Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-12-06
PHOENIX BRATrLEBORO 1873

The question whether a change in the CON
troll Of the Indian service should be made was,
at the late session Of Congress, referred TO
Committee for inquiry and report. Without
desiring 10 anticipate that report venture to
express the hope that in the decision of so
important question, the views expressed
above maynot be lost sight.of, and that the de-
cision, whatever II may be, will arrest further
agitation of this subject, such agitation being
apt to produce disturbing effect on the SER
vice MS well as on the Indians themselves
THE HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION.
In the enrolment Of the bill making appro-
priatons for sundry civil expenses, at the
last session OF Congress, that portion which
provided for the continuation of the Hot
Springs Commission was omitted. As the
Commission had completed the work of tax
ing testimony on the many conflicting clnims,
the suspension of their labors, before determ-
lining the rights of claimants, threatened for
II time to embarrass the int rests. not only of
the government but also of large number
of the citizens of Hot Springs, who were
waiting for final action on their claims be-
fore beginning contemplated improvements
In order to prevent serious difficulties which
| were apprehended, and at the solicitation of
many leading citizens of Hot Springs. and
others interested in the welfare Of the town.
the Secretary of the Interior was authorized
to request the late Commissioners to take
charge of the records Of their proceedings and
to perform such work us could properly be
done by them under such circumstances to
facilitate the future adjudication Of the claims
at an early day, and to preserve the status of
the claimants until their rights should be
finally determined. The late commissioners
complied with that request, and report that
the testimony, in all the cases, has been writ
ten out, examined, brefed and so arranged
ms to facilitate AN early settlement when au-
thorized by law Its recommended that the
requisite authority be given at AS early
a day in the session as possible, and that a
fair compensation be allowed the late Com
missioners for the expense incurred and the
labor performed by them since the 25th of
June last.
TIMBER. LANDS.
invite tho attention of Congress to the
recommendations made by the Secretary of
the Interior with regard TO the preservation
of the timber on the public lands of the
United States. The protection of the public
property is one of the first duties of the gov
| crnment. The Department of the Interior
should, therefore, be enabled by sufficient
| appropriations, to enforce the laws in that le-
spcct. But this matter appears still more i'm
portant US question OF public economy.
| The rapid destruction of our forests is an
evil fnnght with the gravest consequences.
! especially in the mountainous districts. where
| the rocky slopes, once denuded of their trees
will remain 50 forever There the injury,
once done, cannot be repaired. l fully con.
cur with the Secretary of the Interior in the
opinion that for this reason, legislation
touching the public timber in the mountain
Gus States and Territories of the West should
he especially we'd considered, and that exist
ing laws, III which the destruction of the for
ests is not sufficiently guarded against should
be speedily modified. general law con
corning this important subject appears TO me
to be matter of urgent public necessity.
ABOUT FARMING.
From the organization of the government
| the importance of encouraging 10y all posi-
bic means, the increase of our agricultural
productions has been acknowledged and urged
| upon the attention of Congress and the peo-
! pie Is the surest and readest means of in.
creasing our substantial and enduring pros
perity. The words of Washington are as APP
! pllcnble to day rs when, in his eighth annual
message, he said at is not to be doubted
that with reference either to individual or ma.
tional welfare, agriculture is of primary i'm
portance. In proportion as nations advance
| III population and other circumstances Of ma
turty this truth becomes more apparent, and
U
more an object of public patronage. Insti
tutions for promoting it grow up supported
10y the public purse-and TO what object can
1t be dedicated with greater propriety
Among the means which have been employed
to this end, none have been attended with
greater success than the establishment of
Boards composed of proper characters,
charged with collecting and difusing infor
nation, and enabled, by premiums aud small
me- ftNtN md 70 4
spirit of discovery and improvement. tho
species of establishment contributing doubly
TO the Improvement by stimulating to enter
prise and experiment, and by drawing to a
common centre the results everywhere of in
dydual skill and observation, and spreading
them thence over the whole nation Expert
ence accordingly has shown that they are
very cheap instruments Of immense national
benefit The gieIt preponderance of the ag-
ricultural over any other interest in the
United States entities it to all the considera-
ton claimed for it by Washington. About
one-half of the population of the United
States Is engaged in agriculture. The value
OF the agricultural products of the United
States for the year 1878 is estimated ut three
thousand millions Of dollars The exports Of
agricultural products for the year is77, as
appears from the report of the Bureau of
Statistics, were five hundred and twenty four
millions of dollars. The great extent of our
country, with its diversity Of soil and climate,
enables us to produce within our own bor-
ders and by our own labor not only the nee
essaries but most of the Injuries that are con-
suned in civilized countries. Yet notwith-
standing our advantages of soil, climate and
INSTRUMENTATION, il appears from the sta
tistical statements in the report of the Com
missioner of Agriculture that We import an
nually from foreign lands many millions of
dollars worth of agricultural products which
could be raised in our own country. Numer-
Gus questions arise in the practice of adyanc-
ed agriculture which can only be answered
by experiments, often costly and sometimes
frui.less, which are beyond the means of pri-
waite individuals, and are a just and proper
charge on the whole nation. 1t is good poll |
cy especially in times of depression and un-
certainty in other business pursuits, with a
vast area of uncultivated and hence unproduc-
tive territory, wisely opened TO homestead
settlement, to encourage, by every proper
and legitimate means, the occupation and
tillage of the soil. The efforts of the Depart |
ment OF Agriculture to stimulate old and in |
troduce new agricultural industries, to i'm |
prove the quality and increase the quantity of |
our products, to determine the value of old |
or establish the importance of new methods |
OF culture, are worthy of your careful and ia |
vorable consideration, and assistance by such |
appropriations of money and enlargement of |
facilities as may seem 10 be demanded by the |
present favorable conditions for the growth |
and rapid development of this important in |
terest
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
The abuse of animals in transit is widely
attracting public attention. A national CON
vention of societies specially interested in |
the guhiect Inns rapanfly NIT RAJ