West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-12-14
nor SPRINGS COMMISSION

Hot Springs Commission was omitted. As
the Commission had completed the work
OF taking testimony on the many conflicting
claims, the suspension OF their labors
before determining the rights of claimants
threatened, for time, To cmbarrass the
interests, not only Of the Government, but
also Of alRrge number OF the citizens OF
Hot Springs, who were waiting for final
action on their claims before beginning
contemplated improvements. In order to
prevent serious difficulties. which were APP.
pretended. and ut the solicitation of many
leading citizens Of Hot Springs aud others
interested in the welfare 81 the town, the
Secretary Of the Interior was authorized To
request the late Commissioners 30 take
'harge Of the records Of their proceedings X,
and 10 perform such work as could properly
be done by them under such circumstance,
10 facilitate the future adjudication Of the
claims at an early day, aud To- preserve the
status Of the claimants until their rights
should be finally determined. The late
Commissioners complied with that reQues ,
and report that the testimony, in all the
cases, has been written out, examined,
briefed, and so arranged Az to facilitate an
early settlement when authorized bv law.
1t is recommended that the requisite Ru.
thority he given at as early ~ day In the
session as possible, aud that fair com.
pensation be allowed the late Comm ssioners
Tor the expense incurred and labor per.
formed by them since the Goth OF June last.
TIMBER LANDS, AND AGRICULTURE.
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 pub.
hc property is one of the first duties OF the
Government The Department of the In.
terror should. therefore, ~ enabled, by suf-
hoient 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.
Gus districts, where the rocky slopes once
denuded Of their trees, will remain so for.
ever. There the injury once done can not
be repaired fully concur with the Secre.
tary OF the Interior i'm the opinion for this
reason legislation touching the public tim
ber in the mountainous States aud Terrltor.
les OF the West, should be especially well
considered, and that existing laws, in which
the destruction OF the forests is not sutii
ciently guarded against, should be speedily
modified. general law concerning this
important subject appears to me TO he n
matter of urgent public necessity.
From the organization of the Government
the Importance of encouraging by all pos.
sible means, the increase of our agricultural
productions has been acknowledged and
urged upon the attention OF Congress and
the people ~ the surest aud readiest means
OF Increasing our substantia and enduring
prosperity.
The words of Washington are as appli.
cable to-day as when, IN his eighth annual
message, he said " II IL not TO be doubted
that with reference either TO individual or
national welfare, agriculture is of primary
importance. In proportion as nations al.
vance in population and other circumstan.
ces OF maturity, this truth becomes more
apparent, and renders the cultivation of the
soil more and more an object OF public
patronage. Institutions for promoting IL
grow up, supported by the public purse
and TO what object can il be dedicated with
greater propriety7 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 dihusing Information, and enabled, by
premiums aud small pecuniary aids TO en-
courage and assist the spirit OF discovery
and Improvement, this species Of establish.
ment contributing dOubly 10 the increase Of
improvement by stimulating to enterprise
and experiment, and by drawing TO com.
mon center the results everywhere Of indi.
vidual skill and observation, and spreading
them thence over the whole nation Ex.
perience accordingly hath shown that they
are very cheap instruments OF immense
national benefit"
The great preponderance Of the aPricul.
tural over any other interest In the United
states entities IL 10 all the consideTa ion
claimed for IL by Washington. About one.
half OF the population Of the United
states ~ engaged in agriculture. The value
OF the agricultural products Of the United
States FOR the year 1873 IL estimated at three
thousand millions Of dollars The exports
II -. a Il Il.
as appears from the report Of the Bureau Of
Statistics, was FIVE hundred and twenty.
four millions OF do lars. The great extent
OF our country, with it's diversity Of soil
and climate, enables us to produce within
our own BORDER, and by our own labor,
not only the necessaries but most Of the
luHuries that are consumed In civilized
countries. Yet, Notwithstanding our nd
vantaBes Of soil, climate and intercommuLi
cation, IL appears from the statistical state.
wenN Ia the report Of the COmmissioner Of
Agriculture, that we import annually from
foreign lands many millions Of dollars
worth Of fagrlcultural prod ucts lwhich could
be 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 iruitlesa, which are beyond the
means of private individuals, and are a lust
and proper charge on the whole nation for
the benefit Of the nation. It's good policy,
especially in times Of depression and IN.
certainty I'm other business pursuits, with
vast area Of uncultivated, and hence
unprOductive territory, wisely opened 10
homestead settlement % encourage by
every proper and legitimate means, the
occupation and tillage Of the soil The
efforts Of the Department Of Agriculture %
stimulate old and introduce new agricul-
tural Industries, to improve the quality and
increase the quantity Of our products, %
determine the value Of old or establish the
importance Of new methods Of culture, are
worthy Of your careful and favorable con-
sideratiODi and assistance by such apprO.
priations 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 inn.
portant interest.
The abuse OF animals, In transit, is widely
attracting public attention. A National
Convention OF societies specially interested
in the subject has recently met OF Balti.
more, and the facts developed, both in re-
gard TO cruelty 20 animals and the effect of
such crueltics upon the public health, would
seem to demand the careful consideration OF
Congress and enactments of more
Efficient laws Tor the prevention OF those
abuses.
EpUCATION.
The report OF the Commissioner of the
Bureau Of Education shows very gratifying
progress throughout the country, in all the
interests committed 90 the care of this inn
portant Office. The report is especially en-.
couraging with respect o. the extension Of
the advantage Of the conn ON sch ooI evsfor1. .