National Republican., 1878-12-03

Among tho means which have boen 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
enabled, by premiums and small pecuniary
aids, To encourage aud assist the spirit Of dis.
covery and Improvement, this species Of estab
1ishment contributing doubly to the increase
Of Improvement by stimulating to enterprise
and experiment and by drawing to u common
centre tho results everywhere Of individual
skill and observation. aud spreading them
thence over the whole nation. Experience
accordingly hath shown that they are very
cheap instruments Of Immense national ben :.
eft"
The great preponderance Of the agricultural
over any other interest Ia tho United States
entities IL 10 all the consideration claimed for
II by Washington. About ono-half of tho
population Of the United States is engaged in
agriculture. Tho value Of tho agricultural
products of the United States for the year
1873 Is estimated at 5000. 100000. Tho ex.
ports Of agricultural products for the year
lS77, rs appears from the report Of the Bureau
Of Statistics, wero s52i, 900. The great OK
tont Of our country, with its diversity Of soil
and climate, enables us TO produce within our
own borders, aud by our own labor. not only
the neccssaries but most Of the luxures that
are CONSUMED Ia civilized countries Yet, not
withstanding our advantages of soil, climate.
and INSTRUMENTATION, 1t appears from the
statistical statements in the report of the
Commi 'siouor Of Agriculture that we import
annually from foreign lands many millions OF
dollars worth of agricultural products which
could be raised Ia our own country
Numerous questions arise In the practice Of
advanced agriculture. which can only be an.
swered by experiments often costly and some
times fruitless, which are beyond the means Of
private individuals, and arc just and prop or
charge on the whole nation for tho benefit of
the nation. II Is good policy especially Ia
times Of depression and uncertainty In other
business pursuits, with vast area of unculti.
vated, and hence unproductivo territory
wisely opened to homestead settlement to en-.
courage, by every proper and legitimate
means, the occupation and tillage of the soil
The efforts Of tho Department of Agriculture
to stimulate old and Introduce new agricultu.
raj industries, TO improve the quality and in
crease the quantity Of our products, to deter.
mine the value Of old or establish the import
ance Of new methods of culture. are worthy of
your careful and favorable consideration and
assistance by such appropriations of money
and enlargement Of facilities as may seem to
be demanded by the present favorable condi.
ti0ns for tho growth aud rapid development Of
this important interest.
The abuse of animals In transit Is widely at
tracting public attention. A national conven-
tion Of societies specially interested in the sub
ject has recently met In Baltimore, and the
facts developed, both In regard to crueltics TO
animals aud the effect Of such crueltcs upon
the public health, would seem to demand the
careful consideration Of Congress, and the
Of more efficient laws for the pre-
vention of these abuses.
The report of tho Commissioner of the
Bureau of Education shows very gratifying
progress throughout tho country In all the in-
forests 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
of free schools Is not yet attained.
To education more than to any other agency
we are to look as the resource for the advance
mcnt of tho people In tue requisite knOwl-
edge aud appreciation of their rights and rc.
sponsibilities as citizens, and desire to repeat
the suggestion contained in my former mos
sage in behalf OF the enactment of appropriate
measures by Congress for tho purpose OF sup.
plcmenting, with national aid, tho local sys-
tens Of education in the several States.
Adequate accommodations for the great
library, which is overgrowng tho capacity OF
the rooms now occupied at the Clpitol should
be provided without further delay. This IN.
valuable collection of books manuscripts aud
illustrative art has grown to such proportions,
in connection with the copyright system of the
country, " 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 tho nature of the ease, increase
even more rapidly in tho future than in the
past, II cannot be doubted that the people will
sanction any wisO expenditure to preserve II
aud to enlarge its usefulness.
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 tho Ma.
tiOnal Museum | heartily recommend to your
favorable consideration.
The attention of Congress Is again invited to
the cOnditiol Of tho river front Of the city of
Washington. II Is u matter of vital import
lnco to the health of tho residents of tho
National Capital, both temporary and pcrna-
ncnt, that tho low lands in front OF tho city,
now subject to tidal overflow, should be re-
claimed. ln their present condition these
lats obstruct the drainage of the city, and are
4 dangerous source of nalarial poison. The
will improve the navigation of the
river by restricting and consequently deepen
ing It's channel, and isalsv Of Importance when
In connection with the extension
Df the public ground and tho enlargement OF
Jhe park west and south OF tho Washington
Monument. The report Of the board of survey,
heretofore ordered by act Of Congress, on the
Improvement Of the harbor of Washington aud
Is respectfully commended to con-
'idCraiiOn.
The report Of the Commissioners OF the Dis
rict Of Columbia presents detailed state
nent Of the affairs of the District.
The relative expenditures by the United
States and the District for local purposes is
'ontnstcd showing that tho expenditures by
he people of the District greatly exceed those
If the General Government. Tho exhibit Is
made in connection with estimates for the req.
lisitc repair of the defective pavcmcmts and
'ewors of tho city, which is work Of i'm
mediate necessity, aud, ia the same conneC-
ion, plan is presented for the permanent
unding Of tho outstanding securities of tho
District.
Tho benevolent, roformatory, and penal in
titutions of the District are all entitled to the
favorable attention Of Congress. Tho Reform
school needs additional buildings aud teachers
appropriations which will place all of these
In u condition TO become models Of
lsciulness aud beni6cenco will be regarded by
he country as lberality wisely bestowed.
The commissioners, with evident justice, re-
luest attention to the discrimination made by
congress against the District in tho donation
If land for the support of the public schools,
lnd ask that tho same libcrality that has been
hown to the inhabitants Of the various States
'ud Territories OF the United States may be
extended to the District Of Columbia.
The commissioners also invite attention to