Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-17

TO successful issue without general approval
ana assistance, snd positive law TO support ii.
THE EMPLOYMENT or LABOR
nave stated that the elements Of prosper
lty 20 the nations capital-labo-, skilled and IN
skilled, and products Of the soil-stiu remain
Win Us. 10 direct the employment of these
Il problem deserving the most serious
attention OF Congress. If employment
can De given to all Labor Offering
4 ! prosperity necessarily follows.
here that the nrst requisite 10 the accomplish
ment OF this end is the substitution OF a sound
currency IN place Of one of iuctuatins value
rms secured, there are many interests that
might be fostered, to the great profit of both.
labor and capital How to induce capital 10 EN-.
ploy labor Is the question.
CHEAP TRANSFORMATION.
The subject of cheap transportation has Occu--
pied the attention of Congress New light on
this question will, without doubt be given BY the
committee appointed by the last Congress TO in
Vesugate and report upon this subject. -
THE OCEAN CARRYING TRADE
revival Of ship building and particularly of
IRON steamship building, is of vast importance
10 our national osperiUy. The United States is
now paying over S1,O00,0O0 per annUm for freights
ana passage on foreign ships to be carried abroad
ana expended in the employment and support of
other people, beyond fair percentage of what
should 60 TO foreign vessels, estimating on the
tonnage and travel of each respectively 1t is
TO be regretted that this disparity in the carry
ing trade exists, and to correct it / would be
WlInng 10 see a great departure from the usual
course OF the Government in suDpOrtinC what
might usually be termed private enter
prise. | would not suggest as a rem
edy direct subsidy to the American
steamship lines, but would suggest the direct
offer of ample compensation for carving the
mails between the Atlantic segbosrd cities and
the European Continent on AmerICan-Owned snd
anerlcan-oullt steamers, and would extend this
Hberahty TO vessels carrying the mails TO the
South American States and to Central America
and Mexico. and would pursue the same DoIicy
nDrfs on,
she Pacific. 1t might be demanded that vessels
built for this service should come up to stand
ard fixed by legislation in tonnage speed and all
other qualities, looking TO the possibility of the
Government requiring them at some time for war
purposes the right also of taking possession Of
them in such an emergency should be guarded
| offer these suggestions, believing them
worthy of consideration, in all seriousness affect
ing all sections and all interests alike. Ifanythng
better can be done to direct the country into q
course of general prosperity. no one will be more
ready than to second the plan.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Forwarded herewith will be found the report
of the Commissioners appointed under act of
Congress, approved June 20, 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 securities on hand
and available, is: The bonded debt issued prior
to July 1874, S8S83, SAC 49, 800 bonds BY act of
Congress June 70, 1874, S20SS 16- 70; certificates
of the Board of Audit, S4,77U,558.45; total S15,-
74266761; less special improvement ASSESS
ments chargeable to private property in
excess of any demand against such assess
ment' cs1,til4O55457; less oo6 Chesapseake &
ington & Alexandria Railroad bonds,
$4,000; in the hands of the Commissioners of
the Sinking Fund, S1,74S054.37; leaving the
actual debt, less said assets S13 1874 "a. In ad
dition to this there are claims preferred againts
the Government of the District amounting in
the aggregate, reported by the Board of Audit,
to S3,l47, 7S7.4S, of which the greater part will
probably be rejected. This sum can with no
more prOpriety be included in the debt of the
District Government than can the thousands of
claims against the General Government be in
Cluded as portion of the national debt; but the
aggregate sum thus stated includes something
more than the funded debt chargeable exclusive
ly to the District of Columbia.
The act of Congress of June 20, 1874, contem-
plates 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; there
fore, in computing with precision the bonded
debt of the District, the aggregate sums above
stated, az respects the 1865 bonds now issued, the
outstanding 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 in the act
of Congress of June 20, 1874. L especially invite
your attention to the recommendation of the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund relative to
the ambiguity of the act of june 90 1874, the in
terest on the District bonds, and the consolida-
ton of the Indebtedness of the District
feel much indebted to the gentlemen who
consented to leave their private affairs and come
from distance to attend 20 the business of this
District, ana 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 win be seen from the accompanying full re-
port of the Board of Health that the sanitary
condition of the District is very satisfactory. In
my opinion the District of Columbia should be
regarded the grounds of the National Capital
in which the entire people are interested. l
do not aliude to this TO urge generous appro-
priatiOns to the District but to draw the atten-
ton of Congress, in framing a law for the gov
eminent of the District, to the magnit-
cent scale on which the city was planned
by the founders of the Government the manner
in which. for ornamental purposes, the streets
and avenues were laid out, and what was the pro
portion OF the property actually possessed by the
General Government l think the proportion of
the expenses of the Government and improve
ments to be borne by the General Government
and the cities of Washington and Georgetown
and the country should be carefully and equitably
defined.
THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
In accordance with Sec. 3 of the act ap-
proved June %, 1874, l appointed a board to
make survey of the mouth of the Mississippi
River, with a view to determine the best
depth of water sufficient for the Pur-
poses of commerce, etc. and in accord
ance with an act entitled $ An act to provide for
the appointment of Commission of Engineers
tie investigate and report plan for the excava-
ton of the alluvial basin of the Mississippi River
of Engineers. Neither board has yet completed
its labors. When their reports are received they
will be forwarded to Congress without delay.
e ned) o. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. Z, 1874.