Ellsworth American., 1877-12-13
Vol. XIII. Whole No. l246. No.50.

for the suppression Of depradations on ths
public timber lands OF the United States,
| for the selling of timber from the public
lands and for the preservation offorests,
be embodied in a law, and that considering
the urgent necessity of enabling the peo-
Pile OF certain States and Territories to pur-
| chase timber from the public lands, In Q
legal manner. which At present they ssn-
not do, such law be passed without una.
veidable delay.
THE DESERT LANDS.
I would also call the attention Of Congress
to the statements made by the Secretary OF
the Interior, concerning the disposition
| that might be made of the desert lands not
irrigated west OF the l0Otn meridian.
| These lands are practically unsaleable un-
der existing laws, and the suggestion Is
worthy OF consideration, that q system OF
lease hold tenure would make them . source
of profit to the United States, while at the
same time legslizing the business OF cattle
raising, which is at present carried on upon
| them.
TUE AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
The Report of the Commissioners Of Ag-
riculture contains the gratifying announce
nent OF the extraordinary success which
has rewarded the agricultural industry sf
the country for the past year. With the
fair prices which We obtain for the products
of the soil, especially for the surplus
which our people have to export We may
confidently turn to this as the most Iin-
! portant OF all of our resources for the revi-
val OF depressed industries of the country.
The Report shows our agricultural prog
ress during the year. and contains the
statement OF the work done by this depart
I for ha
Industry upon which the prosperity OF our
people so argely depends. Matters Of in
formation are Included, ofgreat interest to
all who seek by the experience OF others,ts
| improve their own methods OF cultivation.
| The efforts OF the Department to Increase
the production Of important articles Of
consumption, will, 1t is hoped, improve the
! demand for labor and advance the business
OF the couatry, and eventually result In
saving some OF the many millions that are
now annually paid TO foreign nstions for
sugar and other staple products which ha-
bitual use has made necessary in our do
mestic every day life.
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
The board on behalf Of the United States
Executive Departments at the International
/ Exhibition of 1876 has concluded its labors.
| The final report of the board was trans
mitted to Csigress by the President near
the close OF the last session. As these pa-
pers are understood to contain interesting
and valuable Information, and will consti-
tnte the only report emauating from the
| Government on the subject of the exhibit
| ton, invite attention to the matter and
recommend that the report be published
! for General Information.
TIE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
\ Congress is empowered by the ConstItu-
( ton With the authority of exclusive legls-
| latiuu over the District OF Columbia In
which the seat of Government of the nation
I Is located The interests of the District,
having no directlrcpresentation In Con-
grc-s, are entitled to especial consideration
aud care at the hands CT tie general Gov
I crnmeut. The capital of the United States
/ belongs 10 the nation aud it ls natural that
the Amercsn people should take pride In
the .cat OF their national Government and
desire II 10 be- an ornament to the country.
4 Much has been done TO render 1t healthful,
Y convenient and attractive. but much re-
mains 10 be done which it, permanent Is-
habltsuts are not able and ought nos bs
+ expected TO do. TO impose upon them a
large proportion OF the cost required FOR
! public improvements, which are In great
measure planned and executed for the
U q
| many thousands of visitors from ali parts
OF thr country who temporarily reside at
the capital OF the nation, Is an evident In
ju,tlce.
Special attention Ia asked by the com
mi-sioners Of the District in their report,
which is herewith transmitted. 10 the Inl-
portance of a permanent adjustment by
Congress OF the iinaLcial relations between
the United State. and the District, Iuvolv-
Ing the REGULAR annual contribution OF the
[ nited States; OF 1t, Just proportion of sho
expense OF the District Government; Of
the outlay for all needed public improve
ments; and such measure OF relief from
the burden of the taxation row rss,ing Oh
the people Of the District, a, in the wisdom
| of Congress may be deemed just. The re-
port OF the Commissioners shows the ar
fairs OF the District are In \ condition As
satisfactory as could be expected, In view
OF the heavy debt resting upon 1t and It's
very limited means for necessary expenses.
TIE DISTRICT DEBT.
The debt OF the District Is AS follows:
Ola funded debt, IS ,319, ,69l 90; 3s5 bonds
guaranteed by the United States, Sl3.743.-
80; total bonded debt go, III, ,94I s6, to
which should be added certain outstanding
claims as explained in the report OF the
commissioners, 81 ,lS2 204 So. total debt Of
the District, SIS $40, l45. As. The Commls-
sonsrs also ask attention to the impor-
tsnce of the Improvement of the Potomac
| River and the Teclaiming 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 is ais" herewith transmitted.
| Both the commercial and sanilorisl inter.
ests of the District will be greatly promo
! ted, no doubt, by this Improvement. Your
attention is invited to the suggestion OF the
Commissioners OF the Board OF Health for
the organization OF Board OF Charities,
to have supervision ard coutrol OF the dis
bursement of all moneys for charitable
purposes from the District Treasury.
THE SCHOOLS.
desire also to ask your especial atten-
tion to the need of adding to the efficiency
| of the public schools OF the District, BY
supplemental aid from the National Treas-
uIy. This is especially just since SO large
a number OF those attending the schools
are children of employees OF the Govern
ment. earnestly commend to your care
the interests o. the people Of the District,
who are 80 intimately associated with the
Government establishments to whose en-
terprise the good order and attrsctiveness
OF the Capital are largely due, and ask
your attention TO the request of the Com
missloners for legislation In behalf of the
interests intrusted to their care. The
appropriations asked for the care of the
reservatisns belonging to the Government
within the city, by the Commissioner of
Public Buildings and Grounds, are also
commended to your favorable considera-
tions.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
The report OF the joint commission
created by the act approved August ID,
| 1876, entitled an act providing for the
completion OF the Washington Monument,
is also herewith transmitted with ACCOM-
panying documents. The Board Of Enai-
neers and officers detailed TO examine the
monuiAent in compliance with the second
section OF the act have reported that the
foundation is insufficient. No authority
exists for making the expenditures necee-