The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-19
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. G., May 18th, 1871
Tn The Editor of the Stete Journal.

WAsHINoroN, D. c., May 18th, 1871.
10 the Editor Of the Ssete Journal.
Public opinion as expressed through the
American newspapers, is all but unani-
nous in favor of the treaty drawn up by
the Joint Commissioners. 1t is reported,
however, that several Senators will oppose
its ratification. Most of the Canadian pa.
pers, outside of Toronto, comment favor
ably on the document. The New Bruns-
wick House of Assembly, has unanimous
ly condemned the sections which relate to
the fisheries, on the ground that the aboli-
ton of the duty will take from the revenue
Of the Province over $4,000 annually
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT..
Perhaps the really most interesting at
traction for strangers to visit, in Washing
ton, is the grounds, gardens, conservatory
and museum of the Agricultural Depart
ment. General Horace Capron, Commits
sioner, who, like Napoleon, seems to un-
derstand the force of choosing around him
suitable and efficient men as aids to make
the place useful and attractive to high
degree and yet very few persons of all
who come here ever visit, or even think of
this most interesting institution; its ex-
perimental, botanical and propagating gar
dens, with the arboretums aud green
houses, under the management OF Professor
Saunders aud bis assistants, Messrs. Glass
& Brummel, constitute, the most pleasing as
well as profitable resort in the city, par
ticularly for farmers and horticulturists !;
and only second to this, is the museum in
the large building in charge of Professor
Glover and assistants.
| particularly call the attention Of
your readers to the matter for their own
benefit. Much is due to the obliging eff
cheney of the Chief Clerk, r. T. McLain,
Esq; but one of the most hard working
men is j. II. Dodge, Esq, the statistician of
the Department. Let all the visitors to
Washington go to this Department before
they leave.
Next in interest to the visitor, is the
Patent Office, with its long lines of cases
and shelves, filed with ingenious models,
the products Of American invention and
labor, worth the attention Of all the me-
chanics who come to the Capital
Mr.. Leggett, commissioner, denies the
report for some days in circulation that he
intends to resign.
Visiting the pleasant home Of Esquire
Clarke, one of the city justices, the other
morning, l saw fine show of flowers,
fruits aud plants but what l wish parti-
cularly to speak of is the great profit he
makes from small patch of ground,
working the hours be is not engaged 10
bis Office, for the benefit Of others; in pro-
pagating and selling grape-cuttings, small
fruits, flowers and garden plants, he clears
about one dollar the square foot of ground
he cultivates Instance, from one spot of
ground, ten feet by two-twenty square
feet-he sold in one season 1922 worth of
small grape-cuttings, and does nearly as
well on other patches with other plants.
call special attention to this, as proving
what vast profits can be realized from a
little land if skillfully and seasonably titled.
LAND AND LABOR REFORM
The mechanics and other laborers in the
city begin to manifest lively feeling and
activity for labor and land reform, and to
maintain the rights and interests Of indus
try; while the Patrons of Husbandry are
equally awake to elevate agricultural in
dustry; not that any of these classes have
any inimical feelings toward corporations
or capital, but desire simply to protect or
aid themselves against undue monopoies
of land and capital in combinations detri-
mental to the true rights of labor.