The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-12

ands of young Indians sent with him
had it been possible to make provisions
for them. I agree with the Secretary of
the Interior in saying that tthe result
OF this Interesting experiment, If favor
able, may be destined to become an i'm
portant factor in the advancement of
civilization among the Indians"
The question, whether change in
the control of the Indian service should
be made, was, at the last session of Con-
gress, referred to committee for inqui
ry and report. Without desiring to an
ticipate that report, venture to express
the hope that the decision of so impor
tant a question, the views expressed
above may not be lost sight of, and that
the decision, whatever it may be, will
arrest further agitation of this subject,
such agitation being apt to produce q
disturbing effect upon the service as well
as on the Indians themselves.
In the enrolment of the bill making
appropriations for sundry civil expenses,
at the last session of Congress, that por-
ton which provided for the continual
lion of the Hot Springs Commission
was omitted. AS the commission had
completed the work of taking testimony
on the many conflicting claims, the sus-
pension of their labors, before determin-
ing the rights of claimants, threatened,
for time to embarrass the interests,
not only of the Government, but also of
large number of the citizens of Hot
Springs, who were waiting for final ac-
ton on their claims before beginning
contemplated Improvements. In order
to prevent serious difficulties. which
were apprehended, and at the solicita-
tionsof 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 the proceedings, and to per-
form such as could properly be done by
them under such circumstances, to ia
cilitate the future adjudication of the
claims until their rights should be final
ly determined. The a.e commissioners
complied with that request, and report
that the testimony, in all the cases, has
been written out, examined, briefed,
and so arranged as to facilitate an early
settlement when authorized by law
1t is 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
18th of June last.
/ invite the attention of Congress to
the recommendations made by the Sec
rotary of the Interior with regard to the
preservation of the timber on the public
lands of the United States. The pro-
lection of the public property is one of
thefirst duties of the Government. The
Department ofthe Interior should there
fore, be enabled by sufficient appropria-
tons, to enforce the laws in that respect.
But this matter appears still more inn
portant as question of public economy.
The rapid destruction Of our forests is
an evil fraught with the gravest conse-
quences, especially in the mountain dis
tricts, where the rocky slopes, once de-
nuded of their trees will remain so for
ever. There the injury, once done, can
not be repaired. / fully concur with
the Secretary of the Interior in the
opinion that, for this reason, legislation
touching the public timber in the noun
famous States and Territories of the
West, should be especially well consid-
cred, and:.that existing laws, in which
the destruction of the forests is not suf-
ficiently guarded against, should be
speedily modified. A general law con
corning this important subject, appears
to me to be a matter of urgent public
necessity.
From the organization of the Govern
ment, the Importance. of encouraging,
by all possible means, the increase of
our agricultural productions has been
acknowledged and urged upon the at :
tention of Congress and the people as
the surest and readiest means of increas-
ing our substantial and enduring pros
perity.
The words of Washington are as APP
pllcable to-day as when, in the eighth
annual message, he said :-"It is not to
be doubted that with reference either to
individual or national welfare, agricul-
ture is of primary importance. In pro-
portion as nations advance in popula-
ton and other circumstances of MATURE
ty, this truth becomes more apparent,
and renders the cultivation of the soil
more and more an object of public pat
ronage. Institutions for promoting it
grow up, supported by the public purse
and to what object can it 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 diffusing
information, and enabled, by premiums
and small pecuniary aids, to encourage
and assist the spirit of discovery and
improvement, this species of establish
ment contributing doubly to theincrease
ofimprovement by stimulating to enter
prise and experiment, and by drawing
to common centre the results every
where of individual skill and observa-
ton, and spreading them thence over
the whole nation. Experience accord
ingly hath shown that they are very
cheap instruments of immense national
benefit"
The great preponderance of the agri-
cultural, over any other interest in the
United States, entities it to all the con-
sideration claimed for it by Washing
ton hnnt nna half of tho r,n,aulntinn