Mr. RAMSEY. I have here the opinion of Captain Blakely, a gentleman of long experi once in the navigation of the Mississippi river, who gives this as his opinion: "The draw. if one is built. should be madeas wide as is practicable to build and have it answera good purcan for the railroad. say no less than onahun dru and filly “wt in the clenr betwcen the center pier and the pier on which lhc rnd of the draw rests when closed and if found practicable. no loss than 175 feetin the clear." Captain W. F. Davidson, who has been a long and successful navigator on the upperMis sissippi, says: “I think section 2 of the bill” Alluding to one of the railroad bridge bills sent to him “should be amendedby forcing the company tobuild a draw"considering that less obstructive than a bridge with continuous s ans. But, Mr. President, we did not feel at lib crtyv to report against the allowance of bridges, am in many respects thought it advantageous to seize this opportunity of regulating them. congress should create a commission, authorizetePresident or SecyWar to send a commission to survey the whole river and decide, at least as to the future, what should be the character of the bridges there. The probabiliiy is that before the close of the next session O Congress you will be comiclled to authorize a dozen of those bridges. he thing will get to be serious when they come to be so numerous as that. I think we have guarded this bill as well as, with the light before us, it was possible for us to do; and yetl should like when this extensive budding ofbridges on the Mississippi river is entered upon, to have the opinion of a board of scientific engineers; and with that view, some days since I introduceda JtResolution, which was referred to the ComCommerce, but they have not se en fit to return it yet with a report. I feel reluctant to vote for any other bridge than the one reported by the Post Odice Committee in this bill, simply because it is but one; though I have no particular objection to any other except as to the number; but I hope that when this bill passes we shall authorizea commission to be sent to survey the river and determine and settle the essential points to be guarded in the construction of these bridges; how, where at the same time the railroads may be accommodated, the navigation shall be preserved. It is of cat importance, not only to us, but to.the villi ole country, that this should be done. I My resolution, to which I have referred, and l which was introduced some days ago, was in l. this language: I “ That the SecyWar be directed to appoint a commission.to consistor 3 cficen of the corps I would, however, at the same time. desire that of Engineers of the Army. to examine and report at the presentsessionof Congress." raoticable and if not. before the next session of onizress.upon the subject of the constructionof railroad bridges across the Mississippi riser at such localitiesand upon such plans of construction as will otherthe least impediment to the navigation of the rivor: and that the sumof 810.000o.r so much thereof as maybe neers snry, be and the some is hereby. appropriated. out of any moneyin the Treasury not at ierwise appropriated. to defray the oxponse sof said commission." I should very much (prefer, before very many bridges are authorize. that this commission should be sent out to view the river, and furnish us the best information on the subject.