The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-12-14
NO. 81.

/ Is n
| paired. 1 fully concur with the secretary o1
i The Interior in the opinion that for this rea.
| son legislation touching the public ber In
| the mountainous states and Territories of the
! West should be especially well considered, and
| that existing laws in which the destruction oi
/ forests Is not sufficiently guarded against
/ should be speedily modified. A general law
/ concerning this important subject appears to
me To be matter OF urgent public necessity.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
From the organization of the government,
| the importance Of encouraging. by all possi-
ole means, the increase of our agrieult tural pro-
| ductions, has been acknowledged ahd urged
upon the attention of congress AID the people
as the suresi aud easiest m cans of increasing
/ our substantial and enduring prosperity. The
| words of Washington are applicable to-day
| as when in his eighth annual message he said
| 1T is not To be doubted, thas with referent e
either to individual nail nal welfare, agri-
| culture is of primary Importance. In proper
| lion as nations advance In population and
| other circumstances Of maturity, that truth
+, becomes more apparent and renders the cult.
walton of The soil more and more an object oi
public pa Ionage. Institutions for promoting
1t grow mp supported by The public purse,
and to what object il be dedicated with
| greater propriety. Among the means whicH
! have been employed 10 his end none have
been attended with greater success than the
establishment of boards composed of proper
| characters, charged with collecting ana diffu
| sing information, aud enabled by premiums
! and small pecuniaTy aids to encourage and as
slst spirit of discovery and improvement.
! This spec es OF establishment Is contributing
| danbly to the increase and i'm provement by
stimulating To enterprise and ex pertinent. and
! by drawing 10 a common center the results,
everywhere, ef individual skill and obsery:-
| tion, and spreading tuen thence over the whole
nation. Experience accordingly hath shown
That they are very cheap instruments of i'm
mense national benefitn The great preponder-
ance of the agricultural over any other Interest
in the United Stafes entities il 10 all the con-
sideration claimed for it by Washington.
About one-nah OF the popu ation ofthe United
states are engaged in agriculture. The value
OF the agricultural products OF the United
estimated
thousand millions of d liars. The expense of
agricultural products for the year lsT7, as APP
pears from the report OF the bureau OF statis-
tics, are S524 o 0,OG0. The great extent on our
country, with its diversity of soil and climate
enables ns TO produce within our borders and
by our own labor not only The necessares. but
most OF che iuxuries, that are consumed IN
civilized countries. Yet notwithstanding cur
advantages OF SOIL, climate and intercommunl-
cation, 1T appears from the statistical state
mentS IN The report OF the Cam missioner of Ag-
ricnlture that we import annually from for
eign lands many millions of dollars worth of
agricultural products which COULD be raised in
our own country. Numerous questions arise
in the prs ctice of advanced agriculture which
can only be answered by experiments, often
costly and sometimes frultiess, which are be-
yond the means OF private individuals, and are
just ano dFOper charge of the wnoie nation
For the be neht of The nation 1t is good policy
especially, III times OF depression and uncer-
tainty in other business pursuits, with a vast
area of uueultivateu and hence unproductiye
territory, 10 wisely open homestead settle
ments ana TO encourage, in every proper and
ana Llliape OF
the soil. The efforts OF the depar. ment OF ag-
rIculturc 10 stimulate, ana iairaauce new agrI-
cultural INDUSTRIES; 70 I'M prove The quality
determine the value of old, or establish The
Importance of new modes of culture, are worthy y
of your careful and favorable consideration,
ana assistance by such appropriations OF
money aid enlargement of faciiIles as may
seem 10 be deinaaded by the present favorable
condition for the growth anu rapid develop
nent OF this i'm poftant interest.
THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS.
The abuse OF amin ais IN transit is widely at
tracing public attention. national eonven-
ton OF so;ietes specially interested IN the sub
1ecJ has recently met at baltimore, and the
facts developed both in regard 10 crueities to
animals, and the effect OF such cruelties upon
the pubic health, now seem 10 demand the
careful considers. ion of congress, and the en-
actment OF more efficient laws for the preven-
ton of these abuses.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
The report of the Comm Missioner of the Brr
eau OF Education shows y very gratifying pro-
gress of country in all interest committed
to the care OF this important Office. The re-
port is especially encouraging with respect 10
the extension of advantages of the common
school system in The sections of the country
where the general enjoyment of the privi-
leges is not yer attained. To education more
than to all o. her agencies TO look as
source for advancement OF the people in The
requisite knowledge and appreciation of their
rights and responsibilities as citizens, and
desire TO repeat The suggestion contained in
my former message In behalf of the enact
ment of appropriate measures by congress for
the purpose OF experimenting with national
and local systems of education in the several
states, and for adequate accommodation of the
great library which is oyergrowing the capa-
the capitol should be provided without fur
lher delay. This invaluable collection of
books, manuscripts and illustrative art has
grown to such proportions in connection with
the copyright system of The country To de-
cuagress 10 save il from ioiury in ias nresent o
crowded and insufficient quarters. AS this
library is national in lis character. anu must
from the natuie OF the case Increase even
more rapidly in the future Than in the past,
it cannot be doubted that the people will
sanction any wise expenditure to preserve and
enlarge lis usefulness.
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE.
The appeal of the agents of the Smithsonian
institute for means Ia organize. exhibit and
make available for public benefit he articles
museum. / heartily recommend 1t 10 your
consideration.
THE DISTRICT OF 60 UMBIA.
The attention OF congress is again invited
to the condition of the river FROM of the city
of Washington. II is a matter of vital impof-
tance 10 the health of the re sidents of the
national capitol. both temporary and peIma-
nent, that the low lands IL front OF the city,
now subject to tidal ovei flow, should be re-
claimed. In their present condition these
flats obstruct the drainage of the city, and
are dangerous source of maIarial poison.
The reclamation will Improve the navigation
of the river by restricting and consequently
deepening its channel. and Is also OF Impor-
tance when considered in connection with
the extension of the public ground and the
enlargement OF the park west and sou, h Of
the Ma hington monument. The report OF
the board of survey her etofore ordered by act
of congress on improvem Mt OF Lheharbor of
Washington and Georgetown, is respectfully
commented 10 consideration. The report OF
presents detailed statement of the affairs OF
the district relative TO expenditures by the
United states and the district for Ipcaf pnr-
poses, as eontrasted, showing that the expen-
dtures by the people of the district greatly
exceed those OF the general government The
exhibit is made in connection with estimates
for requisite repairs of detective pavemeufs
ald sewers of the city, which is work OF im-
ton a plan is presented for permanent fund
ing OF the tstanding securities of the district
The benevolent. REFORM and renal institutions
of the district all entitled to the favorable
attention of congress. The reform school
needs additional buildings and teachers. APP
preparations which will place all these insfi-
tutions in a condition To become models oil
usefulness and beneficieBce will be regarded
as iioeraliiy wisely bestowed. The commis-
sioners, with evident justice, request attention
TO the discrimination made by congress against
the district in the donation of land for the
support of the pubic SCHOOLS. ask that the
same liberaluy that has been shown 10 the
Inhabitants OF the various states ..ad terri
Iaries OF The United States be extended To the
Ii istrict of Coiun bia.
Ihe commissioners also invite attention IN
the damage inflicted upon public and private
Interests ny the present location of the de-
pots and switching tacks oil the several rail-
roads entering the city, and ask for legislation
looking 10 their removal. Tue recon- menda-
tions and suggestions contained In the-report
trust Will receive the careful consideration OF
congress.
sufficient time has perhaps not elapsed since
the reorganization OF the government of The
district under the recent alton of congress
for the expression of a confident opinion AS 70
! It's successful occupation. The practical results
already attained are satisfactory that the
friends OF the new government may well urge
upon congress the wf,dom OF its contiuuaBce
with essential modl fcaiion, uufii by actual
experieLce Its advantages and defects may be
more fully ascertained. r. b. HAYES.
| ExEcJ-TIvE MANSION. Dec. 2, 1875.
sshall | help you to alightln asked a