absolute necessity. The Patent Office alone will in the course of time, with its accumulating records and models, occupy the whole of the present Interior Department building. I am informed that similar complaints come from other departments of the government; that the Post-Office Department finds its present quarters insufficient; that a large portion of the force of the Treasury Department is located outside of the main building; that the Department of Justice is in a rented house; and that the new edifice erected for the Departments of State, War, and of the Navy will not be large enough to accommodate all the offiges belonging to those branches of the public service. Under such circumstances it appears that the exigencies of the government call for the erection of not only one but of several public buildings, for the Interior Department, for the Post-Office Department, for the accommodation of the Department of Justice, and for different offices connected with the War and Navy Departments which do not find accommodation in the buildings now existing and in progress of construction. In view of this fact I beg leave to repeat some remarks I had the honor to address to the Hon. George L. Converse, chairman of the Committee on Public Lands, House of Representatives, on the 18th of May last, in reply to a letter of inquiry from him: If such public buildings are constructed upon a harmonious plan, they will contribute much to the public convenience, as well as to the beauty of the national capital. I would respectfully recommend, therefore, that the following suggestion be considered: It being desirable that the executive departments should be located in as close proximity as possible to each other, as well as to the Executive Mansion, it would seem to me that no better place for the construction of new buildings for them could be found than the blocks surrounding Lafayette Square on the east, north, and west, opposite the Treasury, the Executive Mansion, and the State, War, and Navy Departments, leaving the square itself undisturbed. A group of four public buildings surrounding that square, erected upon an harmonious plau as to architecture, would, with the buildings now existing, probably become one of the most imposing and beautiful groups of public edifices in the world. The purchase of the lots surrounding Lafayette Square would indeed be somewhat costly, but the public convenience, as well as the architectural beauty of the group mentioned, would no doubt compensate for an expenditure but little larger than would be occasioned by the purchase of property in other parts of the city. These buildings could be erected one after another, as the necessities of the case may require, but a harmonious plan for the whole group should be made by competent architects and accepted by the government before commencing the erection of any one of them. I respectfully submit this suggestion to your consideration and that of Congress, believing as I do that the erection of the public buildings that are now and will become necessary, upon such a plan as here stated, will finally be more satisfactory to the people of the United States than would be the scattering of a number of public offices in places more or less accidentally chosen, and thus losing much of their architectural effect, while being but little less costly. I would add that if such a project be entertained it can be initiated and partly executed at much less expense now than will be possible ten or fifteen years hence, when its non-adoption at a time like this might possibly become a matter of very general regret. RECONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT BUILDING. The reconstruction of that portion of the building which was destroyed by fire, is, with the exception of a few minor details, completed. The amount of money appropriated by Congress for this work was $250,000. The change of the plans originally authorized by Congress, June 20, 1878, necessitated certain expenditures which reduced the available balance to $244,920.48. The estimate submitted of the cost of the reconstruction under the plans authorized by act of March 3, 1879, was $250,000, and it is gratifying to state that the expenditures have not exceeded the available balance, above stated. The architect in charge. estimates that $5,915 will be required to complete the ornamentation, construction of gallery-rails, furnishing rubber plates for steps, and for other necessary work which remains to be done. The halls are a decided improvement over the old ones, being beautiful in design and more commodious in general arrangement. The additional gallery adds one-third to the space hitherto available, while the light is better than before. Credit is due to the architects and engineer in charge, not only for the original design, but for the fidelity with which the work has been supervised. The supervising board appointed by Congress, consisting of the Commissioner of Patents, the Architect of the Capitol, and the Engineer in charge of public buildings, is entitled to no less credit for keeping the expenditures within the appropriation, and for the general management of the work. The south and east halls are at present in a very insecure condition. Faulty construction has developed defects in the arches, which may prove of a serious character unless promptly remedied. In my last report I called attention to the insecure roof which now covers these two wings. It is little better than a tinder-box, and covering imperfect and badly constructed flues, may at any time endanger the safety of the building. The changes necessary to construct a fire-proof roof, and remedy the evils growing out of a faulty plan, would be so radical and expensive that I deem it in the interest of public economy to recommend the reconstruction of both wings on the plan adopted in the rebuilding of the north and west halls. The sum of $90,000 has been asked for to carry out this plan on the south wing, and I earnestly hope that Congress may deem it advisable. to appropriate the amount. The walls and ceilings of the halls and rooms immediately under the reconstructed model-halls were seriously damaged by heat and water at the time of the fire. The estimated cost for the necessary repairs is $10,000, and an appropriation of this amount is recommended. An appropriation of $80,000 was made at the last session of Congress, to be used in fitting up the model-halls with fire-proof cases. Contracts have been entered into for the construction of as many as can be obtained for the amount named. As the original estimate for this purpose was $160,000, an additional sum of $80,000 will be needed to supply both halls with the number of cases required. HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. The number of patients in the hospital June 30, 1879, was $19, of whom 617 were males and 202 females. The number admitted during the year was 225, of whom 181 were males and 44 females. The number discharged as having recovered was 52, improved 33, unimproved 3; 46 males and 13 females died. The number remaining in the hospital June 30, 1880, was 897, of whom 691 were males and 206 females. Of those under treatment during the year, 529 were from the Army, 53 from the Navy, 462 from civil life. The report of the Board of Visitors gives a synopsis of the operations of the hospital during the whole period of its existence. The records show that of the 4,940 cases treated in the hospital during the twenty-five years of its existence, 2,095 recovered. The estimates for the next fiscal year are as follows: For the support, clothing, and treatment of the insane For special improvements $196, 875 10,000 40,000 One purpose for which the last-mentioned appropriation is asked is to furnish the hospital with a supply of pure water. The hospital has hitherto been supplied with water from the Anacostia River, immediately in front of the hospital grounds. It evidently contains impurities rendering it unfit for use, and these impurities will increase year by year. It is estimated that $25,000 will be required to connect the hospital with the water supply of the city of Washington. In my opinion this improvement should be made without delay. The hospital farm has not sufficient accommodations for the shelter of stock and the proper protection of the harvested crops. An appropriation of $5,000 is asked for additional farm buildings. I recommend that this appropriation be made. The Board of Visitors also recommend the erection of a suitable mortuary building, a greenhouse, and a kitchen detached from the main building. I concur in these recommendations, and also in the recommendation that provision be made for the erection of a distinct hospital building for the female insane, to cost $250,000, to be completed in three years, and that the sum of $75,000 be appropriated for this purpose for the year ending June 30, 1882. The sum of $143,000 was appropriated for the support of patients during the present fiscal year. It is estimated that $175,000 will be required for this purpose, and that an additional sum of $5,000 will be required for ordinary repairs and improvement to keep the property from deterioration. The board asks for a deficiency appropriation of $37,000. The detailed statement of the receipts and expenditures of the hos pital for the last fiscal year, required by the act of June 4, 1880, is attached to the report of the board. COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. The number of pupils under instruction during the year was 128. Of these 79 were in the collegiate department, representing twenty-four States and the District of Columbia, and 49 were in the primary department. The general health of the pupils has been good, and but one death has occurred. Instruction in articulation has been continued with increasing success. A diploma and silver medal were received from the Paris Universal Exposition of 1878, in recognition of the remarkable advance made by the collegiate department. The president of the institution visited Europe during the summer for the purpose of attending an international convention of instructors of the deaf and dumb, held in Milan, Italy, early in September. The receipts of the institution amounted to $53,522.06, and the expenditures to $52,290.37, of which $29,444.48 were for salaries and wages. The estimates for next year are for current expenses and repairs $53,500, the same amount as that appropriated for the present year; and $15,242.07 for the completion of the gymnasium, the erection of a barn, cow-houses, etc., and for the improvement and inclosure of the grounds. Congress at its last session made provision for the care and education of the feeble-minded children belonging to the District of Columbia, the expenses of the same to be defrayed out of the appropriation for the support of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. One applicant has been placed in the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-minded Children, at Media, near Philadelphia. Twenty blind children belonging to the District of Columbia have been under instruction the past year in the Maryland Institution for the Blind, at Baltimore, as beneficiaries of the United States. FREEDMAN'S HOSPITAL. The whole number of patients in the hospital during the year was 1,119. The number in the hospital June 30, 1879, was 217; the number admitted during the year was 902; 139 died; 752 were discharged, leaving 228 in the hospital at the close of the last fiscal year. About two-thirds of the patients were colored persons. Of those who were discharged, 585 are reported cured. A dispensary has been carried on in connection with the hospital, upon the books, of which for the year are borne the names of 1,949 patients. This hospital subserves an urgent need of this community, and the continuance of provision for it is commended to the attention of Congress. The expense of the support and medical treatment of each patient in this hospital is about fifty cents a day. TERRITORIES. UTAH. The governor of Utah reports a falling off in the number of agricul tural claims initiated in the Territory as compared with the preceding year. The number of mineral applications has largely increased, more than doubling that of any previous year, and the number of mineral entries exceeds that of the preceding year by about 24 per cent. The number of cattle is about 200,000, while there have been driven from the Territory during the year not less than 50,000, at an average price of $15.50 per head. The number of sheep is fully 500,000, with a yield of about 2,000,000 pounds of wool, disposed of at about 20 cents per pound. To prevent a decrease in the business of stock raising, the governor favors legislation which will allow stock-raisers to obtain rights other than those given by common consent and by existing law. Notwithstanding the drought during the summer of 1879, the yield of the cereals proved to be an average one. The crops of 1880 have, however, been somewhat injured by the dearth of water during the summer of 1879, followed by a severe and prolonged winter. Dry farming has greatly increased by reason of the rapidly increasing population and the cost and difficulty in constructing irrigating canals. While this is true, the area reached by irrigating canals is yearly being increased, and much land hitherto untilled is by means of irrigation being brought under cultivation and dotted with farm-houses. The population of the Territory is 145,000, showing an increase of CO per cent. over that of ten years ago. About one-half of this increase has been drawn by the mines of the Territory. The remaining half has been the result of natural increase by birth, together with the proselyting work of the missionaries sent out by the Mormon Church. The governor believes that the mines of Utah will prove among the richest and most productive of any in the West. Responsible mining men are reducing mining enterprises to a practical business basis, and many good mining districts heretofore inaccessible are now by railroads brought into close connection with the markets, and much of the ore, which on account of its low grade was unprofitable, has now by the superior methods of reducing and extracting become |