The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-12-12

to prevent serious difficulties, Whlch
were apprehended, and at the sOlicita-
ton 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 commissions to take charge
of the records of their proceedings, and
to perform such work as could be done
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 written out,
examined, briefed, aud so arranged as
to facilitate an early settlement when
authorized by law. 1t is recommend
ed that the requisite authority be given
at as early day in the session as pos
sible, aud that a fair compensation be
allowed the late commissioners for the
expense incurred and the labor per-
formed by them since the 25th of June
last. isav ~
q Invite the 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 govern
lnent. The Department of the Interi-
or should, therefore, be enabled by suf-
ticient appropriations, to enforce the
laws in that respect. But this matter
appears still more important as ques-
tion of public economy. The rapid
destruction of our forests is an evil
fraught with the gravest consequences,
especially in the mountainous districts,
where the rocky slopes once denuded
of their trees. will remain so forever.
There the injury, once done, cannot be
repaired. l fully concur with the Sec
retary of the Interior in the opinion
that, for this reason, legislation touch
ing the public timber in the mountain
Gus states and territories of the West
and that existing laws, in which the
destruction of the forests is not suffi.
ciently guarded should be speedily
modified. A general law concerning
this important subject appears to me
to be Il matter of urgent public neces-
sity. @
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 in
creasing our substantial and enduring
prosperity. a.-- Is
Tie words of Washington are as ap-
plicable to-day as when, in his eighth
annual message, he said: " 1t is not
To be doubted that, with reference eth
er to Individual or national welfare
agriculture Is OF primary Importance.
In proportion us nations advance in
population aud other circums, anceS .,
| maturity, this truth becomes more APP
parent, and renders the cultivation Oi
soil more and more an object of pub
lie patronage. Institutions for pro.
| noting 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 O1
proper characters, charged with col
Letting and diffusing information, and
enabled, by premiums and small pecu-
| mary aids, to encourage and assist the
spirit of discovery and improvement
this species of establishment contrib
uting doubly to the increase of inn
provement by stimulating to enter
prise and experiment. and by drawing
to q common center the results every
where of individual skill and Obserya.
ton, and spreading them thence OveI
the whole nation. Experience accord
ingly hath shown that they are very
cheap instruments of immense bene
fit"
The great preponderanceO of the ag.
ricultural, over any other interest in
the United States entities it to all con.
sideration claimed for it by Washing
ton. About One-half of the population
OF the United States is engaged in ag.
riculture. The value of the agricultu
raj products of the United States fol
the year 1878, is estimated at three
thousand millions of dollars. The ex
ports of agricultural products for the
year 1877, as appears from the report O
the Bureau of Statistics, We're five hun
dred and twenty-fOur millions of dol
lars. The great extent of our country
with its diversity of soil and climate
enables us to produce within our owl
borders, and by our own labor, not on
ly the necessaries but most of the lux
uries that are consumed in civilized
countries. Yet, Notwithstanding oul
advantages of soil, climate, and inter
communication, it appears from thu
statistical statements in the report O
the Commissioner of Agriculture, tha
we import annually from foreign lands
many millions of dollars worth O
agricultural products which could bs
raised in our own country.
Numerous questions arise in the
practice of advanced agriculture which
can only be answered by experiments
often costly and sometimes fruitless
which are beyond the means of private
individuals, and are just and proPel
charge on the whole nation for thu
benefit of the nation. 1t is good poll
cy, especially in times of depression
and uncertainty in other business pur
suits, with a vast area of uncultivated
and hence unproductive territory
wisely opened to homestead settlement
to encourage, by every proper and le
ultimate means, the occupation an(
tillage of the soil. The efforts of tn,
Department of Agriculture to stimu
late old and introduce new agricultural
industries to improve the quality ant
increase the quantity of our products
| to determine the value of old or eStab
lish the importance of new methods o
culture, are worthy of your careful an(
| favorable consideration, and assistance
by such appropriations of money anC
enlargement of facilities as may seen
to be demanded by the present favor
able conditions for the growth an(
rapid depelopment of this importan
! interest.
The abuse of animals in transit i.
widely attracting public attention. 4
national convention Of societies speci
ally interested in the subject has re
Gently met in Baltimore and the fact
developed, both in regard to crueltiei
to animals aud the effect upon tn,
public health, would seem to deman,
the careful consideration of congress.
and the enactment of more eIicien
laws for the prevention of these abuses
The report of the Commissioner 0
the Bureau of Education shows very
gratifying progress throughout th'
country, in all the interests committed
to the care of this important office
The report is especially encouragin:
with respect to the extension of TIN
advantages of the cOmmOR school sys
tenn in sections of the country wher
the general enjoyment of the privileg
of free school is not yet attained.
To education more than to any Othe
agency we are to look as the resourc