Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-02

OF our agricultural prod
tens has been acknowled yed and urged upon
! tie attention OF Congress and the people as tht,
| sureSt and readlest means Of Increasing our
substantial and enduring prnSneritv
The words OF Washington are as annlinabre
! today as when, in his eighth annual message.
be sald:-"lt is not 10 b. doubted that with
! reference either To indy iduaI or national
welfare, agriculture Is Of primary i'm
! rortance. In proportion aS nations advance i'm
! population and other circumstances Of ma
/ turity, this truth becomes more apparent
! and renders the cultivation OF the soil more and
| more an object of public patronage. institu
/ tionS for promoting ii grow up supported by the
! public puTSe-and 10 what object can il be dedi-
! Gated with greater propnety? Among the
means which have been employed 10 this end
| nOne have been attended with greater success
| than the establishment Of boards composed Of
| proper characters charged with collecting and
| dfiusing Information, and enabled. by pre-
nlumS and small pecunlary aids. TO encourage
! and assist the spirit of discovery and improve
! ment, this species OF establishment contribut-
| ing doubly TO the increase of improvement by
! STIMULATING 10 enterprise and experiment. and
! by drawing to common centre the results
! everywhere of individual skill and observation
| and spreading them thence over the whole ma
ton. Experience accordingly hath shown that
! national benefit
The great prepondeIance OF the Agricultural.
| over any other interest in the United states en-
| titles it to all the consideration claimed for II
/ b! Washington. AbOU; one-haif OF the u0pula-
/ tion of tie United states is engaged in agffcul-
tHlei The value Of ti1agricultural products OF
! at three thousand millions Of dollars. Tie eX-
ports oI agricultural products for the year lS17
/ as appears from the report Of the Bureau of sta
tistiCS. were five hundred and twcntv-four mil
! lions Of dollars. The great extent of our conn
/ Try. With It's diversity OF soil and climate en-
abtS Us 10 produce within oar own borders and
! 10y our own Labor not only the neceSSarle5 blf
most CT The luXureS that are consumed in ciyiliz-
/ ed countries. Yet, Notwithstanding our adyan-
/ tageS o1 soil climate. and inteTc Immunic1ti ion
il appears from the statistical statements i'm tilp
al
/ we import annually from foreign lands many
! nllll0hS OF dollars worth Cf agricultural mo-
/ dutts Whlch could he raised IN our own country
numerous questions arise in the practI lee of
! ADVANCED agriculture which can only be an
! SNeftu 10y experiments. often costly and some
| Zines frultiess, which are beyond the means of
! private individuals. and are a just and proper
chi'r@e on the whole nation for the benefit OF
the nation. II is good policy. especially in
times OF depression and uncertainty in other
business pursuits, with vast area OF unculti-
Nated, and hence unnrOdUctive territory wisely
opened 10 homestead settlement, to encourage
/ Icy every proper and legitimate means the 0c-
! cupatIon and tillage OF the soil. The efforts of
! The Department OF Agriculture to stimulate old
ara introduce new agricultural industries 10
| improve Ire quality and Increase the quantity
| OF our productS, to determine the value of old
ofcStapllSh the Importance OF new methods OF
! culture, are worthy of your careful and favor
aOle consideration. and assistance by such ap-
| preparations OF money and enlargement of facil-
| ltleS as may seem to be demanded by the pres
| ent favorable conditions for the growth and
rapid development Of this important interest.
! The abuse OF animals in transit is widely at
uacung pubc attention. A national conyen-
tlon OF societies specially interested in the sub
! Iect has recently met al Baltimore and the facts
deVelored, both in regard 10 crueltieS to animals
| and tie effect OF such crUelties upon the public
Health. would seem to demand tile careful con
Sldelatlon or Congress and the enactment OF
more eIilclent laws for tie prevention OF these
| abuses.
Tie report of the Commissionerof the B,lraau
| cf Education shows very gratifying progress
N oil Ia.a
/ committed 10 the care Of this important office
lhe report Is especially encouraging with re-
| Srect 10 tie extension of the advantages OF the
ccliinoh-schO0l system. ia sections OF the coun-
! Try where the general enjoyment OF the Driyi-
! lege OF Tree schools is not yet attained
10 education more than 10 any other agency
we are 10 look, 1S the resource for the advance
ment OF the people. in the requisite knOwIei re
and app eciatiCn OF their rights and reSDnlSfbiI-
hieS as cltZens, and | GcSi:e 10 repeat the S,lg-
gesll0n contained in ny former message IN be-
ilall OF tie enactment OF appropriate measures
By Congress Tor tie purpose Oi supplenentlng
WIN national aid, the local systems OF education
Iii the several States.
adequate accommodations fO.' the great lib-
raty. which Is oyer9Towing the capacity OF the
rooms now occupied al the Capitol. should be-
provided without further DELAY This inyalJla-
pie collection OF books. manuscripts. and Illus
lrauVe art, has grown TO such proportions in
connection with tie copyright system of the
country. as TO demand the prompt and careful
atteatlon OF Congress 10 save il from injury in
its present crowded and insufficient quarters.
AS thlS library IS national in its character and
must, from the nature OF the case, increase even
more rapidly in the future than in the past il
cannot be doubted that the people will sanction
any wise expenditure TO preserve ii and to en-
The appeal of the Regents OF the Smith
Sonlan Institution for the means TO organize
exhibit, and make available for the public bene-
ft the articles now stored away belonging TO
the National Museum. ! heartily recommend 10
your favorable consideration.
The attention of Congress is again invited to
~ hn tiN
washington. IL is a matter of vital import
ance TO the health OF the residents of the Ma
tIonal 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 OBJ
suuct tie drainage OF the city, and are
Tie reclamation viii improve the nayi-
CATION OF the river. by restricting and con-
sequently deepening its channel; and is also OF
importance, when considered in connection with
the extension OF the pubiiC ground and the en-
largement of the park, west and south of the
Washington monument. The report of the
board OF survey, heretofore ordered by act OF
congress. on the Improvement OF the harbor
OF ashlngton and Georgetown, is respectfully
commended to consideration
The report OF the commissioners of the Dis
t11ct OF Columbia presents a detailed statement
OF tie affairs OF the District.
Tie relative expenditures by the United
States and the District for local purposes is
cOntraSted, showing that the expenditures by
TIE people OF the District greatly exceed those
OF the General Government. The exhibit is
mace In connection with estimates for the re-
qulSlte repair of the defective pavementS and
sewers OF the city, which is work OF immedi-
ate necessity, and. in The same connection. a
plan Is presented for the permanent funding OF
the outstanding securities of the District.
The benevolent, reformatory, and penal in
SututlonS OF the District are all entitled to the
favorable attention of Congress The Reform
School needs additional buildings and teachers
Appropriations which will place all of these
institutions in condition 10 become models of
usefulness and bene1cence. will be regarded by
tie country as liberality 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 liberality that has been shown
to the inhabitants of the various states and ter
ritOrieS of the United States, may be extended
to the District OF Columbia
The commissioners also invite attention to
tie damage inflicted upon public and private in
tereSts by the present location OF the depotS and
sW1tching,-trackS OF the several railroads enter
ing the city, and ask for legislation looking to
their removal. The recommendations and Sug-
gestlonS 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
District, under the recent legislation OF Con-
greSS for the expression of a confident opin-
ion as TO its successful operation; but the prac-
tical results already attained are so satisfactory
that the friends OF the new government may
well urge upon Congress the wisdom OF its con-
ia.