The Worthington advance., 1878-12-05

j.. '=:. NUMBER IA. :..'': :
produce disturbing effect upon the service a.
we'll as on the Indians themselves. =!
l. HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION. .si''tt -
In the enrolment of the bill making appro-
priations for sundry civil expenses at the last
session of Congress that portion which provided.
for the continuation of the Hot Springs COM
mission 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 claim
ants threatened for a tiue to embarrass the
interests, not only of the government, but also
of large number of the citizens of Hot
Springs, who were waiting for final action on
their claims before making contemplated i'm
provements. In order to prevent serious diff
-culties, which were apprchended; and at the
solicitation 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 commissioners to
take charge Of the records of their proceedings.
and to perform such work as could proneriv
be done by them under such circumstances to
facilitate the further adjudication of the claims
at an early day, and to procure the status of
the claimants, until their right should be final
ly determined. The late commissioners com-
pAASO "Aun ClA1o ACIu6SG, buO report that the
testimony in el@the cases has been written ont.
examined, briefed and so arranged a to facili-
tate an early settlement as authorized by law.
1t Is recommended that the requisite authority
De gwen at a. early date in the session a.
possible, and that fair compensation he
allowed the late commissioners for the expense
incurred and labor performed by them since
the 25th of June last.
TIMBER THIEVES
l. L invite the aftnpfiop of
ommendation made by the secretary of the
interior with regard to the preservation of tim
De per on the public lands of the United States.
The protection of the public property is one
OF the hrst duties of the government. The
department. OF the interior should, therefore.
be enabled by sufficient appropriations to en-
force the laws in that respect. But the matter
appears still more important as Question Of
public economy. The rapid destruction of our
forests Is an evil fraught with the gravest con-
sequences, especially in the mountainous dis
trlcts where the rocky steppes once denuded of
their trees will remain so forever There. the
injury once done cannot be repaired. I fully
concur with the secretary of the interior in the
opinion that for this reason legislation touch
ing pubic timber IN the mountainous States
| and Territories of the West should be e7pe-
cially we'll considered, and that existing laws
IN which the destruction of forests is not suf6-
GENTLY guarded against should be speedily
modified. A general law concerning this i'm
portant subject appears to me to be matter of
urgent necessity.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS.
From the organization of the government
the Importance of encouraging, by all possible
means, the increase of our agricultural pro-
ductlons has been acknowledged and urged
upon the attention of Congress and the people.
as thesur and rediest means of increasing
q n hcf fYn1
words of Washington are as applicable
to-day as when, in his eighth annual mes
sage, he said ut is not to be doubted. that.
with reference, either to individual or
national welfare, agriculture is of primary i'm
portance.' In proportion as nations advance
IN population and other circumstances of ma
tnrlty, this truth becomes more apparent. and
renders the cultivation of the soil more and
more an object of public patronage. Institu-
lions for promoting it grow up, supported bv
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 suc.
cess than the establishment of boards com
posed OF proper characters, charged with col
lecting and difusing information and enabled
ny premiums and small pecuniary aids to en-.
courage and assist the spirit of discovery and
improvement, this species Of establishment.
contributing doubly to the increase and i'm
pertinent and by drawing to a common centre
the results everywhere Of individual skill and
observation, and spreading them thence over
the whole NATHAN. Experience accordingly
hath shown that they are very cheap instru-
ments OF immense national benefit.
Ihe great preponderancc of the agricultural
over any other interest in the United States en-
Titles 1t to all the consideration claimed for it
by Washington. About one-half of the nonn
latlon OF the United States is engaged in agri-
culture. The value of the agricultural products
OF the United States for the year 1875 is esti-
mated at 50, ,O0O, ,000000. The exports of agri-
cultural products for the year 1877, as appears
from the report of the bureau of statistics, was
Soz4 ,0OO, O0O. The great extent of our countrv
Win Its diversity OF soil and climate, enables
us to produce within our own borders. and
by our own labor, not only the necessaries. but
mos, most OF the luxuries that are consumed in civil
llzed countries. Yet, notwithstanding our ad-
vantages of soil, climate and inter-communica-
tlon' 1t appears, from the statistical statements
IN the report of the commissioner of agricul-
tnre that we import annually from foreign
lands many millions of dollars worth of agri-
cultural products, which could be raised in
our own country.
advanced agriculturejwhich can only be an
sWered by experiments, often costly and some
times fruitless, which are beyond the means of
private Individuals, and are just and proper
charge on the whole nation, for the benefit of
tne nation. 1t is good policy, especially in
business pursuits, 18th vast area of uncultj-
waited and unproductive territory, wisely
opened to homestead settlement, to encourage
by every proper and legitimate means the occu-
patton and tillage of the soil.
Inc efforts of the department of agriculture
to stimulate old and introduce new agricultural
industries 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 assist
ance, by such appropriations of money and en-
largement OF facilities as may seem to be de-
manded by the present favorable conditions
for the growth and devclopement of this i'm
portant interest.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IN TRANSIT.
The abuse of animals in transit is widely at
tracing public astention national conven.
ton of societies, specially interested in the
| facts developed, both in regard to cruelties to
| animals, and the effect of such cruelties upon
public health, would seem to demand the care
| full consideration of Congress and the enact
| ment of more efficient laws for the prevention
| of these abuses.
| EDUCATION.
The report of the commissioner of the bu-
reau OF education shows very gratifying pro-
gress throughout the country in all the inter-
ests committed to the care of this important
Office. The report is especially encouraging
with respect to the extension of the advantages
| OF the common school system in sections of the
| country where the general enjoyment of the
privileges of free schools is not yet allowed.
10 education, more than to any other agency,
| we are to look as the resource for the advance.
ment of the people in the requisite knowledge
and appreciation of their rights and RESPONSE
bIllties as citizens, and desire to repeat the
suggestion contained in my former message in
behalf of the enactment of appropriate meas
ures by Congress for the purpose of supple
menting with national aid the local systems of
| education in the several States.
LIBRARY ACCOMMODATIONS.
Adequate accommodations for the preat
library, which is outgrowine the capacity of
the rooms now occupied al the capitol. should
be provided without further delay. This val
liable collection of books, manuscripts and H.