Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11

upon the termination Of their official connexion with thu
Government The heads of Department instead OF beni
scattered the city, win be brought nearer eacl
other and to the President and be enabled to confer
gether without Inconvenience And at the close of the
terms they will leave the seat of government with tn,
knowledge that if they have not added they have
least not been Obliged to subtract from their private
resources. raSi
/ From estimates which have caused to be made / am
satisfied that lots could be bought and eight substantial
plain and tasteful houses erected furnished and fitted
for occupation for the of $780, 000 And the
approach of the close Of my official term relieves
from all suspicion of being influenced by personal
party considerations in presenting the subject to your
notice, ! earnestly recommend 1t to your favorable
regard
The District Of Columbia.
In former reports have earnestly invited your atten-
ton to the interests of the District of Columbia and en-
deavored to explain the peculiar claims which it has
the fostering of Congress. Without repeating the
reasons heretofore urged beg leave again to present
the subject to your favorable notice. and to specify
Of the particular objects in regard to which legislation
required.
The introduction of ample supply Of pure water into
the city Of Washington and Georgetown is measure Of
great public interest At the last session of Congress an
appropriation made to deay the Of the necessa
ry surveys &C. to determine the best mode of accomplish
ing this object An officer of the Engineer Corps de-
tailed for this duty and progress has already
made in the work. but enough enable me to
opinion to plan which should be adopted full
report will however be made and submitted to Congress
In time for its action during the approaching session and
hope the necessary appropriations will be made
mence the work without delay If additional arguments
to those heretofore submitted deemed necessary
might refer to the recent conhagraton in the library of
the Capitol emphatic admonon of the insecurity of
the public buildings and archives in the absence of
pous supply of water
deem it my duty also to call your attention to the
gent necessity which exists for the erection of suitable
bridges the Potomac to supply the place of those
winch were destroyed by the floods in the early part of
the present year.
The interruption of the travel and commercial inter-
course with the opposite side of the river has proved
serious evil to the residents Of the District and the public
generally And during the winter, when navigation msV
be DISTRACTED by ice, the inconvenience will be greatly
augmented. therefore recommend that appropra-
ton be asked for to make the necessary surveys and pre-
pare suitable plans and estimates for the construction
one or more permanent bridges which may be adapted
not only for the accommodation of the ordinary travel
and trade but also for the safe and convenient passage Of
railway trains. The rapid extension of the system Of
railways throughout the whole country forbds the idea
that the intercourse by mail between the North and the
South should continue longer to be delayed interrupt
ed as 1t has hitherto been at particular seasons OF the
year, by the difficulty Of crossing the Potomac.
The Commissioner of Public Lands in his report has
suggested the proprety of grant by Congress of por
ton Of the public lands in aid of public schools in the Dis
trict OF Columbia. This proposition commands my
dial APPRECIATION and would be happy to adopted
with an amendment extending its benefits the charita
BILE institutions of the District The population of the
District is of citizens Of every State the Union
This fact creates general interest in its prosperity and
welfare and know of disposition of portion of the
public domain which would be strictly accordance
with the spirit of the trusts reposed in Congress-
useful IN itself, than appropriation of reasonable
portion to instruct the ignorant reform the vicious and
relieve the distressed inhabitants of the Metropolis of the
Nation.
In former reports have brought your notice many
other subjects which regarded of public interest
Among these were the establishment Of Agricultural
and Statistical Bureau revision Of the laws relating
the fees of marshas attorneys and clerks of the circuit
and district courts of the United States increase Of
the salaries of the judges of the district of the Uni
ted States the enlargement of the functions Of the Ator
ney General so to make him the head of the Depart
ment Of Justice and the transfer to that Department of
all matters connected with the administration of Justice
the construction of national highway through
territory to the Pacific the precise definition Of the
duties Of the several Executive Departments and that
provision be made for the appointment of Solicitor to
the Department Of the Interior.
On all these subjects my opinions remain unchanged
and, without repeating the by which they
sustained beg leave again to commend them to your ia
vorable consideration
have the honor TO be, very respectfully your obedient
servant, ALEX. H. II. STUART, Secretary.
To the PRESIDENT of the United States.