648 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



success of which congratulations may be exchanged 

 among people abroad and at home, and especially 

 among the communities of the Mississippi 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 a matter of transcendent impor- 

 tance. These great water-ways comprise a system of 

 inland transportation spread like net-work over a 

 large portion of the United States, and navigable to 

 the extent of many thousands of miles. Producers 

 and consumers alike have a common interest in such 

 unequaled 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 in- 

 terchange are the property of the nation. Its jurisdic- 

 tion is paramount over their waters, and the plainest 

 principles of public interest require their intelligent 

 and careful supervision, with a view to their protec- 

 tion, improvement, and the enhancement of their use- 

 fulness. 



The channel of the Columbia River, for a distance 

 of about one hundred miles from its mouth, is ob- 

 structed by a succession of bars, which occasion seri- 

 ous delays in navigation, and heavy expense for light- 

 erage and towage. A depth of at least twenty feet at 

 low tide should be secured and maintained, to meet 

 the requirements of the extensive and growing inland 

 and ocean commerce it subserves. The most urgent 

 need, however, for this great water-way is a perma- 

 nent improvement of the channel at the mouth of the 

 river. 



From Columbia River to San Francisco, a distance 

 of over six hundred miles, there is no harbor on our 

 Pacific coast which can be approached during stormy 

 weather. An appropriation of one hundred and fifty 

 thousand dollars was made by the Forty-fifth Con- 

 gress for the commencement of a breakwater and har- 

 bor of refuge, to be located at some point between the 

 Straits of Fuca and San Francisco, at which the ne- 

 cessities of commerce, local and general, will be best 

 accommodated. The amount appropriated is thought 

 to be quite inadequate for the purpose intended. The 

 cost of the work when finished will be very great, 

 owing to the want of natural advantages for a site at 

 any point on the coast between the designated limits, 

 and it has not been thought to be advisable to under- 

 take the work without a larger appropriation. I 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 recom- 

 mended. 



The collections of books, specimens, and records 

 constituting the Army Medical Museum and Library 

 are of national importance. The library now contains 

 about 51j500 volumes and 57,000 pamphlets relating 

 to medicine, surgery, and allied topics. The contents 

 of the Army Medical Museum consist of 22,000 speci- 

 mens, and are unique in the completeness with which 

 both military surgery and the diseases of armies are 

 illustrated. Their destruction would be an irrepara- 

 ble loss, not only to the United States but to the 

 world. There arc filed in the record and pension di- 

 vision over 16,000 bound volumes of hospital records, 

 together with a great quantity of papers, embracing 

 the original records of the hospitals of our armies dur- 

 ing the Civil War. Aside from their historical value, 

 these records are daily searched for evidence 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 benefit of 

 honest claimants. These valuable collections are now 

 in a building which is peculiarly exposed to the dan- 

 ger of destruction by fire. It is therefore earnestly 

 recommended that an appropriation be made for a new 

 fire-proof building, adequate for the present needs 

 and reasonable future expansion of these valuable 

 collections. Such, a building should be absolutely 

 fire - proof ; no expenditure for mere architectural 



display is required. It is believed that a suit- 

 able structure can be erected at a cost not to exceed 

 $250,000. 



I commend to the attention of Congress the great 

 services of the commander and chief of our armies 

 during the war for the Union, whose wise, firm, and 

 patriotic conduct did so much to bring that momentous 

 conflict to a close. The legislation of the United States 

 contains many precedents for the recognition of distin- 

 guished military merit, authorizing rank and emolu- 

 ments to be conferred for eminent services to the 

 country. An act of Congress authorizing the appoint- 

 ment of a Captain-General of the Army, with suitable 

 provisions relating to compensation, retirement, and 

 other details, would, in my judgment, be altogether 

 fitting and proper, and would be warmly approved by 

 the_ country. 



irt- 



["he total expenditures 

 for the year were $12,916,639.45, leaving unexpended 

 at the close of the year $2,141,682.23 of the amount of 

 available appropriations. The appropriations for the 

 present fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, are $15,095,- 

 061.45, and the total estimates for the next fiscal year, 

 ending June 30, 1882, are $15,953,751.61. The amount 

 drawn by warrant from July 1, 1880, to November 1, 

 1880, is $5,041,570.45. 



The recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy 

 that provision be made for the establishment of some 

 form of civil government for the people of Alaska is 

 approved. At present there is no protection of per- 

 sons or property in that Territory, except such as is 

 afforded by the officers of the United States ship 

 Jamestown. The vessel was dispatched to Sitka, be- 

 cause of the fear that, without the immediate presence 

 of the national authority, there was impending dan- 

 ger 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 re- 

 straint does not, in my opinion, now exist. If, how- 

 ever, the Jamestown should be withdrawn, leaving 

 the people, as at present, without the ordinary, judicial, 

 and administrative authority of organized local gov- 

 ernment, serious consequences might ensue. 



The laws provide only for the collection of revenue, 

 the protection of public property, and the transmission 

 of the mails. The problem is to supply a local rule 

 for a population so scattered and so peculiar in its origin 

 and condition. The natives are reported to be teach- 

 able and self-supporting, and, if properly instructed, 

 doubtless would advance rapidly in civilization, and a 

 new factor of prosperity would be added to the na- 

 tional life. I therefore recommend the requisite legis- 

 lation upon this subject. 



The Secretary of the Navy has taken steps toward 

 the establishment of naval coaling-stations at the Isth- 

 mus of Panama, to meet the requirements of our com- 

 mercial 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, one on 

 the east side of the Isthmus, at Chiriqui Lagoon, in 

 the Caribbean Sea, and the other on the Pacific coast, 

 at the Bay of Golfito. The only safe harbors, suffi- 

 ciently commodious, on the Isthmus are at these points, 

 and the distance between them is less than one hundred 

 miles. The report of the Secretary of the Navy con- 

 cludes with valuable suggestions with respect to the 

 building up of our merchant-marine service, which 

 deserve the favorable consideration of Congress. 



The report of the Postmaster-General exhibits the 

 continual growth and the high state of efficiency of 

 the postal service. The operations of no department 

 of the Government, perhaps, represent with greater ex- 

 actness the increase in the population and the business 

 of the country. In 1860 the postal receipts were $8,- 

 518,067.40 : in 1880 the receipts were $33,315,479.34. 

 All the inhabitants of the country are directly and 

 personally interested in having proper mail facilities, 

 and naturally watch the post-office very closely. 



