Year: 1877




the importance of the improvement of


the Potomac river and the condition Of


the marshes bordering on the city OF


Washington. Their views are cOnCurred


In by the members of the board of health,


whose report is also herewith transmitted.


Both the commercial and sanitary inter
ests of the district will be greatly pro-
NOTED, l doubt not, by this Improvement
! Your attention is invited TO the sug-
gestiOn of the commissioners and
of the board of health for
the organization of board of charities,
| to have supervision and control of the


disbursement of all moneys for charits-
BILE purposes from the district treasurer.
/ l desire also to ask your especial atten-
| tiOn to the need of adding to the


efficiency of the public schools Of the
| district by a supplemental aid from the
/ national treasury. This is especially Just
| since 50 large a number Of those attend
/ ing the schools are the children of
! employees of the government. l earnestly
| commend TO your care the inter


ests of the district who are
so intimately associated with
| the government established bv the state,


and to whose enterprise the good order
and attTaCtiveness of the capital are


mainly due, and ask your attention TO
the request of the commissioners for
legislation in behalf of the interests in


trusted to their care. The appropriations


asked for the care of the reservations


belonging to the government within the
city, by the commissioners of public


buildings and grounds, are commended TO
your favorable consideration. The report
of the joint commission created by an
act approved August 2, 1876.


An act providing for the completion
of the Washington monument is here
with transmitted, with accompanying
documents The board of engineer
officers detailed to examine the mOnu-
ment, in compliance with the second
section of the act, have reported that
the foundation is insufficient. No
authority exists for making the expendi-
tuTe necessary to secure its stability. !
therefore recommend that the commission
be authorized to expend such portion Of
the sum appropriated by the act as may
be necessary for the purpose. The
present unfinished condition of the
monument, begun 50 long ago, is a
disgrace to the nation. 1t cannot be
doubted that the patriotic sense
Of the country will mainly
respond to such, that prompt
provision may be made for its compile
tion at an early day, and urge upon con
gress the propriety and necessity of i'm
mediate legislation for this purpose.


Wisdom of leigiation upon the part of
congress in aid of the states for
the education Of the whole peo-
pie in those branches of study
which are tonight in the cOmmou
schools of the country and not longer
question. The intelligent judgment
of the country goes still further, regard
ol5 hDF and
expedient for the general government 10
extend to the technical and higher
education such aid as is deemed essential
to the general welfare and to cur due
performance among the enlightened and
cultured nations of the world.
The ultimate settlement of all
questions of the future, whether
of administration or finance, of a true
nationality of sentiment depends upon
virtue and intelligence of the people it Is
vain 10 save the expression Of free gov
with means insuIiug the intel
ligence of those who arc the source of
power. No less han 'One-seveBth Of the
entire voting population of our country
are yet unable to read and write. 1t is
TO observe in connection
with the grewth of fraternal feeling in
those states i'm which slavery formerly
existed the evidences Of increasing inter
est in universal education, and / shall be-
glad to give my approval to any appru-
pirate measures which may be enacted
by congress for the purpose OF supple
menting with national aid the local sys-
TENS of education in these states, and i'm
all the states. Having already invited
your attention TO the needs Of the bis
trict OF Columbia with respect to its
public school system, / here add that |
L IL a IL. Il.
to the local wants of the district
but To the great and lasting benefit OF
the entire country, that this system
should be crowned with q university in
al respects in keeping with the national
capital, and thereby realize the cherished
nope of Washington on this subject.


! also earnestly commend the request
Of the regents of the Smithsonian insti-
tuition that an adequate appropriation
be made for the establishment and con-
dact of q national museum under their



The request of providing for the pre-
seTvatiOn and growth Of the library of
congress is also Of national importance ss
the depository of all copyright pubiica-
tions and records This library has out
grown the provisions for its SccOmmods-
tions, and the erection of such site as the
Judgment of congress may approve, of a
fire-proOf library building to preserve the
treasures and enlarge the usefulness OF
this valuable collection is recommended
A IsO such legislation as will render avail
able and efficient for the purpose of
80 far as is consistent with
the public service, the cabinets or muse
ums Of invention, of surgery, Of educ8-
ton. and OF agriculture and Of other
collections. The property Of the national
government, the capital of the nation
shouId be something more than a mere
political center. We should avail our
,elves of all the opportunities which
Providence has here placed ST our COM
Inand to commit the general intelligence
Of the people and increase the conditions
most favorable to the success and perpet-
uiiv of our institutions.


CSigncd1 r. B. HAYEs,