Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-12-04
THE MESSAGE.


| met with considerable success. large number
OF cases Of trespass have been prosecuted Ia the
courts OF the United States others have been set
tied, the trespassers offering to make payment to
the Government for the value Of the timber taken
/ by them. The proceeds OF the prosecutions and
settlements turned into the Treasury, far exceed
In amount the sum appropriated by Congress for
this purpose. more important result however
consists In the fact that the destruction OF our pub
lie forests by depreciation, although such cases
! still occur has been greatly reduced In extent
and II II probable that II the present policy Is Wig
orously pursued and sufficient provision TO that
| end Is 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 VI the population cannot under
the present state Of the law be otherwise obtained
/ therefore earnestly invite the attention Of Con
/ gress TO the recommendation made by the SeCre-
| tary Of the Interior that a Law be enacted en-
| abing the Government 10 sell timber from the
| public lands without conveying the fee where
such lands are principally valuable for the timbe-
| thereon, such sales to be so regulated "a to con
| form 10 domestic wants and business requirements
| while al the same time guarding against a sweep
ing destruction Of the forests, The enactment OF
such law appears to become a more pressing ne
| cessity every day.
Ny recommendations in former messages are
renewed In favor Of enlarging the facilities Of
THE DRPARTMEST or AGRICULTURE.
Agriculture is the leading interest and the per-
manent industry Of our people. It Is 10 the abun-
dance OF agricultural production, az compared
with our home consumption, and the largely in
CIeased and highly profitable market abroad which
we have enjoyed In recent years that we are
mainly indebted for our present prosperity as q
people. We must look for its continued main
tenance to the same substantial resource. There
is no branch of industry in which labor directed
by scientific knowledge, yields such increased
production in comparison with unskilled labor,
and no branch Of the public service 70 which
thee encouragement Of liberal appropriations
can be more appropriately extended. The
omission 10 render such aid is not wise economy;
but on the contrary. undoubtedly results in
losses OF immense sums annually that might be
saved through welldirected efforts by the Govern
ment to promote this vital interest
The results already accomplished with the very
limited means heretofore placed at the command
OF the Department Of agriculture is an earnest Of
what may be expected with increased apprOpria-
tiOns for the several purposes indicated in the re-
port Of the Commissioner, with q view to placing
the Department upon footing which will enable
IL 10 prosecute more effectively the objects for
which tis established.
Appropriations are needed for a more complete
laboratory. for the establishment Of a veterinary
division, and division Of forestry, and for an in
crease Of force.
The requirements for these and other purposes.
indicated in the report Of the Commissioner under
the head Of the immediate necessities of the
Department, will not involve any expenditure Of
money that the country cannot with prOpriety now
undertake in the interests Of agriculture.
1t is gratifying to learn from
the extent to which educational privileges through
out the the United States have been advanced
during the year. No more fundamental resp0nsi-
bility rests upon Congress than that Of devils
ing appropriate measures OF financial aid to edu-
cation, supplemental to local action in the States
and Territories, and in the District Of Columbia.
The wise fOrethOught Of the founders Of our Coy
ernment has not only furnished the basis for the
support of the cOmmOn-sChOOl systems of the
newer States but laid the foundations for the
maintenance of their universities and colleges Of
agriculture and mechanic arts. Measures in aC-
COrdance with this traditional policy for the fur
ther benefit of all these interests, and the eZten-
sion of the same advantages TO every portion Of
the country 1t is hoped will receive your favora-
bic consideration.
To preserve and perpetuate the National litera-
ture should be among the foremost cares OF the
National Legislature. The library gathered at the
Capitol still remains unprOvid5d with any suitable
accommodations for its rapidly increasing stores.
The magnitude and importance Of the collection,
increased as it is by the deposits made under the
law of copyright, by domestic and foreign ex-
changes and by the scientific library Of the
Smithsonian Institution. call for building accom-
modatiOns which shall be at once ade-
quate and fre-prOof. The location of such
a public building, which should provide for
the pressing necessities of the present and
for the vast increase OF the Nation books In the
future is a matter which addresses itself to the
discretion Of Congress. 1t IS earnestly recon-
mended as a measure which should unite all
suffrages, and which should no longer be de-
layed.
The Joint Commission created by the act of
Congress of August 2 1876, for the purpose of su-
perVising and directing the completion of the
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT,
of which Commission the President is member,
has given careful attention to this subject,
and already the strengthening of the fOun-
datiOn has so far progressed as to in
sure the entire success OF this part OF
the work. massive layer of masonry has
been introduced below the original foundation,
L., nTkn ], rs,Ek
structure, and rendering it possible to carry the
shaft to completion. 1t Is earnestly recon-
mended that such further appropriations be
made for the continued prosecution of the work
as may be necessary for the completion OF this
National Monument at an early day.
In former messages impressed with the I'M
pOrtance of the subject, have taken occasion
to commend to Congress the adoption of gen.
erous policy toward the District of Columbia.
The report of the Commissioners of the District,
herewith transmitted, contains suggestions
and recommendations, to all OF Wmch
| earnestly invite your careful attention. ask
your early and favorable consideration of the
views which they express as to the urgent need
of legislation for the reclamation of the marshes
of the Potomac and its Eastern Branch, within
the limits of the city, and for the repair of the
wooden blocks, and now by decay rendered al
most impassable and source OF imminent dan
ger to the health of its citizens. The means a6
the disposal of the Commissioners are wholly IN
pOrtaht works. and should be supplemented by
timely appropriations from the Federal treasury.
The filling of the flats in font of the city viii
add to the adjacent lands and parks now owned
by the United States. a large and valuable
domain, sufficient 1t is thought, to reimburse ITS
entire cost, and will also an Incidental result
secure the permanent improvement OF the river
for the purposes of navigation.
The Constitution having invested Congress
with supreme and exclusive jurisdiction
over the District of Columbia, Its cltl-
zens must OF necessity look to Congress
alone for all needful legislation affecting
their interests; and as the territory of this Dis
trict is the common property of the people OF the
United States who, equally with its resident Cit
liens, are interested in the prosperity of their
capital, cannot doubt that you Will be amply
by the general voice Of the country In
any measure you may adopt for this purpose.
| also invite the favorable consideration OF
to the wants of the public schools of tins
District as exhibited in the report of the Com
missiOners. While the number of pupils Is rap
idly increasing no adequate provision exists TOR
corresponding increase of school aCcOmmoda-
ton and the Commissioners are without the
means to meet this urgent need number or
the buildings now used for school purposes are
rented, and are in important particulars, un-
suited for the purpose. The cause OF popular
education in the District of Columbia Is surely
entitled to the same consideration at the hands
Of the National Government as IN the several
States and Territories, to which munlhcent
grants of the public lands have been made Tor
tbe endowment of schools and universities.
RTTTHFRFORD R, HAYES.