The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-12-17

of taking possession of them in such
emergency should be guarded. offer
these suggestions, believing them wor-
thy of consideration, in all seriousness,
affecting all sections and all interests
alike. If anything better can be done
to direct the country into course of
general prosperity, no one will be more
ready than I to adopt this plan.
Forwarded herewith is the report of
the Commissioners appointed under
an act of Congress, approved June 10th,
1874, to ivestigate the affairs of the Dis
trict Government. 1t will be seen from
the report that the total debt of the
District is: Bonded debt, issued prior
to July 1st, 1874, s., ,S83, $40 43; 3.65
bonds, act of Congress June 10th, 1874,
s. .088. 1853 70; certificates of the Board
of Audit, "a, ,77O, ,558 45. Total, SIS, ,742-
667 81 less special improvement as
sessment, chargeable to private prop
erty in excess if any demand against
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal bonds,
$64, 900, and Washington and Alexan-
dria bonds, SIS, 600; iu the hands of
the Commissioners of the Sinking
Fund. 81, ,74S, ,054 81 leaving an actual
debt, less said fund, of $l3, 1874 ,6l3 "a.
In addition to this there are claims
preferred against the Board of the Dis
frict, amounting in the aggregate IRE
ported by the Board of Audit) to $3,-
147, ,7S7 As, of which greater part will
probably be rejected. This sum can
( the debt of the District Government
/ than the thousands of claims against
tile General Government be included
IS q portion of the National debt; but
| the aggregate sum thus stated includes
something more than the funded debt,
chargable exclusively to the District
of Columbia. The act of Congress of
| NOvem beF 28, 1873, contemplates an
appOrtionment between the United
States Government and the District of
Columbia in respect to the payment of
| the principal and interest of the 3.65
bonds now issued, the outstanding GER
tificates of the Board of Audit, and the
unadjusted claims pending before that
Board should be reduced to the extent
of the amount to be apportioned to the
United States Government. In the
matter Indicated in the act of Congress
Hofs june, %, 1874, L especially invite
your Attention to the recon- mendation
of the Com missiOneTs of the Sinking
Fund relative to the ambiguity of the
act of June 20, 1874, the interest on the
District bonds, and; the consolidation
of Indebtedness to the District. feel
much indebted to the gentlemen who
consented to leave their private affairs,
and come from q distance to attend to
the business OF the District, and for the
able and satisfactory manner in which
it has been conducted. am sure their
services will be equally appreciated by
the. entire country.
1t will be seen from the accomT any
ing full report of the Board of Health
that the sanitary condition of the Dis
! trict is very satisfactory. In my Opin-
ion the District of Columbia should be
regarded as the grounds of the Nation
al Capital, in which the entire people
are interested. / do not alIude to this
1 to urge general appropriations to the
District but to draw the attention of
Congress to the necessity of framing a
law for the government of the District;
to the magnificent scale on which the
city was planned by the fOundeas OF
the govermsent; the manner in which
for Ornamental purposes, the reserva-
tions, streets and avenues were laid out
and the proportion of the property act
uaIly possessed by the General Gov
ernment. L think the proportion of
the expenses of the government and
improvements to be borne by theGen-
eral Government, the cities of Wash
fngton and Georgetown, and the
country, should be carefully and equit-
ably defined.
soIn accordance. with section three of
an act approved June %, 1874, I ap-
pointed a Board to make a survey of
the mouth of the Mississippi River,
with q view to ascertaining and main
tanning depth of water sufficient for
the purposes of commerce, &C.; and in
accordance with an act entitled "An
act to provide for the appointment of
a Commission of Engineers to investi-
gate, and report a permanent plan Tor
the excavation of the alluvial basin of
he mississippi River subject to inun-
dation," appointed Commission of
Engineers. Another Board has not
yet completed its IaboFs. When its re-
warded to Congress without delay.
lSignedl U. >. GRANT.
ExkcUTIVE MANSION, Dec. 7th, 1874.