the commodity enhances the value of the land, and as the most. important articles tc commerce and manufactures are exclusive ly produced on such lands as tnese, you committee do not hesitate to fix tie min imum value of these lands at five dollars per acre. According to this computation the quantity which we have assumed as en nrely practicable fo reclaim will bring tn, sum of $56, l73, i50; the whole cost of re claiming, according to the calculations sub snltted, will amount to the sum of $2, ,267, DOC, an amount which your committee ar, willing to double, as being altogether sui ficient to cover every expense that may b, necessary for the completion of the work this will leave balance in favor of tho Government of $5I I,353,000. But, or considering every circumstance connected with these lands, your committee are will Ing to express if as their opinion that they will bflng to the Government nett amount ot at least hundred millions, when put up af public auction.

 4. "The probable effect upon the health of the country in which such works may be constructedsn

 0n fhis point there can be no doubt o! an effect of the most salutarv character. All concur in the fact that swamps and marshes and stagnant pools are the fruitful sources Of disease; the poisonous miasmata winch are evolved m the course of teconl- ;;s vegetable matter ,i suuir pi,.. ces generate diseases of the most acute and fatal character. This not only keeps back tne improvement of the surrounding coun- Hys bW m fact deters people from making seuiements on land contiguous to such