e Senate of the United States:_

I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, the inclosed
letter and accompanying statement from the Secretary of the Navy,
in relation to the necessity of building a new boiler shop at the
navy-yard, New York, and repairing the caisson gate of the dry dock
at that station, in which it is requested that an appropriation of
$147,243.04 be made for these objects.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

[The same message was sent to the House of Representatives.]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 14, 1882_.

_To the House of Representatives:_

I transmit herewith, with commendation to the attention of Congress, a
report of the Secretary of State and its accompanying papers, concerning
the proposed establishment of an international bureau of exchanges.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 14, 1882_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior,
with correspondence, relative to right of way of the Republican Valley
Railroad across the Otoe and Missouria Reservation in the State of
Nebraska, and draft of an amendment to S. No. 930, "A bill to amend an
act entitled 'An act to provide for the sale of the remainder of the
reservation of the confederated Otoe and Missouria tribes of Indians
in the States of Nebraska and Kansas, and for other purposes,' approved
March 3, 1881."

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 17, 1882_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I transmit herewith a letter, dated the 29th ultimo, from the Secretary
of War, inclosing copy of a communication from the Mississippi River
Commission, in which the commission recommends that an appropriation may
be made of $1,010,000 for "closing existing gaps in levees," in addition
to the like sum for which an estimate has already been submitted.

The subject is one of such importance that I deem it proper to recommend
early and favorable consideration of the recommendations of the
commission. Having possession of and jurisdiction over the river,
Congress, with a view of improving its navigation and protecting the
people of the valley from floods, has for years caused surveys of the
river to be made for the purpose of acquiring knowledge of the laws that
control it and of its phenomena. By act approved June 28, 1879, the
Mississippi River Commission was created, composed of able engineers.
Section 4 of the act provides