Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-12-05

the last session of congress, that portion
which provided for the continuation of
the Hot Strings commission was omitted.
As the commission had completed the work
of taking testimony on the many conflicting
claims, the suspension of their labors, be-
for determining the rights OF claimants,
flor time to embarrass the in
terests not only of the government but alse |
of a large number of the citizens of Hot |
Springs, who were waiting for final action
on their claims before beginning contem-
plated improvements. In order to prevent
serious difficulties which were apprehended
and at the solicitation of Manipulating cltl'
Gems 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 per
form such work as could properly be done
by them under such circumstances to facili |
tate 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 commission
els complied with that request, and report
that the testimony, in all cases, has been
written out, Examined brifed, and so ar
ranged as to facilitate an early settlement
when authorized by law. tits recommended
that the requisite authority be given at as
early day in the session as possible, and
that fair compensation be allowed the late
commissioners for the expenses incurred
and the labor performed by them since tne
18th of June last.
TIMBER LANDS.
invite the attention of congress to the
recommendation made by the secretary Of
the interior with regard to the preservation
| 6 a. It,1in lon nf fhoI
United States. The protection of the pub
lie property is one Of the first duties OF the
government The department OF the in
terror should therefore, be enabled by Suf-
cient appropriations to enforce the laws IN
that respect. But this matter appears still
more important a. question OF public
economy. The rapid destruction of our
forests is an evil fraught with the gravest
consequences, especially in the mountain.
denuded OF their trees, will remain SO for
| ever. There the injury, once done, cannot
be repaired. fully concur with the secre-
| tary of the interior in the opinion that for
| this reason legislation touching the public
i timber in the mountainous states and terri.
tories of the west should be especially well
considered, and that existing laws, in which
! the destruction of the forests is not SUI.
fciently guarded against, should be speedily
important subject appears to me to be
matter OF urgent public necessity.
AGRICULTURE.
| From the organization of the government
the importance of encouraging, by all posi-
| BILE means, the increase Of our agricultural
productions has been acknowledged and
urged upon the attention Of congress and
the people as the surest and readlest means
! IF onr Suhcta ial and enGurinr
prosperity.
The words of Washington are as appGca.
BILE to-day as 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
Importance. In proportion as nations adj
vance in population and other circumstances
of maturity, this truth becomes more ap.
parent, and renders the cultivation OF
The soil more and more an object of public
patronage. Institutions for promoting it
grow up, supported by the public purse
and to what object can it be dedi-
Gated 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 ditfusing in
formation, and enabled, by premiums and
small pecuniary aids, to encourage and as
sist the spirit of discovery and improve.
ment this species of establishment con-
tributinc doubly to the increase Of improve.
ment by stimulating to enterprise and eN.
pertinent, and by drawing to a common
center the results everywhere Of individual
skill and observation, and spreading them
thence over the whole nation. Experience
accordingly hath shown that they are very
. cheap instruments OF immense naticna,
, benefit"
The great preponderance OF the agricul
tural over any other interest III the United
.. States entities it to all the consideration
claimed for it by Washington. About one
half OF the population of the United State:
is engaged in agriculture. The value OF the
! agricultural products OF the United State:
, for the year 1878 is estimated at $4,000, 600,
. 900. The exports.of agricultural product
for the year 1877, as appears from the re
port of the bureau of statistics, were 1924.
I 100000. The great extent of our country
with its diversity Of soil and climate, enables
US to produce within our own borders ant
, by our own labor, not only the necessarie
, but most OF the Injuries that are consume,
in civilized countries. Yet, notwithstand
. ing our advantages of soil, climate and IN
accommodation, it appears from thu
commissioner of agriculture, that We i'm
, port annually from foreign lands many
millions of dollars worth of agricultural
!, products which could be raised in our OWL
country.
Numerous questions arise in the practice
. OF advanced agriculture which can only be
answered by experiments, often costly anl
sometimes fruitless, which are beyond the
means OF private individuals, and are jus
and proper charge on the whole nation fol
the benefit of the nation. 1t is good policy,
especially in times of depression and uncer
tainty in other business pursuits, with
vast area of uncultivated, and hence unprc
ductive territory, wisely opened to homo
stead settlement, to encourage, by every
proper and legitimate means, the occupa
.. ton and tillage of the soil. The efforts O.
the department of agriculture to stimulate
old and introduce new agricultural indus
tries, 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 culture, are worthy OF
your careful and favorable consideration
and assistance by such appropriations OF
money and enlargement of facilities as may
seem to be demanded by the present favor
abe conditions for the growth and rapid
development of this important interest
The abnse of animals in transit is widely
attracting public attention. A nationa
convention of societies specially interested
in the subject has recently met at Baltimore
and the facts developed, both in regard te
cruelties to animals and the effect Of snct
cruelties upon the public health woulG
seem to demand the careful consideration Of
congress, and the enactment of more eff
Gent laws for the prevention of these abuses
! EDUCATION.
The report of the commissioner of the
bureau of education shows very gratifying
progress throughout the country, in all the
interests committed to the care of this i'm.
portant Office. The report is especially en-.
couraging with respect to the extension OF
the advantages of the common school sys
tenn 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 fol
the advancement of the people in the requi
site knowledge and appreciation of theil
rights and responsibilities as citizens, and
desire to repeat the suggestion contained
in my former message in behalf of the en-
actment of appropriate measures by con