New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-18
ENLIGHTENED GOVERNMENT.

The United States Government has had a
reputation for accomplishing certain things in
the higher lines of administration with better
results and more modest means than almost
anv other Government in the world. 1t has
brought the Postal Service to remarkable per-
lection, if we consider the vast extent of new
country which it has had to cover. 1t has
created one Of the best military schools in the
wOrld-though it is one of the smallest and
cheapest. 1t has secured Army and Navy of
ficers who take rank with the most thoroughly
educated of any service. All its scientific
bureaus-the astronomical establishment in
connection with the Navy, the Signal Service,
the Coast Survey, the Light House Board,
etc-are admitted TO be among the best
in existence. Yet, strange to say, the depart
ments which do us the highest credit are
those which are worst treated by our legisla-
tors. II may be worth while to see what the
Democratic Congressman who have just gone
home, to give an account to their hungry con-
stituents, have done for some of the branches
of administration which deserve most at the
hands of enlightened and patriotic lawgivers.
just now great number of the most emil
nent European astronomers are coming to
which will be visible week after next in the
Far West. Many of them will be curious to see
the Naval Observatory at Washington, an in
stitution which has rendered the most
brilliant services to science, the work
"ing-place," as correspondent Of ours
remarked, "Of men whose names are
4" honored in every land, and the results of
"whOse labOrs are sought wherever civiliza-
" ton has a foothOld." If they visit the Capt.
tai they will find this Observatory, the third
in the world in point of Importance, situated
on the edge of q malariOus marsh, whose poi
son has already killed one of the staff and is
rapidly destroying the health of the Others.
The buildings are two hideous cheap struc-
lures, whose brick walls are literally falling to
pieces. The fences are broken the grounds
are overgrOwn with weeds the walks and
roads are worn by travel and cut up by tor
rents. Everything speaks OF poverty and dis
comfort because Congress has withheld the
pittance necessary to keep the place in repair.
After much urging, a commission was ap-
pointed to consider the question of removing
the Observatory to some place where the as
tronomers could work without danger of
death, and could look through q tele-
scope without finding miasmatic fog rising
to shut off their view of the heavens but
Congress would give no money for the prelim-
mary work, and the Commissioners are required
to submit plans without any funds TO pay
architects.
The Library of Congress is vast and pre-
cious collection under the charge of half-paid
gentleman whose rare qualifications for the
post he holds are the admiration of all who
know him, and of many thousands who have
only heard of him as one Of the few great
Librarians living If we go into this storehouse
of books we shall find the floors numbered
with huge piles of volumes for which no room
can be found on the shelves. Cases have
been placed in every available corner and still
the mass accumulates, until the library is
choked by its own richness, and books become
useless because they are buried. Every