The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-12-05

IN tial and enduring prosperity. The Wort
e. Of Washington are - applicable to-day, /
Of when in his eighth annual message, !
said: 1T is NOT 10 be doubled that Wit
reference. either to indivifrAl or nation,
10 welfare, agriculture is Of primary impor
~ ance, in proportion as nations advance
y population, and other circumstances q
. maturity This truth becomes more An
8 more apparent, and renders The cultivation
!. OF the soil more and more m object q
public patronage. Inssitutions tor prt
: noting Il grow up, supported BY the publ
= pure, and to what object can il be dedic.l
I ed with greater prOpriety. Amoae.,h
= means which have been employed 10 thi
! end, nore have been attended with create
j. succesA than the estAblishmcnt u Boards
. composed Of proper characterA charge(
= with collecting and di1asing iufoRmatiou
! and enabled b prcmiuma, and mail pecu
|. mary aid, to encourage and a1yisl the spisi
of discovery, and Impoverished, this specie,
|. | Of establiskment, Contributing doubly h
the increase Of improvement By stimulst
|; ing to enterprise and experiment, and by
drawing to . common center, the result o.
individual skill and observation everyvhcre
and spreading them thence over the eutire
Nation. Experience has accordingly shown
that they are very cheap instruments
of immense National benefit. The great
,, preponderance u agriculture over every
, other interest in the United States
entities TO il all the consideration
. claimed for il BY Washington. About
oue-half Of the population Of the United
States is engaged In agriculture. The
value Of the agricultural products 1t
the United States for the year 1878 10 ests.
mated al three thousand millions of dol.
lars. The exports Of agricultural products
tor the year 1877, - appears from the ne.
port of the Bureau OF Statistics, were 1--WE
hundred and twenty -four millions of dol
lars The great extent of our country.
with its diversity of soil and climate en-
ables us to produce within our own borders
and by our own labor, not only the necessi-
ties. but most Of the Injuries that are con-
sumed in civilized countries. Notwith-
standing our advantages Of soil. climate
and Accommodation, It appears from
the statistical statements in the report Of
the Commissioner OF Agriculture, that we
import annually from foreign lands many
millions Of dollars worth Of agricultural
products which could be raised in our own
country. Numerous questions arise in the
practice of advanced agricultural, which
can only be answered by experiments after
| costly and sometimes fruitless attempts,
which are beyond the means Of private indi-
viduals, and are just and proper charge
on the whole Nation for the benefit Of the
Nation. 1t is good policy, and e.
pecially in the time OF depression and
uncertainty in other business pursuits, |
with the area Of uncultivated land, |
hence unproduc,ive territory. wisely opened |
to homestead settlement, to encourage, by |
every proper and legitimate means, the oc- |
cupatiOn and tillage Of the soil. The efforts |
of the Department Of Agriculture to stimu-
late old and introduce new agricultural in
dustries, to improve the quality, and in.
crease the quantity OF our products, To de-
termine the value Of old or establish the
importance Of new methods Of culture, are
worthy Of our careful and favorable consid.
Grafton and assistance by such appropra-
tons Of money and enlargement of facili-
ties as may seem to be demanded by the
present favorable conditions for the growth
an rapid development OF this important
interest.
THE ABUSE or 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 developed, both
effect Of such cruelties upon the public
health, would seem to demand the careful
consideration of Congress, and the enact
ment of more effectual laws for the pre-
vention of such abuses.
BUREAU or EDUCATION.
The Department of the Commissioner Of
the Bureau of Education shows very graft
flying progress throughout the country in
all the interests committed to the care Of
this important Office. The report is espec-
tally encouraging with respect to the exten-
sion of the advantages Of the common
school system in sections Of the country
where the general enjoyment Of the privil
ege Of free schoolsls not yet allowed. To {
education more than To any other agency
We are to!Ook as the resource for the adj {
vancemcnt Of the people in requisite
and appreciation OF their rights
and responsibilities As citizens; and de. '
sire to repeat the suggestion contained In
my message in behalf of the enactment Of I
appropriate measures by Congress for the
purpose Of experimenting with national I
the local systems Of education in the sever
al States. 4
THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
Adequate accommodations for the great !,
library, which is overgrowing the capacity
Df the rooms now occupied at the Capitol,
should be provided without further delay. :
This inevitable collection of books, manu-
scripts and illustrative art has grown TO
such proportions, in connection with the
system Of the country, to demand /,
he prompt and careful attention Of Con- !,
yress TO save ii from injury in its present
crowded and insufficient quarters. As this
shr.p l.. Il Il. Il. I
must from the nature Of the case, increase
wen more rapidly in the future than in the
,ast, il cennot be doubted but that the peo-
Die will sanction any wise expenditure TO
preserve il, and to enlarge its usefulness
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
The appeal Of the Regents of the Smith =
oman Institution for the means to organ n
zc, exhibit and make available for the n
'ublic benefit, the articles now stored n
way belonging to the national museum, +
hereby recommend to your favorable n
{
WASHINGTON AND GEORGETOWN HARBoR G
The attention OF Congress is again invi, G
d 10 the condition of the river front Of the q
ity of Washington. II is matter OF vast n
Importance 10 the health of the residents o
# the National Capital. both temporary d
nd permanent, that the low lands in front Is
4 the city, now subject TO the tidal over
low, should he recalled In the prcsen, coa.
ition, these lands obs,ruct the klrainsge 9.
4 the city, and are dangerous source Of :, :,
nalarlai poison. Their reclamation will -
improve the navigation Of the river, by re- q
iric,ing, and consequently deepening its !. =
hannel, and Is also Of Importance when :.
onsidered in connection with the exien. :.
ion Of public grounds, and the enlarge y
nent Of the park west and south Of the y
Washington Monument The report of =
he Board Of Survey heretofore ordered by =
ct OF Congress, on the improvement of the :, -
larbor OF Washington and Georgetown, y
) respectfully recommended TO your con !. :,
liberation. 81
DISTRICT or COLOMBIA. ~
The report Of the Commissioners Of The d
district Of Columbia presents q detailed s
taieuent OF the affairs Of the District N
he relative expenditures by the United "
tales and the District for local purposes IL Il
ontrssici to showing that the expendi. q
ures by the people Of the Distric, greatly b
xcced those Of the General Government I