Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-17
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

our internal and foreign commerce. The peima-
nency of the important work on the south ph-s
Of the Mississippi seems now TO be assured. there
has been no failure whatever in the maintenance
Of the maximum channel during the six months
ended August Inst. This experiment has open
ed broad deep highway to the ocean, and IL an
Improvement, upon the permanent success OF
which congratulations may be exchanged among
people abroad and at home, and especially among
the communities of the Mississippi valley whose
commercial exchanges float in nm unobstrncted
channel safely to and from the sen.
A comprchenase improvement OF the MISSISSIPPI
p md its tiibutarice Is matter Of trnnscendent
Importance. These grcnt waterways comprise II
system Of inland transportation sprend like net
work Oyern large portion Of the United states,
and nayigablc TO the extent Of many Thousands Of
miles. Producers and consumers alike have acorn
mon interest In such unequaed facilities for cheap
transportation geographically, commercially and
politically they arc the strongest tie between the
various sections Of the country. These channels
Of communication and interchange are the proper
ty OF the nation. lts jurisdiction s paramount
over their waters, and the plancst principles u
public interest require their intelligent ana chreul
supervision, with view 10 their protection, mn
pr0yemcnt and the enhancement OF their useful
ness.
The channel Of the Columbia river for dis
lance Of about one hundred miles from ts mouth,
IL 0bitructed by succession 0f bnrsi winch occi'-
sion serious delays in navigation, and heavy eN-
pense Tor hgiterage and towago. a dcpth Oi ~
cnst twenty feet nt low tide should be secured and
maintained 10 meet the requirements of the cX-
tcnsvc aud growing inlnnd and ocean, commerce u
subserycr The most urgent need however, for
this great watGr.w why, IL u permanent improve
mont Of the channel NJ the mouth Of the RIVER
From Columbia river to SIM francisco, dis
tanco Of over 900 miles there liz no hnrbor on orr
Pacific const, which can be approached during
stormy weather. An appropriation OF SlOOOOO
wus lnadr by the fortyifth congress for the com
nenGomcnt of hrcnkwAcr and hnrb1r Of refuge
u be located nj some point between the straits oi
Fucn and Snn francisco, nj which the necessities
Of commerce local and general will be best nccOm-
modified. The amount appropriated ~ Thought To
be quite inadequate ofthr purpose intended. The
cost " thn work, when finished, will be very grcnt,
owing TO thu want Of nntlral advantages for u hte
vi amy point on the cnast hctw'nn the designated
limits and II h1H not been thought To be advisable
TO undertake the work without IL larger nppropri-
alton. ! commend the matter to the attention OF
congrcss.
The completion of the now building for the war
department IL urgently needed and the estimates
for continuing its construction IRE especially re-
commended
nm ARMY MEDICAL MusErAL
The collections Of books specimens, and records
constituting the Army Medical Museum md Ii
brpry nro If national Importance. Tho library
now contains ubout VI 800 volumes and Jl 900
IflNlIlE w FHIH'lNt HHN "
lied opic'. The contents Of the Army Medical
Museum consist Of 1900 specimens, and ARE
unique IN thu completeness with which both mill
tary surgery and the Diseases Of armies are illus
rated Their dcHtructiUn would bc nm irrcpnrnbc
lo-s, moi only TO the United states but To the
world. There nrc flied in the record aud pension
division over 900 hound volumes Of hospital
records, together with Il grcnt quantity VI papcra
embracing the original records Of the hospitals
Of oar nrmiea during the civil war Aside
from their historical value, these records nrc dnily
needed IN the settlement III lnrgn number OF PEN
sion and other ulnms, iur the protection Ot the
government ngninst attempted frauds, ~ well NJ
for the benefit Of honest claimants, These vnu
able collections are now in II building which IL pc
culinrly exposed Ia the danger Of destruction by
fire. II Is therefore earnestly recommended that
mn appropriation be nude for iire-pr0of build
ing, adequate for the present nccdsund reasonable
future expansion of these valuable collections.
Such building should ho absolutely Hrc-pro0t;
no expenditure for mere architectural display "
required, II IL believed that sutnhr structure
tnn lr erected nt u cost not 10 exceed $3.50 900
rLAcE ron dnANT
commend to the attention oI congrcs, the
great services Of the commander. IN chief Of our
armies during the war for the Union, whose wise,
firm, ind patriotic conduct did 20 much to bring
That momentous conflict TO close, The lcgisn
ton Of the United Stntes contains many proceed
cnts for thu recognition Of distinguished military
merit authorizing rank and omuluincnts to hr
conferred for eminent services 10 the country. An
act oi congress authorizing the appointment Of u
captain General Of the nrmy, with suitable pro-
visions relating to compensation, retirement,
and other details, would, in my Judgment,
be altogether fitting and proper, aud would be-
wnrmlv approved by the country.
TIE NAVY.
The cpOrt oi tho secretary of the navy exhibits
the successful aud satisfactory management at