Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-05

culation, and the balance, Sl4, S29 ,603, is
still in the possession OF the Govern
ment.
With views unchanged with regard
to the act under which the coinage of
silver proceeds, it has been the pur-
pCse of the Secretary faithfully to eX'
ecute the law, and TO afford fair trial
TO the measure.
In the present financial condition OF
the country, l am persuaded that the
welfare of legitimate business and in
dustry ofevery description will be best
promoted by abstaining from all at
Iempts to make radical changes in the
existing financial legislation. Let it be
understood that during the coming
year the business of the country will be
undisturbed by governmental interfe'
renee with the laws affecting it, and
We may confidently expect that the
resumption Oi specie payments, which
will take place at the appointed time,
will be successfully and easily main
taincd, and that it will be followed by
healthful and enduring revival OF
business prosperity.
Let the healing influence of time, the
inherent energies OF our people, and
the boundIess resources of our country,
have Il fair opportunity, ,and relief from
present difficulties will surely follow.
The report of the Secretary CT Wal
shows that the army has been well and
economically supplied, that our small
force has been actively employed, and
has faithfully performed all the service
required of 1t. Tne morale of the ar
my has improved, and the number of
deserters has materially decreased du'
ring the year.
PRESERVATION OF TIMBER.
| invite the attention OF Congress to
the recommendations made by the Sec
retary of the Interior with regard to
the preservation of the timber on the
publ lands of the United States. The
protection OF the puolic property Is one
of the first duties of the Government,
Fhe Department Of the Interior should.
therefore, be enabled by sufficient ap-
prOpriatIons, to enforce the laws In
that respect. But This matter appears
still more important as question Oh
public economy. The rapid de5truc-
ton of our forests is an evil fraught
with the gravest consequences, eSpe'
cially in the mountainous districts,
!
trees, will remain 80 forever. There
the Injury once done, cannot be
repaired. l fully concur with the Sec.
retary of the IHterior in the opinion
that, for this reason, legislation touch.
ing the public timber in the mountain
Gus States and Territories of the West,
should be especially we'll considered,
and that existing laws, in which the
destruction of the forests is not 5uffici.
entity guarded against, should be speedi'
ly modified. A general law concerning
this important subject, appears to me
80 be Ii matter of urgent public neces'
sity.
AGRICULTURE.
From the organization of the Gov
ernment, the importance OF encourag'
ing, by all possible means, the increase
of our agricultural productions has
been acknowledged and urged upon the
attention of Congress and the
people as the sure5t and readie5t means
OF increasing our substantial and en-
during prosperity.
The words OF Washington are as ap'
plicable to-day as when, in his eighth
annual message, he said: "It is not to
be doubted that with reference either
to individual or national welfare, agri'
culture Is of primary Importance. In
proportion as nations advance in popu.
lation and other circumstances of
maturity, this truth becomes more
apparent, and renders 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 CO what object
can it be dedicated with greater
propriety? Among the means which
have been employed to this end, none
haYe been attended with greater sue
cess than the establishment of boards,
composed of proper characters, charged
with collecting and ditfuSing informa.
ton, and enabled, by premiums and
small pecuniary aids, to encourage and
assist the spirit of discovery and i'm.
provement, this species of establish
nent contributing doubiy TO the in
crease OF Improvement, and by draw
ing to common centre the results
every where OF Individual skill and
observation, aud spreading them
thence over the whole nation. Tx |
perience accordingly hath shown that
they are very cheap instruments of i'm |
men5e national benefit"
The great preponderence of the agri' |
cultural over any other Interest in the
United States entities it to all the con- |
sideration claimed for it by Washing |
ton. About one'half of the population |
of the Uaited States Is engaged In agri. |
culture. Nhe value of the agricultural
products Of the United States Tor the |
year 1878, is estimated at three thou
sand millions of dollars. The exports |
of agricultural products for the year
1877, as appears from the report of the
Bureau of Statistics, were five hundred
aud tWenty'four millions of duiiarS.
rhe 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 neceS5aries but most OF the
luXurie5 that are consumed in civilized
countries. Yet, Notwithstanding our
advantages of soil, climate, and inter.
it appears rom siatiSti'
cal statements in the report of the Com
missioner of Agriculture, that we inn
port annually from foreign lands many
Of dollars 'eOrth of products
which could be raised in our own
country.
Numerous questions arise in the
practice of advanced agriculture which
IN only be answered by experiments,
Jften costly andI sometimes truitless,
which are beyond the means Of private
individuals, and are jlst and proper
charge on the whole nation for the
)eaeiit of the nation. 1t is goO,. policy,
specially in times of depression and
Inc 9rtainty in other business pursuits, :
vita vast area OF uncultivated, and !.
lence unpruductive territory, wisely
opened to homestead settlement to en-. a
0ursge, by every proper and Iegiti'
nats means, the occupation and tillage
Il the soil. The efforts of the Depart.
nant of Agriculture to stimulate old 2
nj introduce new agricultural indus !
ries, to imFrIve the quality and in
rea5e the quantity of our products, to