The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-12-06


claimants until their rights should b.
finally determined The late co;uluis
sioners complied with that request and
report thar the testimony, in all tie
cases. has been written out, examinad,
briefed. and SO arranged rs to facili-
tate an early settlement when author
iZe hy law. Ii is r,e1mnended that
the requisite authority be given at as
early day in tte session as possible,
aud that fair compensation be allow
ed the late com nissioners for the ex-
pense Incurred and the labor performed
By them since the 25fh of June last
| invite tue attention of Congress tc
the Communications made by the
Sscr-rary of the Interior With regard
to the reservation of the timber on
the public lands of the United States
The protection of thu bubble property
Is one of 6he first duties of the Govern
ineDt- The Department of the Inter
iOr should, therefore, be enabled by
sufficient appropriations, to enforce the
laws in that respect. But this matter
app ears sill more important as qu-s
ton cf public economy. The rapid
destruction OF our forests is au evil
frau Int with gravest consequences,
especially 10 the mountainous districts,
where the rocky slopes, once denuded
of their trees. will remain Sc forever
There the injnry, once done, cannot
be repaired. fully concur with the
Secretary of the Interior in the opin
ion that, for this reason, legislation
touching the public timber in the
mountainous States and Territories of
the West, should be especially we'll con
sidered, ,and that exis ing laws, in which
the destruction of the forests is not
sufficiently guarded against. should be
speedily modified. A general law con
cerning this important subject, appears
to me to be a matter of urgent public
necessity.
From the organization of the Coy =
ernment, th+ Importance of encourag-
ing by all possible means, the increase
of our agricultural productions las
been acknowledged and urged upon
The attention of Congress aid the
people as the surest and reaiiest means
of Increasing our substantial and en-
during prosperity.
The words of Washington are as ap-
piica5le to-day as when in his eighth
annual nessoge, he said: Il. l. not to
be doubted that with reference either
to individual or national welfare, ag-
ricullure is of prilna y im portance. In
proportion as nations advance in pop
nlation and other circumstances OF
maturity, This truth becomes more ap-
parent. and renders the cultivation of
the soil more aud nors al object OF
public patronaga. Institutions for pro-
noting it grow up, supported by the
public purse-and to what object can
it be dedicate with greater propriety
Among the Ineans 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 col
leeticg aud diffusiug information. aud
enabled. by premiums and small pc
cuniary aids, tn encourage and assist
the spirit of discovery and improve
ment. this species of establishment
contributing doubly TO the Increase of
improvement by stimulating TO enter
prise and experiment, and by drawing
to q common center the results every
where of individual skill and observa-
ton, and spreading them thence over
the whole nation. Experience accord
iugly hath shown that they are very
cheap instruments of immense natio 1al
benefit"
The great preponderance of the ag-
ricultural over any other interes. in the
! United States e titles it to all consid-
Grafton claimed for it by Washi, gton.
About one bali of the population of
the United States is engaged ia agri-
culture. The valus of the agricultural
products of the United States for the
year rs is estimated at three Thousand
millions of dollars The exports of
agricultural product for the year n, as
appears from the report of the Bureau
of Statistics, were five hundred and
twenty four millions of dollars ThA
great extent of our country, with IT'S
diversity of soil and climate, enables
US to produce, within our own borders
and by our own labor, not only the
uecessar.es, but most of the luxuries
that are consumed in civilized cour-
tries. Yet, notwithstanding our ad-
vantages of soil, cliIrsse aud intercom-
munication, it appears from the sta
tistical statements iu the report of the
Commissioner of Agriculture. that We
import annually fron foreign lands
many millions of dollars worth of
agricultural proouct which could be
raised in our own country.
Numerous questions arise in the
practice of advanced agriculture which
can only be answered by experiments.
| often COS ly and sometimes fruitless,
which are beyond the means of private
individuals, and are just and proper
charge on the whole nation for the
benefit of the nation. Its good policy,
especially in times of depression and
uncertainty in other business pursuits,
with vast area of unoultiva.ed. and
hence reproductive territory, wisely
opened to homestead settlement, to
encourage by every proper aud legiti
mate means, the occupation and tillsge
of the soil. The efforts of the Depart
ment of Agriculture to stimulate old
and introduce new agriculture indus
tries, to improve the quality aod in
crease 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 assistance
by such appropriations of money and
enlargement of facilities as may seem
TO be demanded by the present favor
able considerations for the growth and
rapid development of this important
interest
The abuse of animals in transit is
widely attracting public attention. A
national convention of societies specially
interested in the subject has recently
met at Baltimore, and the facts develop
ed, both in regard to crueltes to animals
and the effect of such cruelties upon the
public health, would seem to demand
the careful consideration of Congress;and
the enactment of more efficient laws for
the prevention of these abuses
The report of the Commissioner of the
Bureau Of Education shows very crafty
ing progress throughout the country, in
all the interests 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 enjoy
ment of the privilege of free schools ls
not yet attained.
To education more than to any other
agency We are to look, as the resources
for the Advancement of the people, in
the requisite knowledge and apprecia
ton of their rights and responsibilities as
citizens, and desire to repeat the sug
gestion contained in my former message
in behalf of the enactment of appropri
ate measures by Congress for the pur
pose of supplementing, with national
aid, the local systems OF education in the
several States
Adequate accommodations for the
great library, which is overgrowing the
capacity of the rooms now occupied at