The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1874-12-11

New light on this question will without
doubt be given by the committee appointed
by the last Congress to investigate and re.
port upon the subject. A revival OF
SHIP BUILDING,
and particularly of iron steamship building,
is Of vast importance to our national pros
perity. The United States is now paying
over 81 ,OCO, QUO per annum for treigllts
and passage on foreign shipments to be car
red + abroad g and expended in the employ eSyd
a fair percentage Of what should go to foreign
vessels, estimating on the tonnage and travel
Of each respectively 1t is to he regretted
that this disparity in the carrying trade ex-
lists, and to correct it would be willing to
see great departure from the usual course
OF the government in supporting what might
usually he termed private enterprise. l
could not suggest as remedy direct sub.
sidy to American steamship lines, but l
pensation for carrying the mails between
the Atlantic seaboard cities and the CONT
nent Oh American owned and American
built steamers, and would extend the LIBERAL
ity to vessels carrying mails to South Ameri-
can States and to Central America > nd Mex
leo, and would pursue the same policy from
our Pacific sea ports to foreign seaports on
the Pacific. It might be demanded that
vessels built for this service should come up
to standard fixed by legislation in tonnage,
speed and all other Qualities, looking to the
possibility Of the government requiring them
at some time fer war purposes. The right,
also, Of taking possession Of them in such
emergency should lie provided l offer
these suggestions, believing them worthy Of
consideration in all seriousness, affecting all
sections and all interests alike. If anything
better can be done to direct the country into
a course Of general prosperity, no one will
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Forwarded herewith will be found the re-
port OF the commissioners appointed under
all act OF Congress, approved June 20, 1874,
to wind up the affairs Of the District govern
ment. 1t will be seen from the report that
the total debt of the District Of Columbia,
less securities on hand and available, is the
bonded debt issued prior to July /, 1874, of
&c, 1893 ,94O: AZ; three hundred and sixty-tive
bonds under the act of Congress of June 20.
1874, Of $2,O85, 1878; certificates Of the
board Of audit for 40, 558 As; total, $l5, 49,
667.6l less the special improvement assess
nlents chargeable to private property in ex-
cess of any demand against such assessment.
Of 81 ,6l4,0 54.37, less the Chesapeake & Ohio
canal bonds Of $75, OO0. 90, and the Washington
&Alexandria railroad bonds Of $59, 10000, in
the hands OF the commissioners OF the sink
ing fund u, 748, Q5437, leaving the actual
debt, less pal! assets, at $l3, 994, 1924. In
addition to this, there are claims preferred
against the government Of the district
amounting in the aggregate, reported by the
board Of audit, to So, l47, 787 4S, OF which the
greater part will probably he rejected This
sum can with no more propriety he included
in the debt Of the district government than
can the thousands of sums against the gen
eral government be included as portion OF
the national debt. But the aggregate
sum thus stated includes some
debt, chargeable exclusively to the District
of Columbia. The act Of Congress of Novem-
Der 28th, 1874, contemplates an apportion-
ment between the United States government
and the District Of Columbia in respect to
the payment Of the principal and interest of
the $3.50 bonds. Therefore in computing
with precision the bonded debt Of the District
OF the aggregate sums above stated as re-
spects the 3-65 bonds now issued, the out
standing certificates 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 manner indicated
i'll the act Of Congress of June Goth, 1874. l
especially invite your attention to the recon-
mendation of the commissioners of the sink.
ing fund relative to the ambiguity of the act
OF June Goth, 1874, the interest GU the dis
trict bonds and the consolidation of the in
debtedness to date. feel much indebted to
the gentlemen who consented to leave their
private affairs, aud come from distance, to
attend to the business of this district, and
tor the able and satisfactory manner in which
it has been conducted, I am sure their
services will be generally appreciated by the
entire country
1t will be seen from the accommodating
full report of the board Of health that the
sanitary condition OF the District is very sat.
islactory. In my opinion the District Of Co.
lumbia should be regarded as the ground OF
the National Capitol, in which the entire
people are interested. do not allude to this
to urge generous appropriations to the Dis
trict, but to draw the attention of Congress
in framing law for the morale OF the Dis
trict to the magnificent scale Oh which the
city was planned by the founders of the gov
eminent, the manner in which, tor orna-
mental purposes, the reservations, streets
Of the property actually possessed by the
general government. think the proportion
of the expenses and improvements to be
borne by the general government in the
cities Of Washington and Georgetown. and
the country should be carefully and equitably
defined
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
IL accordance with section 80 of the act
approved June 2ad, 1874, l appointed a
board to make a survey OF the mouth Of the
Mississippi river with a view to determine
the best method Of obtaining and maintain
ing depth of water sufficient for the pur-
poses of commerce, &C., and in accordance
with an act to provide
for the appointment OF a
Commission OF Engineers to report plan
for the protection Of the alluvial basin Of the
Mississippi river subject to inundation,
appointed commission Of engineefs. Mel
ther board has yet completed its labors.
When their reports are received they will be
forwarded to Congress without delay.
(Signed) U. s. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. Z, 1874.