The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-10

i gate ana report upon TINS buDlect
DOMESTIC SHIP BUILDING.
A revival of ship building, and partic-
ularly iron steamship building, is Of vast
Importance to our national prospects,
The United States is now paying over
one hundred million dollars per annum
for freights and passage on foreign ships
to be carried abroad and and expended
in the employment and support of other
peoples, beyond fair percentage ofwhat
should go to foreign vessels, estimating on
the tonnage and travel of each respect
lively. 1t is to be regretted that this dis
parity in the carrying trade exists, and
to correct it l would be willing to see
great departure from the usual course of
governments in supporting what might
usually be termed a private enterprise.
would not suggest, as a remedy, direct
subsidy to American steamship lines, but
/ would suggest the direct offer of ample
compensation for carrying the mails be-
tween the Atlantic seaboard cities and
the Continent on American owned and
American built steamers, and would ex-
tend this liberality to vessels carrying the
mails to South American States and to
Central America and Mexico, and would
pursue the same policy from our Pacific
seaports to foreign seaports on the Pa
cifc. It might be demanded that yes
sells built for this service should come up
to standard fixed by legislation in tom
mage speed and all other qualities looking
to the possibility of the Government re-
quiring them at some time for war pur-
poses. The right, also, of taking posses
sion ofthem in such an emergency should
be guarded, l offer these suggestions,
believing them worthy of consideration
in all seriousn. ss, affecting all sections
and all interests alike. If anything bet
ter can be done to direct the country into
a course of general prosperity, no one
will be more ready than | to second the
plan.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AFFAIRS.
Forwarded herewith will be fonnd
report of the Commissioners appointed
under an act of Congress approved June
20 1874, to wind up the affairs of the Dis
triCt Government. 1t will be seen from
the report that the net debt of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, less securities on hand
and available, is: bonded debt, issued
prior to July lst, 1874, $S,883, $40 43; 1856
bonds act of Congress June 20, 1874, ST.
OBS. 1853 73: certificates of the Board of
Audit $4,77O,558 As; total $l5, 42,667 81;
| Less special improvement assessments
chargeable to private property in excess
of any demand against such assessments,
$1,7l4,054 81; less Chesapeake and Ohio
canal bonds, S75,O0Ol and Washington
and Alexandria railroad bonds, $4,000.
In the hands of the Commissioner of the
Sinking Fund, $l,84S,054 81. Leaving
the actual debt less said assets, $780,
613 "a; In addition to this, there are
claims preferred against the Government
of the District amounting in the estimat-
ed aggregate reported by the Board of
Audit, to $3,147,7SS 4S, of which the
greater part will probably be rejected.
This sum can with no more prOpriety be
included in the debt account of this Dis
trict Government than can the thou
sands of claims against the general gov
ernment be included as portion of the |
national debt; but the aggregate snm thus
stated includes something more than the |
funded debt chargeable exclusively TO the |
District of Columbia. The act of Con-
gress of June %, 1874, contemplates an |
apportionment between the United |
States and the District of Columbia in |
respect Of the payment of the principal
and interest of the 1866 bonds There
fore, in computing with precision the |
bonded debt Of the District, theaggregate
sums above stated, as respects the 1856
bonds now issued, the outstanding GER
tificates of the Board of Audit and the
unadjusted claims pending before the
Board should be reduced TO the extent Of
the amount to be apportioned to the
United States got in the manner indiCa-
ted in the act of Congress of Jnne goth.
1874 l respectfullyinvite your attention
TO the recommendations of the Commits
sioners of the Sinking Fnnd relative to
the ambiguity of the Act of June goth,
1874, the interest on the District bonds
and the consolidation of the indebted
ness of the District. feel much indebt-
ed to the gentlemen who consented to
leave their private affairs and come from
a distance to attend to the business of
tots District, and for the able and salts
factory manner in which it has been con-
ducted l am sure their services will be
eqnally appreciated by the entire country.
1t will be seen from the accompanying
report of the Board of Health that the
sanitary condition of the District is very
In my opinion the District
of Columbia should be regarded as the
ground of the National Capital, in which
the entire people are interested. l do
not allnde TO this 10 urge generous appro-
priations to the District but to draw the
of Congress, in framing a law
for the government of the District, to the
scale on which the city was
planned by the founders of the govern
mentt the manner in which for ornamen-
.al purposes the reservations of streets
and avenues were laid out and the pro-
portion of the expenses of the Govern
ment and improvements to be borne by
he General Government, the cities Of
Washington and Georgetown and the
county, should be carefully and equitably
lefned.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI
In accordance with Section 3 of the Act
approved June 23d, 1874, l appointed
Board to make survey of the mouth Of {
he Mississippi river, with view to de-
ermine the best method of obtaining ,
md maintaining a depth Of water sufti- I
cient for the purposes of commerce, &C.;
md in accordance with an Act to provide l
Ior the appointment of Commission of
Engineers to investigate and reporta per-
nanent place for The reclamation Of the
llluvial basin of the Mississippi, subject
% inundation, l appointed Commission
)f Engineers. Neither Board has yet
its labOrs. When their re-
oorts are received they will be forwarded
% Congress without delay.
(Signed) US. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. z, 1874.
Inra1 .NptUg.