New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-12-11
[Continued from tn I'd page.

CONTINUED from tn I'd pagej
concentration made by the secretary Of the
interior with regard to the preservation of tim
Der on the public lands of the United States.
The protection of the public property is one
of the first duties of the government. The
department Oft the interior should, therefore, |
be enabled by sufficient appropriations TO en-
force the laws in that respect. But the matter
appears still more important as q question of |
public economy. The rapid destruction of orr
forests issan evil fraught with the gravest cor
sequences, especially in the mountainous dis
tricts where the rocky steppes once denuded of !
their treesFwill remain SO forever. There, the
injury; once done cannot be repaired. I fully
concur with the secretary Of the interior in the
opinion that for this reason legislation. touch-I
ing public timber in the mountainous States
and Territories Of the West should be espe-l
ciallys we'll considered, and that existing laws
in which the destruction of forests is not sufi-
GENTLY guarded against should be speedily
modified. A general law concerning this inn
portant subject appears to me to be matter of
urgent necessity.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS.
From the organization of the government
the Importance of encouraging, by all possible
means, the increase of our agricultural pro-
auctions has been acknowledged and urged
upon the attention of Congress and the people,
as hesurest and rediest means Of increasing
our substantial and enduring prosperity. The
to-day as when, in his eighth annual mes
sage he said: 1T is not to be doubted, that,
with reference, either to individual or
national welfare, agriculture is of primary inn
portance." In proportion nations advance
in population and other circumstances of ma
turity, this truth becomes more apparent, and
renders the cultivation of the soil more and
more an object Of public patronage. Institu-
tions 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 sue
cess than the establishment ofAboards COM
posed of proper characters, charged with col
lecting and diffusing information, and enabled
by premiums and small pecuniary aids to en-
courage and assist the spirit of discovery and
improvement this species of establishment,
contributing doubly to the increase and i'm
provement by mulating to enterprise and ex-
pertinent, and by drawing to common centre
che results everywhere Of individual skill and
observation, and spreading them thence over
the whole NATHAN. Experience accordingly 4
hath shown that they are very cheap instru-
ments of immense national benefit.
The great preponderance Of the agricultural
over any other interest in the United States en-
titles it to all the consideration CLAIMED for it
by Washington. About one-half of the popu-
ESL1Ou VI CAc Ou1IcO LoLaLcS Is euSARSu IN aSr1-
culture. The value of the agricultural products
of the United States for the year 1878, is esti-
mated at S3, 100000, 600, The exports of agri-
cultural products for the year 1877, as appears
from the report Of the bureau Of statistics, was
524,OO0O0O. The great extent of our country,
with its diversity Of soil and climate, enables
us to produce within our own borders, and
by our own labor, not only the necessaries, but
most of the luxuries that are consumed in civil
ized countries. Yet, Notwithstanding our adj
vantages of SOIL climate and inter -c0mmunica-
ton, it appears, from the statistical statements
in the report of the commissioner Of agricul-
tnre, that we import annually from foreign
lands many millions of dollars worth Of sagri-
cultural products, which could be raised in
our own country.
Numerous questions arise in the practice of
advanced agricultu reewhich can only be an.
swered by experiments, often costly. and some
times fruitless, which are beyond the means of
private individuals, and are a just and proper
charge on the whole nation, for the benefit of
the nation. It. is good policy, especially in
times Of depression and uncertainty in other
business pursuits, with vast area of unculti-
waited and unproductive territory, wisely
opened to homestead settlement, to encourage
by every proper and legitimate means the occu-
patton and tillage of the soil.
The efforts of the department of agriculture
to stimulate old and introduce new agricultural
industries, to improve the quality and increase
the quantity of our products, to determine the
value of old or establish the Importance of
new methods of culture, worthy Of your
careful and favorable consideration and assist
ance, by such appropriations of money, and en-
largement of facilities as may seem to he de-
manded by the present favorable conditions
for the growth aud developement of this i'm
portant interest. & 5lj VII 4Ss :Al..
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IN TRANSIT.
The abuse of animals in transit is widely at
tracing public astention. A national conyen-
ton of societies, specially interested in the
subject, has recently met at Baltimore, and
facts developed, both in regard to cruelties to
animals, and the effect of such ernelties upon
public health would seem to demand the care
full nsideration of Congress and the enact
ment Of more efficient laws for the prevention
of these abuses.
EDUCATION
The report of the commissioner Of the bu-
reau Of education shows very gratifying pro-
gress throughout the country in all the inter
ests 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
privileges of free schools is not yet allowed
To education, more than to any other agency,
are to look as the resource for the advance
ment of the people in the requisite knowledge
and appreciation of their rights and RESPONSE
bilitles Us citizens, and desire to repeat the
suggestion contained in my former message in
behalf of the enactment of appropriate meas
ures by Congress for the purpose of supple