Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-12-13


nor annum. and the decrease of the
deficiency in The resources, have been
at the rate of nearly two per cent per
annum.
AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
The report Of the Commissioner OF
Agriculture. accompanying this
message, will be found one OF great
interess, marking as it docs the great
progress Of the last century in the
variety Of productions Of the soil in
increased knowledge and skill in the
labor Of producing, saving and man
ipnlating tho same to prepare them
for the use of man, in the improve
ments of machinery TO aid the agri-
culturist in Ills labor, and in a
knowledge OF scienti fic subjects nee
cessary to thorough system Of
economy in agricultural production,
viz: chemistry, botany, entomology
etc, A study of the report by those
interested in agricultural and deriv-
ing their support from it will be
found of value in pointing out those
articles which are raised in greater
quantity than the needs of the world
require, and must sell therefore for
less than the cost of production,
and those which command profit
over the cost of production because
there is not an over-production. /
call special attention to the need of
the department for o new gallery for
the reception of the exhibits returned
from the Centennial Exhibition, in
Guiding the exhibits donated by
many foreign nations and to the rec
concentrations Of Commissioner of
Agriculture generally.
OTHER REPORTS.
The reports Of the District Com
missioners and the Board of Health
are just received, too late to read
them and to make recommendations
thereon, and are herewith submit
ted.
THE CENTENNIAL Eek IIIBITION.
The international Exhibition held
in Philadelphia t his year, in COM
memoration Of the hundredth ami
versary of American independence,
has proven a great success, and will
no doubt be of enduring advantage
to the country. 1t has shown great
progress in the arts, sciences and
mechanical skill made in a
single century, and demonstrated
that we are but little behind the
older nations in any one branch,
while in some we have scarcely a
rival. 1t served to not only bring
people and products of skill and la
Dor from all parts Of the world to-
gether, but in bringing together peo-
pie from all sections of our own
country, which must prove a great
benefit in the information impaired
and pride of the country engendered.
1t has been suggested by scientists
interested in and connected with the
Smithsonian Institution, in a COM
munication herewith, that the Gov
eminent exhibit be removed to the
Capitol and a suitable building be
erected or purchased for its accom-
mediation as a permanent exhibit.
/ earnestly recommend this, and be-
lieving that Congress would second
this view directed that all Govern
ment exhibits at the Centennial Ex-
hibition should remain where they
are, except such as might be injured
by remaining in a building not in.
tended as protection in inclement
weather or such as may be wanted
by the department furnishing them
until the question Of a permanent
exhibition is decided on. Although
the moneys appropriated by Con-
gress to enable the representation of
the several executive departments in
the International Exhibition of 1876
were not sufficient TO carry out the
undertaking to the full extent as at
first contemplated, it gives me pleas
ore to refer to the very efficient and
creditable manner in which the
Board appointed from these several
departments to provide am exhibit
ton Of the Government, have dis
charged their duties with the funds
placed at their command, without a
precedent to guide them in the
preparation Of such q display. The
success Of their labors was amply at
tested by the sustained attention
which the contents of the Govern
ment Building attracted during the
period of exhibition, from both. for
eign and native people. 1 am
strongly impressed with the value Of
the collection made for the govern
ment for the purposes of the exhi-
bition, illustrating as it does the gen.
eral resources of the country, the
statistical and practical evidences of
our growth as nation, and the uses
OF the mechanical arts and the ap-
plications Of applied science in the
administration of the affairs of the
Government. Many nations have
voluntarily contributed their ex-.
hibits to the United States to in.
crease the interest in any permanent
exhibition that Congress NAV pro.