I thus view their relative and actual merits for navigation. As compared with the Missouri above their junction, I deem the Yellowstone less crooked and muddy, with a somewhat narrower channel and much firmer banks, a more uniformly rapid current, but neither falls nor long and heavy rapids as has the Missouri below the gate of the mountains, usually carrying nearly as much water, and often, though not always, (from higher snowy mountains,) boating-stage later in the season; bluff and bar impediments to navigation more rocky and changeless, and hence soon better known, avoided, or permanently improved. With moderate appropriation for removal of huge bowlders in the Wolf, Buffalo, and a few other rapids, and with the convenient rock and timber obstructing a few side shutes, powerful light draught steamboats, like the Josephine or Far West, can with safety and profit run early or quite all of the season to the mouth of the Big Horn. Boats like the Rosebud could ascend to at least Baker's battle-field, and, with further improvements of the channel, and perhaps a smaller, yet serviceable, class of boats to the mouth of the Stillwater, if not, indeed, to Benson's Landing, at the very gate of the mountains, within sixty miles of the Mammoth Hot Springs in the park. This landing is but twenty-two miles by the open Bozeman Pass and excellent road from Fort Ellis at the head of the fertile Gallatin Valley, extending to the Three Forks of the Missouri and central point of the valuable mines and valleys of Montana. Hence, even liberal appropriations for improvement of the Yellowstone would be annually repaid to the Government in the cost of transportation alone to an entire chain of forts, besides speedily assuring a border of prosperous settlements, (save upon the Crow reservation, and ere long that also,) and permanently solving the Indian question, through the very heart of their most beautiful and valuable game regious. The permanent opening of this great natural route from the north and east, and the assured extension of the Northern Utah Road into at least the Snake River Valley from the south, will develop rivalry in excur sion-tickets from all the important cities of the nation, inviting teeming throngs of tourists to the bracing air, the healing bathing-pools, and matchless beauties of the "wonder-land." Whether this national heritage of the unique, the beautiful, and the marvelous, somewhat aided by art and judicious management, is to thus become and ever remain the chosen resort of the student, the scientist, and the weary and worn pilgrims for health and pleasure of our own and other lands, or be given up, as heretofore, to the ruthless vandalisu of all comers, depends upon the tendering or withholding of the fostering hand of the guardians of our nation's wealth and weal without delay. P. W. NORRIS, Hon. CARL SCHURZ, 55 I The duties of this professorship are for the present discharged by the professor of history and ancient languages. TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF and Dumb, October 29, 1877. SIR: In compliance with the acts of Congress making provision for the support of this institution, we have the honor to report its progress during the year ending June 30, 1877. NUMBER OF PUPILS. The pupils remaining in the institution on the 1st day of July, 1876, numbered.. Total 65 28 14 107 Under instruction since July 1st, 1876-males, 94; females, 13; of these, 59 have been in the Collegiate Department, representing twentytwo States and the Federal District, and 48 in the primary department. A list of the names of the pupils connected with the institution since July 1, 1876, will be found appended to this report. CHANGES OF OFFICERS. Mr. James C. Balis, a graduate of the college in 1875, who has for two years most satisfactorily filled the office of clerk, resigned his position in September to accept an appointment as instructor in the Maryland Institution for colored deaf-mutes and blind, located at Baltimore. Mr. Balis's retirement is sincerely regretted by all with whom he was associated, and he carries with him the best wishes of his friends here for his success in his new position. Mr. John B. Wight, for several years connected with a prominent business-house in Washington, has been appointed to the office of supervisor. In addition to the duties heretofore performed by the clerk, Mr. Wight will be charged with others of a supervisory character pertaining to the conduct of the domestic affairs of the institution. Mr. Baumgras, who has for many years given instruction in drawing and painting in both departments of the institution, resigned his posi tion in September to take a professorship in a collegiate institution at Champaign, Illinois. Mr. Baumgras has been a successful and valued instructor, and his place will not be easily filled. Our best wishes attend him to his new field of labor. |