Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-12-07

wisdom of Congress- may be deemed Just. The |
report of the Commissioners shows the affairs of
the District are i1 condition as satisfactory az
ing upon it, and its very limited tteaps for pec-
essary expenses. The debt of the District iA aa
follows Old funded debt. $sS79, ,6Ol.g6t 1855
bonds guaranteed by the United States, Sl37i9,-
$50; total bonded debt, S22 ,944l6, to which
should be added certain outstanding claims ex-
planned in the report Of the Commissioners, 81,
is2. .2O4.5Oy making the total debt of the Dis
trict, S23 310, 1888. The Commissioners also
ask attention 70 the Importance of the inn
provement of the Potomac River, and the
reclamation of the marshes bordering the
city of Washington, apd their views upon
the subject are cQncurred in by the members OF
with transmitted. Both the commercial and
sanitary interests of the District Will be greatly
promoted, ! doubt not by this Improvement m mt
Commissioners and of the Board of Health for
the organization of board of charities, to have
supervision and control of the disbursement of
all moneys for charitable purposes from the Dis
triCt Treasury | desire also to ask your especial
attention to the need of adding to the efficien-
Elemental aid from the National Treasury.
This is especially just since SO large a
number of those attending the schools are emil
dren of employees of the Government. ear
nestly recommend to your care the interests OF
the people of the District who are so intimately
associated with the Government establishments,
and to whose enterprise the good order and at
tractiveness of the capital are largely due, and
ask your attention to the request OF the COmmls-
intrusted to their care. The appropriations asked
for the care of the reservations belonging to the
Government within the city, by the, Commits
sioner of Public Buildings and Grounds are also
recommended to your favorable consideration.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
the act annroyed knp, d 1876, an act providing
for the completion of the Washington Monument,
is also herewith transmitted, with accompanying
documents. The Board of Engineers, officers de
/ tailed to examine the monument, in compliance
with the second section of the act, have re-
ported that the foundation ~ insufficient. NO
authority exists for making the eXpendl-
tMre necessary to secure its stability. l
therefore recommend that the commls-
sion, be authorized to ,eXpend such portion
be necessary for the purpose. The present unfn-
ished condition of the monument, begun 30 long
ago, is a reproach to the nation. 1t cannot be
doubted that the patriotic sense of the country
will warmly respond to such prompt provision az
may be made for its completion at an early day,
and Turge upon Congress the proprlety and ne
cessity of immediate legislation for this purpose.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
The wisdom of the Legislation upon the part OF
Congress in aid of the States for the education of
the whole people in those branches of fstudy which
are taught in the common schools OF the country
is no longer question: The ntellgenI 19aglneint t i
both constitutional and expedlent for the General
Government to extend tn technical and higher ed-
ucaton such aid as il deemed essential to the gen
eral welfare and to our due prominence among the
enlightened and cultivated nations of the world.
The ultimate settlement of all questions OF the
of true nationality of sentiment, depends upon
the virtue and intelligence of the people. IL is
vain to hope for the success OF tree government
without the means of insuring the intelligence
of those who the source OF power. NO less
than one-seventh of the entire voting population
of our country are yet unable 70 reaa anu WriIe. t
growth of fraternal feeling in those States IN
which slavery formerly existed evidences of in
creqsing interest in universal edncatlon' and ana l
shall be glad to give my approval to any appro-
pirate measure which may be enacted by Con
gress for the purpose of supplementing,. with
national aid, the local systems of education IN
these States and in all the States. And having
already invited your attention To the needs or
the District of Columbia with respect TO the pub
lic-school system. L here add that believe IT de-
sirabe not so much to the local wants of the
District, but to the great and lasting beneht OF
the entire country, that tins system should @ De
crowned with university in all respects IN Keep
ing with the national capital and thereby reallze
the cherished hopes of Washington on this sub
ject. also earnestly commend the request OF the
Regents of the Smithsonian Institute, that an
adequate appropriation be made for the estapllsn-
ment and conduct of a National Museum, under
their supervision. The necessity of proyldlng Tor
the preservation and growth of the library OF
Congress is also of national Importance. AZ the
depository of all copyright publications. and
records this library has Outgrown the PROVISIONS
for it's accommodation, and the erection On such
site as the judgment of Congress may approve
of a fire-proOf library building to preserve the
treasures and enlarre the usefulness of this valu-
able collection if recommended.
NATIONAL. MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS;
recommend also such legislation as Will rem
der available and efficient for the purpose of in
structiOn. so far as consistent with public serv.
ice, the cabinets or museums OF lnyentlon, OF
surgery of education and of agriculture, and
other collections, the property of the National
Government. -,
The CAPITAL of the nation should be something
more than a mere political center. We should
avail ourselves of all the opportunities, which
Providence has placed at our command to adj
vance the general intelligence of the people and
increase the conditions most favorable to the
success and perpetuity of our institutions.
Il. B. HAYES.