Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-12-06

| question of public economy. The rapid destruc-
lou Of our forests is an evil franght with the gray
est consequences, especially In the mountainous
Districts where the rocky slopes once denuded Of
their trees, will remain so forever. There the IN
Jury, once done, cannot oe rePeryo P,nS iuiIy con
Ion that for this reason, legislation touching INC
| public timber In the mountainous States and Ter
sidered. and that existing laws, in which the dc
struction OF the forests is not eunlcienty guarded
Against shonld be speedily moalhea b., genera a.
| law concerning this important BuplccI appears 10
| be matter Of urgent public necessity
| AGRICULTURAL MATTERS.
| From the organization OF the toverhment the
| Importance Of encouraging, by all possible means
| the increase Of our agricultural productions has
been acknowledged and urged upon the attention
Of Congress and the people as the surest and read
est means Of Increasing our substantial and endur
TIC words Of Washington are a. applicable to-
| day "a when, in his eighth annual message, he
said: "It II not to be doubted that with reference
either to individual or National welfare, agriculture
advance in population and other circumstances
| Of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent,
| and renders the cultivation OF the soil more and
| for promoting II grow up, supported by the public
purse-and TO what object can II be dedicated with
greater proprletyf Among the means which have
been employed to this end, none have been attend.
ed with greater success than the establishment Of
| boards composed of proper characters, charged
with collecting and dlhueing Information, and en-
abled, by premiums and small pecuniary aida to
encourage and assist the spirit of discovery aud
Improvement, this species of establishment con.
| tributlng doubly to the increase Of improvement
by stimulating to enterprise and experiment, and
| by drawing to common center the results every;
Wnero Ol ihulNluuhl bklll anu oOseTNauUh, anu
| spreading them thence over the whole Nation.
Experience accordingly hath shown that they are
very cheap instruments Of immense National
benefits"
The great preponderance Of the agricultural over
any other Interest In the United States entities v
to all the consideration claimed for II by Washing
ton. About one-half of the population of the
United States is engaged In agriculture. The value
of the agricultural products of the United States
for the year 1878 is estimated at $1,000 600 200.
The exports Of agricultural products for the year
1871 rs appears from the report of the Bureau of
Statistics, were S524,000,000. The great extent
of our country, with Its diversity OF soil and eli
mate enables to produce within our own borders,
and by own labor, not only the necessaries, but
most of the luxuries that consumed in civilized
countries. Yet Notwithstanding our advantages
of soil, climate and intercommunication, It ap
pears from the statistical statements in the report
OF the Commissioner OF Agriculture, that we I'M
Of dollars worth Of agricultural products which
could be raised in our own country.
Numerous questions arise In the practice Of ad-
vanced 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 proper charge on the whole
Nation for the benefit of the Nation 1t is good
policy, especially In times of depression and un-
certainty In other business pursuits with vast
area of uncultivated and hence unproductive terri
tory, wisely opened to homestead settlement to
encourage by every proper and legitimate means,
the occupation and tllage OF the soil Ihc ehOS oil
the Department of Agriculture to stimulate oldand
introduce new agricultural industries, to improve
the quality and increase the quantity -four roducts
to determine the value of old or establish the i'm
portAnCe of new methods of culture. are worthy OF
your careful and favorable consideration, and as
sistance by such appropriations Of money and en-
largcment of facilities as may seem to be demand
ed by the present favorable conditions for the
growth and rapid development of this important
interest.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
The abuse of animals in transitis widely attract
ing public attention. A National convention Of
societies specially interested in the subject hes re-
Gently met at Baltimore, and the facts developed
both in reg ard to cruelties to animals and the ei
feet of such crueties upon the public health would
seem to dem and the careful consideration of Con
gress and the enactment of more efficient laws for
the prevention Of these abuses
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The report of the Commissioner of the Bureau
OF Education shows very gratifying progresf
throughout the country, In all the IN
terests committed ~ to the care Of hi. this
encouraging with respect to the extension d the
advantages Of the common-school systems. IL sec
tions 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 anvancem'nt OF
the people, in the requisite knowledge and appre-
citation Of their rights and responsibilities as cit
zens, and desire TO repeat the suggestioncon-
tanned in my former message in behalf of tbe en-
actment of appropriate measures by Congress for
tn purpose of experimenting, with Nationa aid,
thi local systems of education in the several
Safes.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Adequate accommodations for the greet IL
brary, which Is overgrowing the capacity of
the rooms now occupied at the Capitol, should be
provided without further delay This in'alua-
BILE collection of books, manuscripts and ilhstra-
tive art has grown to such proportion, in
try, as to demand the prompt and careful attention
of Congress to save It from injury in its PRESENT
crowded and insufficient quarters. AS this library
is National in its character, and must, from the
nature of the case, increase even more rapidly in
tie future than in the past it cannot be doubted
hat the people will sanction any wise expenditure
to preserve il and to enlarge its usefulness.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
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 Mu-
scum, heartily recommend to your favorable con-
sideration.
WASHINGTON RIVER FRONT.
The attention of Congress is again invited tc
rlver-iront OF the City of Washington 1t is a mat
ter of vital importance to the health OF the resi-
dents of the National Capital both temporary AMI
permanent that the low lands in front of the cit,
now subject to tidal overflow should be reclaimed.
In their present condition, these flats obstruct tie
drainage Of the city, and arc dangerous sourceof
malarial poison. The reclamation will improve
the navigation of the river. by restricting and con-
sequently deepening its channel and is alse of
Importance, when considered in connection With
the extension OF the public ground and the en-
largcmcnt of the park west and south of he
Washington Monument. The report of the Bolrd
ol Survey, heretofore ordered by act of Congress,
and Georgetown, is respectfully commended to
consideration.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The report of the Commissioners of the Dstict
OF Columbia presents detailed statement Of he
affairs of the District.
The relative expenditures by the United Stltes
and the District for local purposes is contraaed,
showing that the expenditures by the peopl, Of
the District greatly exceed those of the General
Government. The exhibit is made in connection
with estimates for the requisite repair of thede-
fecItye pavements and sewers of the city which is
work OF immediate necessity, and. in the sane
connection, plan Is presented for the permanent
trct
The benevolent, reformatory and penal instfu.
tions of the District are all entitled to the favoa-
BILE attention of Congress. The Reform SchSol
needs additional buildings and teachers. Appio-
prations which will place all of these institutions
in condition TO become models of usefulness and
beneficence, will be regarded by the country as
libcrality 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 lberality that has been shown the
Inhabitants of the various States and Territories of
the United States, may be extended to the District
The Commissioners also invite attention to he
damage inflicted upon public and private interests
by The present location of the depots and switch
ing-tracks of the several railroads entering the
CITY, and ask for legislation looking to their re-
moval. The recommendations and suggestions
contained In the report will, trust, receive the
careful consideration of Congress-
Sufficient time has, perhaps, not elapsed since
the reorganization of the Government Of the Dis
trct, under the recent legislation of Congress, or
the expression Of confident opinion as to its sue
successful operation; but the practical results
already attained satisfactory that the friends
Of the new Government may wen urge upon Cen
gress the Weldon of Its continuance, without ts.
sential modification, until, by actual experience,
It's advantages and defects may be more fully asc-
tanned. r. b. HAYES.
Executive Mansion, December 2. 1878.
Sailing ONES Haad.