The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-12-03

taken In 1875, TO which subject tho actio n
of congress 10 invited. Tho original sug.
gcstion In that behalf has met with the
| general approval Of the country, and even
II IL be not advisable at present TO pro.
vide for regular
JeuISQUESsIAL
census, q census taken 10 1873, and q report
Of which could be completed and published
before tho one hundredth anniversary Of
our Independence, would be especially in
tefesting and valuable, - IL would show
the progress Of the country during the
first century Of our national existence. 1t
believed however that regular census
every five years would bs Of substantial
benefit TO the country, in ss much as our
growth has been 90 rapid that tho results
Of the decennial census are necessarily
unreliable % q basis OF estimate for latter
years, a decennial period In the District
Of Columbia
Tng CITY OF wAsuINGToy.
Under tho very efficient management
OF The government and the board OF pub
lie works Of this district, the city Of
Washington 10 rapidly assuming the ap.
pearAnce Of . capital Of which the ma
ton may DO proud, from being the most
unsightly place three years ago, disagree
ablo 10 psss through in tho summer,
ia consequence Of tho dust ris-
ing from tho unpsvod streets and
almost impossible in the winter from the
mud, il 10 now one Of the most slightly
cities in tho country, and can boast Of be-
ing the lest paved. The work has been
done systematically. Tho plans, grades,
location Of sewers, water and gas mains
being determined upon before work was
commenced, thus securing permanency
When completed. / question whether 90
Ipuch has ever boon accomplished before
in any American city for tie same ex-
pendiiures. The government having
largo reservation In tho city, and The ma.
nation at large having having An interest
In their capitol, recommend Q liberal
policy toward the District of Columbia,
and that the government should bear
ito just share Of tho expenses Of
these improvements. Every citizen visit
ing the capital feels . pride in its gro " ing
beauty, and that he 70 10 part owner IL
the inyostfnents made here. would sug.
gcst 30 Congress the proprieiy Of promo
ting the Establishment 10 this district Of An
the highest class, by the donation Of lands
There 10 no place better suited for such IN
Institution than the vast capital. There
rs no other place In which every citizen Is
80 directly intsrested.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In three successive messages 10 Con-
grsss have called attention 10 the pro-
jet VI civil service reform, and no action
has been taken 20 far "a
to authorize the appointment Of
. board to devise rulea governing the
methods Of making appointments and
promotions, but there has never been any
action on these ules or any rules pending,
or ever entitled to observance. When
persons dosiss tho appointment Of friend
or the removal Of An official who NAV be
80 have any rules effect, they
must have the acquiesence OF Congress ~
we'll ~ Of tho executives. recommend,
therefore, the subject 10 your attention,
and suggest that special committee OF
Congress might confer with the civil board
during the present session, for the purpose
OF devising such rules ne may
bo maintained, and which secure
tho services Of honest and
capable officers, and which will also pro-
tect them in = degree of independence.
while an ofhes. Proper ruies win protoc /
congress "a well ~ the executives from
uuch needle precsution ard will prove
Of great vsluto TO tho public At large /
will recommend for your favorable con-
sidcrstion tho passage Of an act, the ad-
mittance of Colorado &c a state into the
Union, il possessing all the elements of .
prosperous state, agricultural, mineral
and ] believe, has y position to justify
such an admission in that connection.
would also recommend the encourage
ment of canal for the purpose of irri-
G ating from the eastern slope Of the
Rocky mountains 30 the Missouri river.
A. am opposed TO the donation OF pub
Nc lands for internal improvements, owned
and contracted by private corporations,
but in this instance l would make sn OK.
ception between the Missouri river and
Rocky mountains. There 10 an area belt
OF public land from three hundred TO five
hundred miles In their midst, perfectly
statuelsss for thu occupation Of man, for
the want Of suficient rain to secure the
growth Of any products. An irrigation
canal would make productive belt a.
wide IS tho supply Of water could be
lnhue 10 epTou over bnu ACROSS THIS entire
country, and would secure line of set
Elements connecting the present populn-
ton OF the mountain regions with that OF
the older slater. All the land reclaimed
would be clear gain IL alternate sections
were reclaimed by the governments. I
would suggest that tho reclaimed sections
bs thrown open to entry, under the home
stead law, and sold to actual settlers
for very law prices and renew my previ-
Gus recommendation TO Congress for gen.
eral amnesty. Tho number Of members
engaged in the late rebellion, laborinc
under Disadvantages 10 very small, but
enough TO keep up . constant irritation.
No possible danger can ensue 20
The govornmsnt by restoring TO them
Ihsir eligibility to hold Office, I
suggest for your consideration the snact-
nent Of law to better secure tho civil
rights, which freedom should secure. hut
has not effectually secured to the enfrsn-
cbissd slave.
[signed.l U. 8. GRANT,
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. l, 1873.