Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-16


/ OF miles Producers and consumers alike
have common interest in such uneoualed
facilities for cheap transportation. Geo
| graphically, commercially and politically
! they are the strongest tie between the
various sections of the country These
| channels of communication and inter
change are the property of the nation.
! Its jurisdiction Is paramount over their
/ waters, and the plahest principles of
/ public interest require their Intelligent
ana careful supervision with view to
| their protection, Improvement and the
/ enhancement OF their usefulness.
! The channel of the Columbia river, for
q distance of about one hundred miles
I from It's mouth, is Distracted by success
! sion of bars, which occasion serious de
I lays IN navigation, and heavy expense
/ Tor lighleragc and towage. 4 depth OF at
| least twenty feet at low tide should be Sc
cured and maintained, TO meet the re.
/ quirementS of tile extensive and growing
/ inland and ocean commerce il suh,erves.
/ The most urgent need, however, for this
/ great water way is perm tncut Improve.
ment of the channel at the mouth Of the
river
From Columbia river 20 san Francisco,
| q distance of over GOO miles, there is no
harbor on our Pacific coast which can be
approached during stormy weather. An
/ appropriation of Sl50,000 was made hy
the Forty.htth Congress, for the com.
mencement OF breukwater and harbor
OF refuge, 60 be located at some point be-
/ tween the straits of Fuca and san Fran
/ cisco at which the necessities ot com.
meroe, local aud general, will be best
accommodated The amount appropriated
| Is Il ought TO lac quite Inadequate for the
purpose intended. Toe cost of the work,
/ when tiaished viii be very great owing
! To the want of natural advantages for
! site at any point on tie coast between the
/ designated limits, and il has not been
| thought TO be advisable TO undertake the
work without larger appropriation.
| commend 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 con.
! struclion ave especially recommended
The collections of books specimens,
and records constituting the Army McdI.
cal Museum and Library are of national
| Importance The library now contains
about y0l50o volumes and $1,000 pam.
phlets relating 20 medicine, surgery, and
allied topics The contents of the Army
Medical Museum consist of % 900 speci.
mems and are unique in the com plcte.
ness with which both military surgery
and the diseases of armies are illustrated.
Their destruction would be an rIepara.
BILE loss, not only Ia the United States, but
to the world There are flied in the rec.
ord and pension division over 10000
bound volumes Of hospital records, to.
gether with u great quantity of papers,
| embracing the original records OF the
hospitals Of our armies during the civil
war. Aside from their historical value,
these records are daily searched for evi,
dence needed in the settlement of large
numbers of pension and other claims, for
the protection of the Government against
attempted frauds, as well as for the bene-
tit OF honest claimants These valuable
collections are now IN building which
is peculiarly exposed 10 the danger Of Dc
struCtion by ire 1t is therefore earnest
/ " recommended that an appropriation be
made for new tire-proof building, ade.
| quste for the present needs and reason
able future expansion Of these valuable
collections, Such building should be
absolutely fire proof, no expenditure for
mere architectural display is required IL
! is believed that suitable structure can be
| erected at a cost not exceeding $3.50 600.
/ commend to the attention OF Congress
! the great services Of the Commander In
| Chief of our armies during the war for
! the Union, whose wise, firm and patriotic
\ conduct did so much to bring that mo-
mentous conflict to q close. Toe legisa.
! ton of The United States contains many
| prccedcnts for the recognition of dstin.
| guished military merit, authorizing rank
] al "a fnr mi.
nent services 10 the country. An act Of
Congress authorizing the appointment Of
Captain-General OF the Army, with suit
! able provisions relating 10 compensation,
/, 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
exhibits the successful and satisfactory
management of that department during
the last fiscal year. The total expendi-
lures for the year were Sl20l6, G39d5,
leaving unexpended at the close of the
year So al ,GS2 23 Of the amount of avail
| able appropriations. The appropriations
for the prescott fiscal year ending June 80,
1881, are s 3 0gj 06l ~ md the total est-
mates for the next fiscal year ending June
80, 1882. are Si5,953,75l g. The amount
drawn by warrant from July /, 1880 30
November /, 1880 Is s5,0it,5 7Oij.
The recommendation Of the Secretary
OF the Navy, that provision be made Tor
the establishment Of some form Of civil
government for the people Of Alaska, Is
approved. AT present there Is no pro-
,ecu0n Of persons or property ia that
territory, except such as Is afforded by
the officers Of the United States ship
jamestown. This vessel was dispatched
! u HiIIn hnrnnnn ~ 4 I'M f.ur tI.nt ,,.lIhnnt