Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-12-06

tl iS ehrlN II uhN Ill tut stsSlDU us DOShlDle,
and that fair compensation be allowed the
late commissioners for the expense incurred
and the labor performed by them since the
25th of June last.
THE TISrBER LANDS.
invite the attention oi Congress to the re-
commentators made by the Secretary of the
Interior with regard TO the preservation OF
timber on the public lands OF the United
States. The protection OF the public prop
erty is one of the first duties OF the Govern
ment. The department OF the Interior
should. therefore, be enabled by sufficient
appropriations, to enforce the laws in that
respect. But this matter appears still more
important as n question of public economy
The rapid destruction of our forests is an evil
fraught with the gravest consequences,
especially i'll the mountainous districts,
where the rocky slopes, once denuded of their
trees, will remain so forever. There the in
jury, once done, cannot be repaired. l fully
concur with the Secretary OF the Interior in
the opinion that, for this reason, legislation
touching the public timber in the mountain
Gus States aud Territories of the West,
should be especially well considered, and that
existing laws, in which the destruction OF the
forests Is NOT sufficiently guarded against,
shoull be speedily modified. A general law
concerning this important subject, appears
to me to be matter of urgent public neces-
sity.
AGRICUL .URE.
From the organization of the Government,
the importance of encouraging, by all pos
sible means, the increase of our agricultural
productions has been acknow ledged and
urged upon the attention Of Congress and
the people as the surest and readiest means
of increasing our substantial and enduring
prosperity.
The words OF Washington are as applicable
to day as when. in his eighth annual message,
he said at is not to be doubted that with
reference either to individual or national well
fare, agriculture is OF primary Importance.
In proportion as nations advance III popula-
ton and other circumstances of maturity,
this truth becomes more apparent, and rend-
els the cultivation OF the soil more and more
an object OF public patronage, Institutions
for promoting it grow up, supported by 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
success than the establishment of boards
composed OF proper characters, charged with
collecting and dItfusing information, and en-
abled, by premiums and small pecuniary
aids, to encourage and assist the spirit OF
discovery and improvement, this species of
establishment contributing doubly to the in-
crease of improvement by stimulating TO en-
terprise and experiment, and by drawing to
Il common centre the results everywhere of
individual skill and observation. aud spread
ing thence over the whole nation. Expe-
rience accordingly hath shown that they Were
very cheap Instruments of immense national
benefit.
The great preponderance of the agricultu-
raj, over any other interest in the United
States entities it to all the consideration
claimed for it by Washington. About one
halt of the population Of the United States
is engaged in agriculture. The value OF the
agricultural products of the United States
for the year 1873 is estimated ut three thou
sand millions OF dollars The exports OF
agricultural products for the year 1877, as
appears from the report OF the Bureau OF Sta
tlstics, were five hundred and twenty-iour
millions OF dollars. The great extent of our
country, with its diversity of soil and climate,
enables us to produce within our own bor-
ders, and by our own labor not only the
necessaries but most OF the luxuries that are
consumed in civilized countries. Yet not
withstanding our advantages of soil, climate,
and INSTRUMENTATION, 1t appears from the
statistical statements IN the report OF the
Commissioner of Agriculture, that we import
annually from foreign lands many millions oi
dollars worth OF agricultural products which
could be raised in our own country.
Numerous questions arise III tue practice
of advanced agriculture which can only be
answered by experiments, often costly and
sometimes iruitleSs, which are beyond the
means of private individuals, and are Just
and proper charge on the whole nation fol
the benefit of the nation. II is good policy,
especially III times of depression and uncer-
tainty i'll other business pursuits, with vast
area of uncultivated, and hence unproduc.
tive territory, wisely opened to homestead
settlement. to encourage, by every proper
and legitimate means, the occupation and
tilage of the soil. The efforts OF the De
partment OF Agriculture to stimulate old and
introduce new agricultural Industries, to I'M
prove the quality and increase the quantity
OF our products, to determine the value OF old
or establish the importance of new method,
oi culture, are worthy OF your careful and
favorable consideration, and assistance 10y
such appropriations OF money and enlarge
ment of facilities as may seem to be demand
ed by the present favorable conditions for
the growth and rapid development of tins
important interest.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
The abuse of animals in transit is widely
attracting public attention. A national con
yentiOn OF societies specially interested IL
the subject has recently met at baltimore
and the facts developed both i'll regard to
cruelties to animals and the effect OF suct
crueltIes upon the public health, would seen
TO demand tine careful consideration of Con
gress, and the enactment OF more eincient
laws for the prevention OF these abuses.
r,,,...,-,o,.,, ,s,.,,,s
The report OF the Commissioner of the
Bureau OF Education shows very gratifying
progress throughout the country in all the
interests committed to the care of this i'm
portant Office. The report is especially en-
| cOumging with respect to the extension Of
the advantages of the common school system
in sections OF the country where the genera
| enioym ent of free schools is not vet attained
To education more than to any othel
agency we are to look, as the resource for tn,
advancement Of the people, in the requisit,
knowledge and appreciation of their rights
anu Responsiveness Us e.''1ena, anu ~ uesi'' m
former message in behalf Of the enactment o
appropriate measures by Congress for tn,
purpose OF supplementing. with national aid
the local systems OF education i'll the severa
| States
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