Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-07
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.

| The two great rivers of the North American
continent. the Mississippi and Columbia have
their navigable waters wholly within the
! limits of the United States and are of vast
| Importance to our internal and foreign COM
merce. The permanancy of the important
| work at the south pass of the Mississippi river
seems to be assured. There has been no fail
ure whatever in the maintenance of the maxi
mum channel during the Six months ending
August 9th, last. The experiment has opened
broad, deep highway to the ocean and is an
improvement upon the permanent success of
| which congratulations may be exchanged
among people abroad and at home. and espe-
cially among the communities of the Mississip-
pi valley, whose commercial exchanges float In
an unobstructed channel safely to and from
the sea. A comprehensive improvement
of the Mississippi and its tributaries
is matter of transcendent
Importance. These great water ways comprise
a system of inland nsportortation, spread like
| net work over argep ira of the United
States and navigable to aDextent of many
Thousand miles. Producers and consumers
alike have common interest In such uneqalled
facilities for cheap transportation. GeOgraph-
ioally, commercially and politically they are
the strongest tie between the various sections
of the country. These channels of communi-
cation and interchange are the property of
the nation. Its jurisdiction is paramount
over their waters and the plainest principles of
public interest require their intelligent and
| careful supervision with view to their pro-
lection, improvement and the enhancement of
their usefulness.
The channel of the Columbia river for dis
tance of about 100 miles from its mouth is
Obstructed by succession of bars, which
occasions serious delays in navigation and
heavy expenses for ightage and towage. A
depth of at least twenty feet at low tide should
be secured and maintained to meet the re-
nfc of fhn avfa aiu and urr4fr
inland and ocean commerce it subserves. The
urgent need, however, for this gseat water
way is permanent improvement OF the chan
mel at the mosth of the river. From Columbia
river to San Francisco, distance of over
goo miles, there is no harbor on
our Pacific coast which can be
approached during stormy weather. An ap-
preparation of $l50O00 was made by the Forty
fifth Congress for the commencement of
back water and harbor of refuge, to be located
at some point between the straits of Fueca and
San Francisco at which the necessities of COM
merce, local and general, will be best accom-
modated. The amount appropriated is thought
to be quite inadeq uate for the purpose intend
ed. The cost OF the work when finished will
be great, owing to the want of natural ad
vantages for site at any point on the coast
between the designated limits, and it has not
been thought TO be advisable to undertake the
work without larger appropriation. l COM
mend the matter to the attention of Congress.
The completion of the new building for the
war department is urgently needed and the
estimates for continuing its construction are
especially recommended.
The collection of books, specimens and rec
ords constituting the army medical museum
and library are of national i'm
portance. The library now contains
about 81, 500 volumes and $1,000 pamphlets,
relating to medicine, surgery and subjects
allied to physics. The contents of the army
medical museum consist OF $4,000 specimens
and are unique in the completeness with whish
both military surgery and the diseases of
armies are illustrated. Their destruction
| would be an irreparable loss, not only to the
United States, but to the world. There are
filed in the record and pension division over
| IL, 600 bound volumes of hospital records, to-
gether with great quantity of papers embrac
ing the original records of the
| hospitals of our armies during the civil
war. Aside from their historical value these
records are daily searched for evidence needed
In the settlement of large number of pensions
and other claims and for the protection of the
! government against attempted frauds as well
as for the benefit of honest claimants. These
valuable contents are now in q building which
is peculiarly exposed to the danger of destruc-
tiOn by fire. 1t is therefore earnestly recon-
meuded that an appropriation be made for a
| new fire proof building, adequate for the pres
| ent needs and future expansion of these valu-
absolutely fire proof. No expenditure for
mere architectural display is required. Il is
| believed that suitable structure can be erec-
ted at cost rot to exceed $25 600.
GEN. GRANT.
| commend to the attention of Congress the
great services of the commander-in-chief of our
armies during the war, whose wise, firm and
patriotic conduct did SO much to bring that
monentous conflict to close. The legisla-
tion of the United States contains many pre-
| cedents for the recognition of distinguished
military merit authorizing rank and emoIu-
| ments to be conferred for eminent services to
| the country. An act of Congress authorizing
| the appointment of captain general of the
army, with suitable provisions relating to COM
| pensatlon, retirement and other details, would,
in my judgment, be altogether fitting and
| proper, and would be warmly approved by the
| country.
The report of the secretary of the navy ex-
hibits the satisfactory management of that de-
partment during the last fiscal year. The total
expenditures for the year were $12,9l6, 639. As,
leaving unexpended at the close of the year
| 81, l4l, ,682. % of the amount of available ap-
preparations. The appropriations for the pres
ent fiscal year ending June 80, 1881, are $l5.-
095, 061. 45, and the total estimates for the next
fiscal year ending June 30 1882, are $l5, $685.
|
July l, 1880, to November l, 1880, is $5,04l,-
570.45.
The recommendation of the secretary of the
navy that provision be made for the estab-
Ishment OF some form of civil government for
the people of Alaska is approved. At present
there is no protection of persons or property in
| that territory except such as is afforded by
the officers of the United States ship James
| town. This vessel was dispa atched to Sitka be-
cause of the fear that without the immediate
presence of the national authority there was
impending danger of anarchy. The steps taken
| to restore order have been accepted in good
faith by both white and Indian inhabitants,
and the necessity for this method of
restraint does not in my opinion now exist. If,
however, the jamestown should be withdrawn,
leaving the people as at present without the or
dinary judicial and administrative authority
of organized local governments, serious conse-
quences might ensue. The laws provide only
for the collection of revenues, the protection of
public property and the transmission of the
mails. The problem is to supply local rule
| for population so scattered and so peculiar in
its origin and condition. The natives are re-
ported to be teachable and self-supporting, and
IL properly instructed doubtless would be add
ed to the national life. therefore recommend
the requisite legislation upon this subject.
The secretary of the navy has taken steps
towards the establishment of naval .coalipg
stations at the Isthmus of Panama to meet
the requirements of our commercial relations
with Central and South America, which are
rapidly growing in Importance. Locations
eminently suitable, both as regards our naval
purposes and the uses of commerce, have been
selected on the east side of the Isthmus, at
Chiriqui Lagoon, in the Caribbean Sea, and
| the other on thePacific coast at the Bay of GAL
fto. The only safe harbors sufficiently commo-
dious on the Isthmus are at these points, ard
the distance between them is less than 100
| miles.
The report of the secretary of the navy con-
cludes with valuable suggestions with respect
to the building up of our present marine SER
vice. which deserve the favorable consideration
of Congress
| POSTAL MATTERS.
The report of the postmaster general ex-