The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-09

earthworks, left by the sudden failure Of appro-
prlations several years sincein Ill stage sof incom
elements: The two great rivers Of the North Amer
Jean continent. the Mississippi and the Columbia,
Within thu their ,n f 9hs n sSF' States onX
are of vast importance to our internal
and foreign commerce. The permanency of i'm.
portant work on the south pass Of the Mississippi
failure whatever in the maintenance of the maxi
mum channel during six months ended August .,
last: The experiment has opened q broad and deep
the permanent success of which congratulations
may be exchanged among the people abroad and at
ncme, and especially among the communities OF
float in an unobstructed channel safely to and from
the sea. comprehensive
IMPROVEMENT OF THEsM1ss1ssRP1
and its tributaries is matter of transcendent i'm
portaace These great waterways comprise mp sys
over large portion of the United States, and navl-
gable to the extent of many thousand miles, Pro-
ana ke nave S
ton Geographically. commercially and pohtlcany
they are the strongest tie between the various
and interchange the property of the nation. Its
jurisdiction il paramount their waters, and tho
plainest principles of public interest require their
her
ment Of their usefulness. The channe! OF the
Columbia river for t distance =. Of aSSSt
is Hne o6st nucee by r0m succession Of
bars which occasions serious delays in naviga-
ton and heavy expense for lighterage and towage.
secured and maintained to meet the requirements
of the extensive and growing inland and ocean
commerce it subserves. The urgent need, however,
ment Of the channel at the mouth Of the
river, from the Columbia river to San Francisco,
a distance Of over 600 miles, there is no harbor
ing stormy weather: An appropriation of $780,
O0O was made by the forty fifth congress ior the
commencement of q back-water and harbor of
the straits of Fuca and San Francisco,
at which the necessities of commerce, local
and general. will be best accommodated. The
adequate for the purpose intended. The cost of
the work when finished will be great. owing to the
want of natural advantages for site at any point
has not been thought to be advisable to undertake
the work without larger appropriation. COM
mend the matter to the attention of congress. The
completion of the
NEW BUILDING FOB THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
is urgently needed and the estimates for continuing
its construction are especially recommended. The
tuting the army medical museum and library are of
national importance The library now contains
about 81 500 volumes and $1,000 pamphlets re-, re;
medical museum consist of $4,000 specimens. and
are unique in the completeness with which both
military, surgery and the diseases of armies are il
Illustrated. Their destruction would be an ire
parable loss, not only to the United States, but to
the world. There are filed in the record and
pension division over 10000 bound vol
umes of hospital records, together with a
great quantity of papers, embracing the
original records Of the hospitals of armies dur
ing the civil Aside from their historical value,
these records daily searched for evidence needed
in the settlement Of large number of pension ana
other claims, and for the protection Of the govern
ment against attempted frauds, as well as for the
benefit of honest claimants These valuable con-
tents are now in building which is peculiarly ex
posed to the danger of destruction by fire. It
is therefore earnestly recommended that an
appropriation be made for new fre-proof building
adequate to the present needs and future expansion
of these valuable collections. Such building
should be absolutely fire. proof. No expenditure
for mere architectural display is required. 1t is
believed that suitable structure can be erected at
a cost not to exceed $4,000.
GRANT.
commend to the attention of congress the great
services of the commander-in chief of our armies
duct did SO much to bring that momentous con-
test to close. The legislature of the
United States contains many precedents for the
recognition of distinguished military merit, author
izing rank and emoluments to be conferred for en-
inent services to the country. An act Of
congress authorizing the appointment of
captain-generA of the army, with
suitable provisions relating to- compensation,
retirement and other details would, in my judgment,
be altogether fitting and proper and would be
warmly approved by the country.