The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-14

the statistical statements in the report of the Com
missioner of Agriculture, that we import annually
| from foreign lands many millions of dollars
worth OF agricultural products which could be
raised in our own country
Numerous questions arise in the practice of adj
vanced agriculture which can only be answered
by experiments. often costly and sometimes fruit
less. which are beyond the means OF private in
dividuals, and are ust and proper charge on the
| whole nation for the benefit of the nation It il
good policy, especially in times of depression and
uncertainty in other business pursuits, with a
vast area of uncultivated, and hence unprOductive
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 Department of Agriculture to stimu-
late old and introduce agricultural industries
to improve the quality and increase the quantity
OF our products, to determine the value OF old or
establish the Importance Of new methods of Gull
ture, worthy of your careful and favorable con-
sideration and assistance by such appropriations
| Of money and enlargement of facilities as may
seem to be demanded by the present favorable
| conditions for the growth and rapid development
OF this important interest.
The abuse of animals in transit is widely at
tracing public attention A national convention
OF societ es specially interested in the subject has
recently met ut Baltimore, and the facts deve
oped, both in regard to cruelty to animals and the
effect of such crueties upon the public health
would seem to demand the careful consideration
OF Congress, and the enactment of more efficient
| laws for the prevention of these abuses.
The report Of the Commissioner OF the Bureau
OF Education shows very gratifying progress
throughout the country, in all the interests com
mitted to the care of this important office. The
report Is especially encouraging with respect to the
extension of the advantages of common school
system, in sections of the country where the
general enjoyment of the privilege Of free schools
| is 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 requisite knowledge and ap-
probation OF their rights and responsibilities as
citizens, and desire to repeat the suggestion con-
tanned In my former message in behalf of the en-
actment of appropriate measures by Congress for
| the purpose of suppementing, with national aid,
| the local systems Of education in the several
| States.
Adequate accommodations for the great library,
which is overgrowing the capacity of the rooms
now occupied at the Capital should be provided
without further delay. This invaluable collection
of books, manuscripts and illustrative art, has
grown to such proportions, in connection with the
copyright system of the country, as to demand the
prompt and careful attention of Congress to save
it from injuryi in its present crowded and INSULT
| cient quarters. As this library is national in its
character, and must, from the nature 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 it and
| to enlarge its usefulness.
The appeal of the Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution for the means to organize, exhibit,
and make available for the public benefit the
articles now stored away belonging to the National
Museum, heartily recommend to your favorable
| consideration.
The attention of Congress is again invited to the
condition Of the riverfront of the city of Washing
ton. 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 subject to tidal overflow,
| should be reclaimed. In their present condition,
these flats obstruct the drainage of the city, and
| are dangerous source of malaral poison The
| reclamation will improve the navigation of the
river, by restricting and consequently deepening
its channel; and is also of importance when con-
| sidered in connection with the extension OF the
public ground and the enlargement of the park
west and south of the Washington monument
The report Of the Board of Survey, heretofore
ordered by act of Congress, on the improvement
| of the harbor of Washington and Georgetown, is
respectfully commended to consideration.
The report of the Commissioners of the District
| of Columbia presents detailed statement of the
affairs of the District
The relative expenditures by the United States
and the District for local purposes is contrasted
| showing that the expenditures by the people of
the District greatly exceed those of the General
| Government The exhibit is made in connection
with estimates for the requisite repair of the de-
fective 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 inatrtu-
tons of the District are all entitled to the favor
able attention of Congress. The Reform School
needs additional buildings and teachers Appro
priations which will place all of these institutions
in condition to become models of usefulness and
benefcence, will be regarded by the country as
liberahty wisely bestowed.
The Commissioners with evident Justice re
quest attention to the discrimination made BY
Congress against the District in the donation OF
land for the support of the public schools and ask
that the same iberality that has been shown to the
inhabitants Of the various States and Territories
of the United States may be extended to the Dist
riot of Columbia.
The commissioners also invite attention to the
damage inflicted upon public and private in
terests by the present location of the depots and
switching tracks of the several railroads entering
the city, and ask for legislation looking to theil
removal. The recommendations and suggestion,
contained in the report will, l trust, receive the
careful consideration of Congress.
Sufficient time has, perhaps, not elapsed since
the reorganization of the Governmental the
District under the recent legislation of Con
gress, for the expression of confident opinion
as to its successful operation; but the practi
cal results already attained are so satisfac
tory that the friends of the Government
may well urge upon Congress the wisdom of it
continuance. without essential modification un
til, by actual experience, its advantages and de
fects may be more fully ascertained
r. b. HAYES.
Executive Mansion, Dee. 2, 1873.