Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-05

Government for the value of the timber taken
by them. The proceeds Of these prosecu-
tons and settlements, turned into the Treas
ury, far exceed in amount the sums appropri-
ated by Congress for this purpose. A more
important result, however, consists in the
fact that the destruction of our public forests
10y depreciation, although such cases still oc-
cur, has been greatly reduced in extent, and
1t is probable that if the present policy is Wig
Orousy pursued and sufficient provision to
that end is made by Congress, such trespass-
es, at least those on a large scale, can be en-
tirely suppressed, except in the Territories
where timber for the daily requirements of
the populations cannot, under the present
state of the law, be otherwise obtained. ]
therefore earnestly invite the attention Of
Congress to the recommendation made by
the Secretary Of the Interior that a law be
enacted enabling the Government to sell tim
Der from the public lands, without conveying
the fee, where such lands are principally val
liable for the timber thereon, such sales to be
80 regulated as TO conform to domestic wants
aud business requirements, while at the same
time guarding against "a sweeping destruction
of the forests The enactment of such d law
appears to become a more pressing necessity
every day.
DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.
My recommendations in former messages
are renewed, in favor Of enlargng the facili-
ties of the Department Of Agriculture Ag-
riculture as the leading interest and the per
manent industry of our people. 1t is to the
abundance Of agricultural production, as com
pared with our home consumption, and the
largely-increased and highly profitable mar
ket abroad which We have enjoyed III recent
years, that We are mainly indebted for our
present prosperity q people. We must
look for its continued maintenance to the
same substantial resource There is no branch
Of industry in which labor directed by scien
tihc knowledge, yields such increased produc-
ton III comparison with uuskiled labor, and
no branch Of the public service to which the
encouragement Of liberal appropriations can
be more appropriately extended The omis
sion to render such aid is not a wise economy,
but, on the contrary, undoubtedly results IL
losses Of immense sums annually that might
be saved through well-dirccted efforts by the
Government 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 al earnest Of what may be expected, with
increased appropriations for the several pur-
poses indicated III tine repOr; of the Commits
sloner with view to placing the department
upon footing which will enable 1t 10 prose
cute more effectively the objects for which II
is established Appropriations are needed
for moro complete laboratory, for the es-
adjustment of a veterinary division and
division Of forestry, and for an increase Of
force. The requirements for these and other
purposes indicated il the report Of the Com
missioner, under the head OF the immediate
necessities OF the department will not III
volvc any expenditure Of money that the
country cannot with propriety now undertake
in the interests Of agriculture.
BUREAU or rprctr1oS
It 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
fundamental responsibility rests upon Con
grcss than that of devislng appropriate meas
Qres of financial aid to education. supplement
tai TO local action IN the States and Territor-
les and District Of Columbia The wise fore
thought Of the founders of our Government
has not only furnished the basis for the SUP
port Of thu common school system of the
newer States, but laid the foundations for the
maintenance Of their universities and colleges
Of agriculture and the mechanic arts. Meas
Ures IL accordance with this traditional poll
cy, for the further benefit OF all these inter
ests and tho extension Of the same adyRu-
tages 10 every portion Of the country, it Is
hoped viii receive your favorable cuusidera-
ton.
To preserve ana perpetuate the national lit
erature should be among the foremost cares Of
the National Legislature The library gath.
cred at the Capitol still remains uuprovidod
with any suitabl, accommodations for its rap
idly increasing stores. The magnitude and
Importance of the collection, increased as it is
by the deposits made under the law OF copy
right, by domestic aud foreign exchanges. and
by the scientific library of the Smithsonian
Institution, call for building accommodations
which shall be at once equal and fre-proof.
The location Of such 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 q matter which
addresses itself 10 the discretion of Congress.
II Is earnestly recommended as measure
which should unite all sufrages and which
should no longer be delayed.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
Tho joint commission created by the act Of
Congress Of August . 1876. for the purpose
Of supervising and directing the completion
Of the Washington national monument, of
which commission the President Is a member
has given careful attention to this subject
and already the strengthening Of the founda-
ton has so far progressed AS to insure the en-
tire success of this part OF the work mas
sive layer of masonry has been introduced be
low the original foundation, widening the
base, increasing the stability Of the structure
and rendering it possible to carry the shaft to
completion. It i earnestly recommended
that such further appropriations be mazda for
the continued prosecution Of the work as may
be necessary for the completion Of this ma
tional monument at an early day.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
In former messages, impressed with the
importance of the subject l have taken occa-
sion to commend to Congress the adoption Of
generous policy towards the District of Co
lumbia. The report Of the Commissioners of the
District, herewith transmitted, contains sugges-
tions and recommendations, TO all of which
eGrnestyinvite your careful attention. l ask
your early and favorable consideration Of the
views which they express as the urgent need of
legslauoutOr the reclamation of the marshes of
the Potomac and its Eastern branch, within the
limits of the city and for the repair of the streets
of the Capital. heretofore laid with wooden
blocks. and now by decay rendered almost
lmpassable, and source of imminent danger
to the health Of its citizens The means at
the disposal Of the commissioners are wholly
inadequate for the accomplishment of these
important works and should be supplemented
by timely appropriations from the federal
treasury. The filling Of the flats in front of
the city will add to the ad acent lands and
parks now owned by the United States,
large and valuable domain, sufficient it is
thought to reimburse its entire cost, and will
also, as an incidental result, secure the per
manent improvement of the river for the pur-
poses Of navigation.
The constitution having invested Congress
with supreme and exclusive jurisdiction over
the District of Columbia, its citizens must of
necessity look to Congress alone for all need
ful legislation affecting their interests and
as the territory of this district is the common
property of the people of the United States,
who, equally with its resident citizens are in
terested in the prosperity of their Capital, I
cannot doubt that you will be amply sustain
ed by the general voice of the country in any
measures you may adopt for this purpose
/ also invite the favorable consideration of
Congress to the wants of the public schools of