Year: 1877

lSe Is always islSs economy and is apt tC
prove disastrous in its consequence
Especial care is recommended to provide


for the Indians settled on their reseFva


tiOn, cattle and agricultural Implements


to aid them in whatever efforts they


make to support themselves, and by the


establishment and maintenance Of schools


to bring them under the control ef civil


lied influences. / see no reason why


Indians who can give salts 'actOry proof


of having by their own labor supported


their families for a number of years, and


who are willing to deCach themselves


from their tribal attractions, should not


be admitted to the benefit of the home


stead act and the privileges of citizen


ship, and l recommend the passage of q


law to that effect. 1t will be an act of


Justice as well as a measure of encourage


ment. Earnest efforts are being made to


purify the Indian service 50 that every


dollar appropriated by congress shall


redeund to the benefit Of the Indians


benefited. These efforts will have nv


firm support. With an improved service


and every possible encouragement held


out the Indians to better their condi>


tiOn and TO elevate themselves in the


scale Of civilization, we may hope


70 do, at some time, great


work for them and for ourselves.


l invite the attention of congress to


the Importance of the statements and


suggestions made by the secretary of the


Interior concerning the depredations COM


mltted upon the timber lands of the


United States and the necessity
for the preservation of forests. It
is believed that the measure taken
in pursuance Of the existing law
to arrest these depredations will


be entirely successful if congress, by an
appropriation for that purpose, renders
their continued enforcement possible.
The experience of other nationst teaches
us that a country cannot be stripped of
its forests with impunity. We shall ex-
pose ourselves to the gravest consequences
unless the wasteful and improvident
manner in which the forests in the United
States are destroyed be effectually
checked. earnestly recommend that
the measures suggested by the secretary
Of the interior for the suppression of
on the public timber lands
of the United States, for the selling of
timber from the public lands, and for the
preservation of forests be embodied in the
law and that considering the urgent neces-
sity Of enabling the people of certain
states aud territories 20 purchase timber
from the public lands in legal manner,
which at present they cannot do, such
Ia r be passed without unavoidable DELAY.
l would also call the attention of congress
to the statements made by the secretary
Of the interior concerning the disposition
that might be made of the desert lands
by irrigation west of the Tooth meridian.
These lands are practically unstable
under existing laws and the suggestion
is worthy Of considerative action; that a
system of leasehold tenure would make
them a source of profit to the United
States, while at the same time legalizing
the business of cattle raising, which is at
present carried on upon them.


The report of the commits iOner of ag-
riculture contains the gratifying an
of the extraordinary success
which has rewarded the agricultural in |
1ustTy of the country for the past year |
With fair prices which they obtain tor |
the products of the soil, especially for the |
surplus which our people have to export, |
ne may confidently turn to cultivation. |


This is the most important of all our |
resources for the revival of the depressed !
Industries Of the country. The report |
lhOws our agricultural progress during /
he year, and contains a statement of the |
work done by these departments for the |
advancement of our agricultural indus


ny, upon which the prosperity of our
people 50 largely depends. Matters of /
are included of real interest /
% all who seek by the experience of
,thers to improve their methods of



The efforts of the department to increase
he production of important articles of
"a = I
he demand for labor and advance the /
business of the country, aud eventually
'esuIt in saving some of the many millions
hat are annually paid to foreign nations
or sugar and other products which
labitual Use has made necessary in our
domestic every day life.


The board on behalf Of the United
States executive departments at the in
.eTnatiOnal exposition of 1876 has con-
;luded its lsbOrs. The final report of the
board was transmitted to congress at the
ast session. As these papers are under
jtOOd TO c0nt9in interesting and valuable
and they constitute the
)nly report emsnsting from the govern
ment on the subject of the exhibition, /


invite attention to the matter, and re-
commend that the report be published
Tor general information.


Congress is empowered by the cOnsti-
tuition with the authority of exclusive


legislation over the District of Columbia,


IN which the seat of government Of the
nation is located. The interests of the
district having no direct representative


IN congress are entitled 70 special oOnsid-
3ratiOD and care at the hands OF the
reneTsl government. The capital of the
United States belongs 10 the nation. II
Is natural that the American
people should take pride in the
leat of their national government
md desire it 20 be an ornament to the
Much has been done to render


i beautiful, convenient and attractive,
put much remains to be done, which its
inhabitants are not able
and ought not TO be eXPected to
10. To impOse on them 4 large
proportion of cost required for public
improvements, which are in a great
planned and executed for the
OF the government and OF
the many thousands of visitors from all
parts Of the cOuEtTy who temporarily
reside in the capital of the nation, Is an
evident injustice. Special attention -
asked by the commissioners Of the dis
Jrict IN their report, which is herewith
70 the importance Of a
permanent adjustment by congress Of
the financial relation between the United
States and the district, involving the
regular annual contribution by the
United States of its just proportion of
the expenses Of the district gnyernmsnt,
and Of the outlay for all needed public |
improvements and such measures Of re-
lief from the burden Of taxation now |
resting on the people of the district as in |
the wisdom of congress may be deemed |
Just. The report of the commissioners
show that the affairs of the district are in
a. satisfactory a condition as could
be expected, IN view of the heavy
debt resting upon it, and It's very
l.rnfA.l ArDn.