Jamestown alert., 1879-12-09

the committee having reported, the
questions have been decided in
the negative by vote in the House
of Representatives. For the reason here stated
and in view of the fact of further uncertainty
on this point, will be calculated to obstruct
other much needed legislation, to weaken the
discipline of the service and to unsettle salu-
tary measures now in progress fol. the govern
ment and improvement of the Indians, I respect
fully recommend that the decision arrived at
by Congress at it's last eession be permitted to
stand.
TIMBER THEFIs.
The efforts made by the department of the
interior to arrest the depredations on the tim
Der lands of the United States have been con
tinued and have met with considerable SUCCESS.
A large number Of cases of trespass have been
prosecuted i'll the courts of the United States.
Others have been settled, the trespassers offer
ing to make payment to the government fot
the value of timber taken by them. The pro-
ceeds Of prosecution and settlements, being
turned into the treasury, Will exceed the
amount of the sums appropriated
porttnt result, however, consists in the fact
that the destruction Of our public forests by
depreciation, although such cases still occur,
has been greatly reduced in extent, and it is
possible, if the present policy is vigorously
pursued and sufficient provision to that end
made by Congress, ,such trespasses, at least those
on large scale, can be entirely suppressed
except in the Territories where timber for the
daily requirements Of the population cannot
under the present state of the law be easily OBJ
tanned. therefore earnestly invite the atten-
tion of Congress to the recommendation made
by the secretary of the interior that a law be
enacted enabling the government to sell tim
n1.c H.. l.
the fee, where such lands are
principally valuable for the timber thereon,
such sales to be SO regulated as to conform to
domestic wants and business requirements,
while at the same time guarding against a
sweeping reduction Of the forests. The enact
ment of such law seems to become more
pressing necessity every day.
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
My Recommendations in former messages are
renewed in favor of enlarging the facilities of
the department of agriculture. Agriculture is
the leading interest and the permanent indus
try of our people. 1t is to the abundance of
agricultural productions, as compared with
our homo consumption. and the largely in
which we have enjoyed in recent
years, that we are mainly indebted
for our present prosperity people. We
must look to its continued maintenance for
substantial resource. There is no branch of
industry in which labor directed By scientifc
knowledge yields euch increased production In
comparison with unskilled labor. and no branch
of the public service to which the encourage
ment of liberal appropriations can be more
appropriately extended. The commission to
render such aid is not q wise economy, but on
the contrary, undoubtedly results in the
losses Of immense sums annually, taat
might be saved through well-directed
efforta by the goyernment to promote this vi
tai interest. The reanlts already accom-
plishet With the very limited means heretofore
placed at the command Of the department Of
agriculture is an earnest of what may be ex-
pected with Increased appropriations for the
several purposes indicated in the report of the
commissioner. With view to placing the
department upon footing which will enable
the tn objects p'''''iS for ' which t'''' it Is
established appropriations are needed
for more complete laboratory for the estab-
lishment of a veterinary division and division
of forestry and for an increase of force. The
requirements for these and other purposes in-
dicated in the report of the commissioner, un-
der the head of immediate neces sites of the de-
money that the country cannot with propriety
now undertake in the interest of agriculture.
EDUCATION.
1t is gratifying to learn from the bureau of
education the extent to which educational
privileges throughout the United States have
been advanced during the year. No more fun
damental responsibility rests in Congress than
that of devising appropriate measures of 6nan-
cial aid to education, supplemental to local
action. in the States and Territories, and in
the District Of Columbia The wise fore
thought of the founders of our
government has not only furnished
Z hal hos f>r t~E& ~
systems of the newer States, but laid the foun-
dations for the maintenance of their UNIVERSE
ties, and Of colleges of agriculture and me-
chanic art. Measures in accordance with this
traditional policy for the further benefit of all
these interests and the extension of some ad-
vantages to every portion of the country it is
hoped will receive your favorable cousidera-
bic.
TIE CAPITOL LIBRARY.
To preserve and perpetuate the national
literature should be among the foremost cares
of the national legislature. The library
gathered at the capitol still remains unpro.
vided with any suitable accommodations for |
it's rapidly increasing stores. The magnitude |
and Importance of the collection. increased as !
it is by the deposits under the laws of copy |
right, by domestic and foreign exchanges, and !
by the scientific library of the Smithsonian |
institution, call for building accommodations |
which shall be at once adequate and fire proof. |
The location of such public buildings, which |
should provide for the pressing necessities of
the present and for the vast increase of the |
nations books in the future, is matter which |
addresses itself to the discretion of Congress. 1t
is earnestly recommended "a a measure which |
should unite all suffrases and which should no
longer be delayed.
WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
The joint commission, created by the act of
Congress of August End, 1876, for the purpose
of supervising and directing tie completion of
the Washington national monument of which !
commission the President is a member, has |
given careful attention to this subject, and al
ready the STRENGTHENING of the foundation |