The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-12-17
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

forward herewith the plan and re-
port OF commissioners appointed UNI
/ der an act of congress approved June
Goth 1874. to wind up the affairs of the
District Government. II Will be seen
! from the report that the total debt of
the District of Columbia, less assets on
hand and available, in bonded debt is
! sued prior to June 1st, 1874 is 1885,
! go. 1856; bonds of act of Congress
June Goth, 1874, 81, 0SS, 1878: certifi-
Gates Of the board Of audit, SAY ,055,-
S45; total Sl5, 742, 667.6l; less special
! Improvement assessments chargable
to private property in excess Of any de-
mand against such assessments, Sl6l,-
! i05. f37; less Chesapeake and Ohio ca
nal bonds, $4,000, and Washington
and Alexander bonds 1900; in the
/ bonds of the commissioners of the
sinking fund, SSl74 800, 439: leaving ac-
! tual debt less said fund of 81 1893. 46l, =
| 1924 in addition TO this there are claims
preferred against the Board of the
District amounting in the aggregate, as
reported by the Board of Auditors, to
So, 147, 1898, OF which a quarter part
will probably be rejected. This sum
can with no more propriety be includ-
ed in the debt of the District govern
ment than the thousands of claims
against the general government can
be included as a portion of the na-
| tional debt but the aggregate
sum thus stated includes some
thing more than the funded debt
chargeablc exclusively TO the District
of Columbia. The act of Congress Of
November 2Sth, 1873, contemplates an
apporiionment between the United
Stated government and the District of
Columbia, in respect Of the payment
of the principal and interest of 1868
bonds; therefore, in comprising with
precision the bonded debt of the Dis
trict, the aggregate sums above stated
as respects the 3-65 bonds now issued,
the outstanding certificates OF the
board of auditors, and the I'M just claims
pending before that board, should be
| reduced TO the extent Of the amount
appropriated 20 the United States
government.
In the matter indicatek in the act of
Congress of June 10Th, 1874, especial
| ly invite your attention 10 the RECON-
mcndations Of the sinking fund, rela-
tive TO the ambiguity Of the act of June
20th, 1874, the interest on the District
bonds, aud the consolidation OF indebt-
edBcss to the District. | feel much
indebted to the gentlemen whoconsent-
ed 10 leave their private affairs and
from distance to attend to the bust
ness of this District, and for the able
and satisfactory manner in which 1t
has been conducted. am sure their
services will be equal appreciated by
the entire country.
1t will be seen from TIE accompany
ing full report of the board of heait h
that the sanitary condition of the Dis
trict very satisfactory. In my opinion
the District Of Columbia should be re-
gardcd as the grounds OF the national
capital, in which the entire people are
interested. | do not allude TO this TO
| urge general appropriation to the
District, but to draw the attention of
congress, in framing a law for the gov
eminent of The District, to the magni-
iicent scale Oh which the city was plan
ned by the founders of the government
the manner in which for ornamental
purposes the reservations, streets and
avenues are laid out, and the proper
ton of the property actually possessed
by the general government. ! think
the expenses Of the government and
Improvements to be born by the gen
eral government, the cities of Washing
ton and Georgetown and the country
should he carefully and equally defin-
ed, in accordance with section of the
act approved June 25, 1874.
appoint a board to make a survey
Of the mouth of the Mississippi river,
with view TO determine the best
method of obtaining and maintaining
Il debth of water sufficient for pur-
poses OF navigation,i in accordance with
an act entitled IAN act TO provide for
the appointment of a commission Of
engineers 20 investigate and report a
permanent plan for the excavation of
the alluvial basin of the Mississippi
river subject to inundation, appoint
ed commission of engineers. The
board has not yet compelled its labors.
When its reports are received, they
will be forwarded to congress with
out delay.
Signed L. ;. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dec. Z, 1874.