The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-12-09

able.
The attention of Congress is again asked
public timber lands, and the rapid and indir-
criminate destruction of cur forests. The
urgent necessity for legislation to this end ia
now generally recognized. In view of the
lAwless character Of the depredations COM
mitted and tho disastrous consequences which
will inevitably follow their continuance. legis.
lation has again and again been recommended
to arrest tho evil and to preserve for tho PEG
ple of our Western States and Territories tn
timber needed for domestic and other Essential
uses.
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The report of the director of the geological
consolidation of the various geological and
geographical surveys and exploring enterprises,
each of which has heretofore operated upon az
Independent plan without concert, cannot fail
to be of great benefit to al those industries OF
the country which depend upon the develop
ment of our mineral resources. Tho lAbOrs OF
tho scientific men Of recognized merit who
compose the corps of the geological survey,
during the first seaaon of their field operation,
and inquiries, appear to have been very COM
prehensive, and will soon be com
municated to Congress in \ numbe,
of volumes. The director of the survey recon-
mends thst the Investigations carried on by
his bureau, which 40 far have been confined to
the 90. called public land States and Territories,
be extended over the entire country, and that the
necessary appropriation be made for this pur.
pose. This would be particularly beneficial to
the iron, coal and other mining interests Of
tho Mississippi valley and of the Eastern and
southern States. The subject 10 commended
totbe careful consideration of Congress.
DEPARTMENT BUILDINGS.
The secretary of the interior asks attention
tothe want of room in the public buildings OF
the capital now existing and in progress OF
construction for the accommodation of the
clerical force en- oloyed, and of the public rec
private buildings in different parts of the city
for the location of public offices, for which 4
large amount of rent is annually paid, while
the separation of offices belonging to the same
department impedes the transaction of current
business. The secretary suggest.
Lafayette square, on the east, north
and west, be purchased as the sites for new
cdiices, for the accommodation of government
offices, leaving the square it:
self intact. aad that il
such buildings were constructed upon . bar.
monious plan of architecture they would
add much to the beauty of the national capital
and would, located there, with
the treasury and the new
state, navy and war department building, form
one OF tho most imposing groups of public edi'
fees in the world.
- BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE.
The commissioner of agriculture expresse,
the confident belief that his efforts in behalf
ct the production of our own sugar and tea
have been encouragingly received. The i'm.
portance of the results attained have attracted
marked attention at home ana have received
the special consideration of foreign nations.
The successful cultivation of our own tea and
the manufacture of our own sugar would make
difference of many millions of dollars annu.
ally in the wealth of the nation.
The report of the commissioner asks atten.
ton particularly to the continued prevalence
Ut an infectious and contagious cattle disease
known and dreaded IN Europe and Asia a. the
cattle plague or pluro-pneumonia. A mild
type of this disease in certain sections of our
country il the occasion of great loss to our
farmers, and of serious disturbance to our
trade with Great Britain, which furnishes a
market for much of our live stock and dressed
meats. The value of neat cattle exported from
the United States for the eight months ended
August 81, 1880, was more than twelve million
dollars, and nearly double the value for the
same period in 1879. an unexampled increase
OF export trade. Your early attention is solicit
cd TO this important matter.
EDUCATIONAL.
The commissioner of education reports a
continued increase of public interest IN educa-
tional affairs, and that the public schools gen.
orally throughout the country are we'll eus-
tanned. Industrial training is attracting de-
served attention, and colleges for instruction.
theoretical and practical, in agriculture and
schools recently established for the instruction
OF Indian youth are gaining steadily in public
estimation. The commissioner asks special
attention to the depredatiors committed on
the lands reserved for the future Support
Ut public iustitutions and to the very great
need Of help from the nation for schools in the
Territories and in the Southern States. The
recommendation heretofore made is repeated
and urged that an educational fund be set
apart from the net proceeds of the sales of the
public lands, annually, the income of which,
and the remainder of the net annual proceeds,
to be distributed on some satisfactory plan to
the States and Territories and the District of
Columbia.
The success of the public schools of the Dis
triot of Columbia and the progress made I'm
der the intelligent direction of the board of
education and the superintendent in supplying
the educational requirements of the district
with thoroughly trained and efficient teachers
is very gratifying.
The acts of Congress from time to time do
mating public lands to tho several States and
TcrritOries,i in aid of educational interests have
proved to be wise measures of public policy,
resulting in great and lasting benefit. 1t
would seem to be a matter of simple Justice to
dom Of which has been 80 fully vindicated by
experience to the
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
again commend the general interests of the
District of Columbus to the favorable consider
alton of Congress. The affairs of the district
as shown by the report of the commissioners,
in n MI efe,k
In my annual messages heretofore, and in
my special message of December 10, 1879, l
have urged upon the attention of Congress the
necessity Of reclRiming the marshes of the
Potomac, adjacent to the capital, and am con-
. s9adu: by it: Importance to
fiat. embrace an ''s are. ''0' ef ,e mne:i
hundred acres. They are an impeachment to
the drainage OF the city aud seriously impair
1t" health. 1t is believed that with this sub.
stantial improvement of its river front the
capital would be III all respects one of the
most attractive cities in the world. Aside
from Its permanent population this city is
necessarily the place of residence Of persons
trom every session of the country engaged
In the public service. Many others reside here
temporarily for the transaction of business
with the government. It should not be for
gotten that tho land acquired will probably be
worth the cost of reclaiming it, and that the
navigation of the river will be greatly improv-
cd. l, therefore, again invite the attention of
Congress to the importance of prompt provis-
ion Tor this much needed and too long DELAYED
improvement.
The water supply of the city is Inadequate.
In addition to the ordinary use throughout the
city, the consumption by the government is
necessarily very great in the navy yard. ar
scual and the various departments, and large
qusntity is required for the proper preserya-
ton of the numerous parks and the cleansing
Of sewers. recommend that this subject re-
ceive the carly attention of Congress, and th&t
in making provision for an increased supply
such means be adopted as vii
have in view the future growth of the city. A
Temporary cxpedient for such a purpose can
not but be wasteful of money and therefore
unwise. A more ample reservoir with CORES.
bonding facilities for keeping it filled should
In my judgment be constructed.
commend again to the attention of Con-
gross the subject of the removal from their
present location Of the depots of the several
railroads entering the city, and I renew the
recommendations of my former messages in
behalf of the erection of a building for the