CONGRESS,

,

JOHN P. RUTTER AND OTHERS.

JANUARY 26, 1853 Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. FAULKNER, from the Committee on Military Affairs, made the

following REPORT.

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the memorial of John P. Rutter and other citizens of Marion county, Missouri, asking for an appropriation to aid in establishing certain roads in Nebraska, Washington, and Oregon Territories, respectfully submit the following report of the Secretary of War with reference thereto, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, January 16, 1855.

SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of a petition, enclosed in your letter of the 7th ultimo, from citizens of Missouri, desiring that the Indian title to the lands on the Missouri river be extinguished, for a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles on either side, from the northern limit of the late purchases to the head of navigation, and thence for a greater width through the Rocky mountains, and that a road be constructed through the lands so acquired, from the Missouri to the Columbia or Puget's sound, thus obtaining an emi-. grant route, by river and road, from the Mississippi to the Pacific, through a country secure from Indian depredations and ultimately filled with settlements.

There can be no question of the value of the results proposed; but, from the information the department has of the nature of the country, the adoption of the measures suggested would not be followed by the effects anticipated. The river route would be too circuitous, and the road would present too many difficulties to form an advantageous line for emigrants to the Pacific Territories, while the lands along it are not of such character or so situated as, probably, to attract settlers to any extent for many years to come.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. CH. J. FAULKNER,

JEFFN. DAVIS,
Secretary of War.

Of the Committee on Military Affairs, Ho. of Reps.

33d CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPORT 2d Session. No. 35.

DEPOSITORY FOR ARMS-WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

JANUARY 26, 1855.-Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. FAULKNER, from the Committee on Military Affairs, made the following

REPORT.

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the joint resolution of the Territory of Washington, praying Congress to make an appropriation for the erection of a depository for arms at the capital of said Territory, have, according to order, had the same under consideration, and report:

That it has not been the policy or practice of the government to provide buildings, in any State or Territory, for depositing the arms and equipments issued under the law for arming and equipping the militia, such arms and equipments being always turned over to the exclusive care and control of the State or Territory to which they are supplied. Moreover, the Territory of Washington not having made any return of its militia or population, is not entitled, under the law, to receive from the United States any arms or equipments.

The establishment, therefore, of an arsenal for the purpose indicated. in the joint resolution, is not expedient or necessary.

For these reasons, the committee ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.