Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-12-10
RATES OF ADvrRr1s1ue.
The report of the Oommissionar ',,t, Of 81

: Thereporr of the eOommissioner of tn
: Bureau of Education shows very graft
4 tying progress throughout the country
IN all the interests committed to the car
] of this important Office. The report il
! especially encouraging with respect Il
the extension of the advantages of tn,
: common school system, in sections O
: the country where the general enjoy
ment OF the privilege of free schools il
not yet attained.
To education more than to any Other
agency we are to look, as the resource
for the advancement of the people. in
the regulate knowledge and apprecia-
! tion of their rights and responsibilities
as citizens, and desire to repeat the sug-
gestion in my former message in behalf
of the enactment of appropriate meas
ures by Congress for the purpose of sup
i plementing, with national aid, the local
I systems of education in the several
II States.
4 Adequate accommodations for the
( grost library, which is overgrowing the
h capacity of the rooms now occupied at
the Capitol, should be provided without
further delay. This Invaluable collec-
i tion OF oooEs, manuscripts, and illustra-
tive art, has grown to such proportions,
IN connection with the copyright sys-
tenn of the country, as to demand the
prompt.and careful attention of Congress
TO save 1t from injury in its present
crowded and insufficient quarters. AS
this library is national in its character.
and must, from the nature of the case
increase even more rapidly in the future
thanin the past, it cannot be doubted
that the people will sanction any wise
expenditure to preserve it and to enlarge
its usefulness.
Tne appeal of the Regents of the Smith
sonian institution for the means to or
ganlze, exhibit, and make available for
| the public benefit the articles now stored
away belonging to the National Museum
L heartily recommend to your favorable
consideration.
The attention of Congress is again
invited to the condition of the river
front of the city of Washington. 1t is
matter Of vital importance to the health
of the residents of the National Capital.
both temporary and permanent, that the
low lands in front of the city, now sub
Ject to tidal overflow, should be reclaim
ed. In their present condition these
hats obstruct the drainage of the city
and are dangerous source of malariaI
poison. The raclemation will improve
the navigation of the river by restricting
ana consequently deepening its chan
mel, and. is also of importance when
considered in connection with the ex-
tension Of the public ground and the en-
iargement of the park west and south of.
the Washington Monument. The re-
port of the board of survey, heretofore or
dered by act of Congress, on the i'm
provement of the harbor of Washington
and Georgetown, is respectfully COM
mended to consideration.
The report of the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia presents de-
tailed statement of the affairs of the Dis
trict.
The relative expenditures by the Uni
ted States and the District for local pur-
poses is contrasted, showing that the ex-
penditures by the people of the District
greatly exceed those of the General Gov
ernment. The exhibit is made in con-
nectlon with estimates for the requisite
repair of the defective pavements and
sewers of the city, which is work of
immediate necessity, and, in the same
connection, plan is presented for the
permanent funding of the outstanding
securities of the district.
The benevolent, reformatory, and
penal institutions of the District are all
entitled to the favorable attention of
Congress. The Reform School needs
additional BUILDINGS and teachers. An
proprlations which will place all of these
institutions in condition to become
models of usefulness and benefcence.
will be regarded by the country as
liberalIty wisely bestowed.
Inc commissioners, with evident lus-
tice, request attention to the discrimina-
t1on made by Congress against the Dis
trlct IN the donation ofland for the sup
port of the public schools, and ask that
the same liberality that has been shown
to the Inhabitants of the various States
and Territories of the United States, NAV
be extended to the District of Columbia.
The commissioners also invite atten-
tion to the damage inflicted upon public
and private interests by the present loca-
ton of the depots and switching-tracks
OF the several railroads entering the city.
and ask for legislation looking to their
removal. The recommendations and
suggestions contained in the report will,
trust, receive the careful consideration
of Congress.
Sufficient time has. perhaps, not elaps-
ed since the reorganization of the gov
ernment OF the District, under the recent
Legislation of Congress, for the express
sion ofa confident opinion as to its sue
cessful operation but the practical re-
suits already attained are so satisfactory
that the friends of the new government
may we'll urge upon Congress the wis
dom OF its continuance without essential
modification, until, by actual expert
ence, its advantages and defects NAV be
more fully ascertained.
r. 3. HAYES
Executive Mansion, Dec. 2, 1878.