US Presidency
1877

The debt of the District is as follows: Old funded debt $ 8,379,691.96 3.65 bonds, guaranteed by the United States $ 13,743,250.00 Total bonded debt $ 22,122,941.96 To which should be added certain outstanding claims, as explained in the report of the Commissioners $ 1,187,204.52 Making the total debt of the District $ 23,310,146.48 The Commissioners also ask attention to the importance of the improvement of the Potomac River and the reclamation of the marshes bordering the city of Washington, and their views upon this subject are concurred in by the members of the board of health, whose report is also herewith transmitted. Both the commercial and sanitary interests of the District will be greatly promoted, I doubt not, by this improvement. Your attention is invited to the suggestion of the Commissioners and of the board of health for the organization of a board of charities, to have supervision and control of the disbursement of all moneys for charitable purposes from the District treasury.