I feel much indebted to the gentlemen who consented to leave their
private affairs and come from a distance to attend to the business of
this District, and for the able and satisfactory manner in which it has
been conducted. I am sure their services will be equally appreciated by
the entire country.
It will be seen from the accompanying full report of the board of health
that the sanitary condition of the District is very satisfactory.
In my opinion the District of Columbia should be regarded as the grounds
of the national capital, in which the entire people are interested. I do
not allude to this to urge generous appropriations to the District, but
to draw the attention of Congress, in framing a law for the government
of the District, to the magnificent scale on which the city was planned
by the founders of the Government; the manner in which, for ornamental
purposes, the reservations, streets, and avenues were laid out, and the
proportion of the property actually possessed by the General Government.
I think the proportion of the expenses of the government and
improvements to be borne by the General Government, the cities of
Washington and Georgetown, and the county should be carefully and
equitably defined.
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