Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-12-12
TERMS $500 PER YEAR
WHOLE NO. 1861.

| To education n ore than 10 any other agenc
we are to look as the resource for the advance
ment OF the people in the requisite knowledg
and appreciation of their rights and response
bilities as citizens, and desire to repeat tn
suggestion COT tanned in my former message ii
behalf of the enactment of appropriate meas
ures by congress for the purpose of supple
menting, viii national aid the local systems
of education in the several states
Adequate accommodations FOR the great Ii
brary, which Is oyergrowmg the capacity o
the rooms new occupied at the capitol, should
be provided without further DELAY. This in,
valuable collection of books, manuscripts. and
Illustrative art, has grown to such proportions
in connection with the copyright system of the
country, rs to demand the prompt and carefa
attention of congress TO save it from injury il
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 the future than in ths
past, it cannot be doubted that the people
will sanction am wise expenditure 20 preserve
it and to enlarge its usefulness
The appeal Of the regents of the Smitaso.
nian Institution for the means to organize, ex
hibit and make available for the public benefit
the articles now stored away belonging to the
national museum. / heartily recommend to
your favorable consideration.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The attention Of congress is again invited to
the condition of the river-front of the city OF
Washington. IL 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 obstruci
the drainage of the city. ana are a dangerous
source OF malarial poison. The reclamation
Will improve the navigation of the river, by
restricting and consequently deepening il,
channel, and is also of Importance, when con-
sidered in connection with the extension oil
the public ground and the enlargement of the
park, west and south of the Washington Mon.
ument. 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 Dis
trict of Colombia is 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 req
nisite repair of the defective pavemcnts and
sewers of the city, which is work of imme,
date necessity. and in the same connection,
plan is presented for the permanent funding
Of the outstanding securities of the District.
The benevolent, reformatorv and penal in
situations of the District are all entitled to the
vorable attention of congress. The reform
ar u L n.
Appropriations which will place all of these
institutions in condition to become models Of
usefulness aud benefcence, will be regarded
by the coontry as literally and wisely be.
slowed.
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 liberality that has been
shown to the inhabitants of the various states
and territories of the United States, may be
extended to the District of Columbia.
The commissioners also invite attention to
the damage inflicted upon public and private
interests by the present location of the depots
and switching tracks of the several railroads
entering the city, and ask for legislation look
ing to their removal The recommendations
and suggestions contained in the report WILL
trust, receive the careful consideration of con-
gress.
Sufficient time has, perhaps, not elapsed
since the reorganization of the government OF
the District, under the recent legislation OF
congress, for the expression of confident
opinion as to its successful operation; but the
practical results already attained are so salts
factory that the friends of the new govern
ment may well urge upon congress the wisdom
of its continuance, without essential modifca.
ton, until, by actual experience, its advan.
tages and defects may be more fully ascer-
tanned. r. B. HAYES.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December Q, 1878.