The Leavenworth weekly times., 1877-12-06
OUR FORESTS.


gr~;ionS made by the Secretary If the i1,e-
nor concerning the depredaiiUn- commit ID
upon the timber lands of the nite,i Stats
snd the necessity for ,he preservation ot the
fOrests IL Is believed that the measures taken
IN pursuance OF the existing law TO arrest
these depredations will be entirely succ,Ss-
ful ii Congress, by an appro;. .iatiou for that
purpose. ndeTs their continued ,niOrcJ-
ment possible. The experience OF other
nations teaches us that country cannot be
STRIPPED OF IFS FoREsrs
with impuuiiy, and We shall expose our
selves 10 the gravest consequences unless
the imprudent manner in which the
forests in the nited State, are DESTROYED
is effectually checked. earnestly re
commend that the measures suggested by
the Secretary OF the Interior for the sup
preston of the depreciation on the pubic
timber lands of the United States for the
selling of timber from the public lands and
for the preservation OF the forests, be EN-
bodied in the law, and that,
considering the urgent neces-Itv of enab-
ling the people of certain states and terrific
rits To purchase timber from the public
lands N legal manner, which, at present,
they cannot do. that a law be passed with
out unavoidable delay.
OUR DESERT LANDS.
would also call the attention OF Con-
gress to the statements made by the Secreta-
ry OF the Interior concerning the disposition
that might be made of the desert lands not
irrigated west of the one-hundredth meri-
den. These lands are practically unsalea-
bic under existing laws, and the suggestion
is worthy of consideration that a system OF
lease-hold tenure would make them sourc,
of profit TO the United States, while, at III,
same time, legaliziDg the bu-iness of cattle
raising which is at present carried ON upon
them.
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Commissioner of Agri-
culture contains the gratifying announce
ment Of the extraordinary success which has
rewarded the agricultural industry Of the
country for the past year, with the faeili'
ties which obtain for us the products of the
soil, especially for the surplus which
our people have to export. We
NAV confidently turn to this
as the mos, important of all our resource
for revival of the depressed industries o
the country The report shows our agricul
tural progress during the year and contains
a statement of the work done by this De
partment for the
ADVANCEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INDUS
TRY,
upon which the prosperity OF our people st
largely depends. Matters of Information
are included of great interest to all wht
seek, by the experience of Others, TO improv,
their own methods OF cultivation
The efforts of the Department tC
increase the production Of important articles
Of consumption will, it is hoped, improve
the demand for labor and advance the
business of the country, and, eventually
result in saving some of the many million,
that are annually paid to iorel On nation'
for sugar and other products which habit
ual use has made necessary in our domestic
everyday life.
THE CENTENNIAL.
The Board. on behalf of the nitsd State,
Executive departments at the International
Exposition Of 1876, has concluded Its la
bors, and the final report OF the Board wa'
transmitted to Congress at the last session
As these papers are said to contain inter
estinp and valuable Information. and con
stitute the only report emanting from th,
Government ON the subject OF the eShIbi
ton. invite attention To the matter. and
recommend that the report be published ior
general information.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Congress is empowered by the Constitu
ton, with the authority of exclusive legisia
sion over the District Of Columbia, in which
the seat Of Government Of the Nation Is 10
Gated The interests Of the District, having
no direct representative in Congress, are
entitled to special consideration and care al
the hands oi the general government. The
Capitol of the [ nited States belongs to the
Nation, and it Is natural that the American
people should take pride in the seat of thelr
National Government and desire that II
should he an ornament to the country, and
much has been done 10 render 1t
BEAUTIFUL, CONVENIENT AND ATTRACTIVE,
but much remains to be done which its per,
manent inhabitants are not able and ought
not to be expected to do, and To impose ON
them large proportion of the cost reqUIr-
ed Tor the public improvements which are
in a great measure planned and executed
for the convenience Of the Government and
OF the MANY thousands of visitors from all
parts of the country who temporarily re
side in the Capitol OF the Nation, l. an evi-
dent injustice.
SPECIAL ATTENTION
is asked by the Commissioners OF the Dis
trict in their report which Is herewith
transmitted. to the importance OF ptrma-
nent adjustment, by Congress, OF the tinancla!
relations between the United States and the
District, involving the regular annual con
tribution by the United State, OF Its Just
proportion of the expenses OF the District
government, and Of the outlay for all needed
public improvements and such measures ol
relief from the burden Of taxation now rest
ing on the people of the District as, in the
wisdom OF Congress, may be deemed Just.
The report Of the Commissioners show that
the affairs Of the District are in Il condition
a. satisfactory as could he expected, in view
Of the heavy debt resting upon it, and it-
very limited means for necessary expenses.
THE DEBT OF THE DISTRICT
is as follows: Old funded debt, S3,196,-
1885,; 3-65 bonds guaranteed by the
Jnited States, Sl3, A., ,25O; total bonded
debt, 30 IL, ,9il 80, to which should be adj
ded certain outstanding claims, explained
in the report Of the Commissioners, sll,-
S22, g25. making the total debt of the Dis
trict S23, ,3lOl46,4 As. The commission also
ask attention to the Importance Of the i'm
proyement Of the Potomac river and the
condition Of the marshes bordering the city
Of Washington, and their views upon this
subject are concurred in by the members OF
THE BOARD OF HEALTH,
whose report il also herewith transmitted.
Both the commercial and sanitary interests
OF the District will be greatly promoted,
doubt not, by this improvement. Your at
iention is invited To the suggestions Of the
commissioners and Of the Board OF Health
for the organization of Board Of Charities,
to have supervision and control OF the dis
bursement of all monies Tor charitable pur-
poses from the District treasury.
| wish also to ask your special attention
to the need Of an addition To the deficiency
Of the
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF the District by supplemental aid from
the National Treasury. This is especially
Just, since 30 large number Oi those at
tending the schools are children OF employees
OF the Government. i earnestly commend
to your care the interests Of the people Of
the District, who are 40 intimately associa-
ted with the Government, and To whose en-
terprise the good order and attractivenes-
OF the capital are largely due, and j ask
your attention To
THE REQUEST OF THE COMMISSIONERS
for legislation in behalf Of the interests in
trusted to their care The appropriations
asked for, for the care of the reservations
belonging to the Government within the