Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-05

only the vacant public lands therein and
these have been set aside and reserved
for sale or settlement in order that they
may be OF the greatest use to the people.
PROTECTION OF FORESTS.
Protection of the national forests inau-
gurated by the department of the inter-
Tor IN 1897 has been discussed during the
past year and much has been accom-
pllshed in the way OF preventing forest
1lres and the protection of the timber.
lhere are now large tracts covered by
the forests which will eventually be re-
served and set apart for forest use. Until
that can be done should in
crease the appropriations for the work Of
protecting the forests.
The department of agriculture is con-
stantly consulting the needs of the people.
1t is introducing seeds and plants of great
value and promoting fuller Investigation
OF crops. Grains, grasses, fruits and veg
etables are imported for all parts of the
United States. Under this encourage
ment the sugar beet factory multiplies in
the north and far west, semi-tropical
plants are sent to the south and con-
genial climates are sought for the choice
productions of the far east. The hybri-
dizing of fruits and grains is conducted
in the search for varieties adapted to
eNacting conditions. The introduction
DN NN" Soi StNhi@ Aito ttAS SoulllC Il SNotNt
promises to provide employment for idle
hands as well as to supply the home mar
ket with tea.
The subject of irrigation where it is
of vital Importance to the people is being
carefully studied. Steps are being aiken
to reclaim injured or abandoned lands
and information for the people along
those lines is being printed and distrib-
uted.
Markets are being sought and opened up
for surplus farm and factory products in
Europe and in Asia. The outlook for the
education of the young farmer through
agricultural college experiment stations
with opportunities given to specialize in
the department. of agriculture is very
promising.
The people of Hawaii. Porto Rico and
the Philippine islands have been helped
by the establishment of experiment sta
Tons to a more scientific knowledge OF
the production of coffee. India rubber
and other tropical products for which
there is a demand in the United States.
There is widespread interest in the
Improvement of our public highways at
the present time and the department of
agriculture is cooperating with the peo-
pie in each locality in making the best
possible roads from the local material
and in experimenting with steel tracks.
A more intelligent system of managing
the forests of the country is being put in
operation and Il careful study of the
whole forestry problem is being con-
Quoted throughout the United States. A
very expensive and complete exhibit of
the agricultural and horticultural pro-
ducts of the United States is being pre-
pared for the Paris exposition.
TREATY OF PEACE.
On The goth day of December. 1898. the
treaty of peace between the United
States and Spain was SIGNED IF nYp-
vided among other things that Spain
should cede to the United States the
archipelago known as the Philippine is
lands, that the United States should pay
to Spain the sum of $40, ooo, 600 and hat
the civil rights and political status of the
native inhabitants of the territories thus
ceded to the United States should be de-
teImined by the congress-. The treaty
was ratified by the senate on the sixth of
February, 1899, and by the government of
Spain on the 18th of March following.
The notifications were exchanged on the
18th of Apri! and the treaty publicly pro-
claimed. On the second of March the
ongress voted the sum contemplated by
the treaty and the amount was paid over
to the Spanish government on the first
of May.
In this manner the Philippines came to
the United States. The islands were ced-
ed by the government of Spain, which
had been in u~ndisputed possession of
them for centuries. They were accepted
not merely by our authorized commits
sioners in Paris under the direction of
the executive, but by the constitutional
and well considered action of the repre-
sentatives Of the people of the United
states in both houses Of congress-. / had
every reason to believe and | still believe
that this transfer of sovereignty was in
accordance with The wishes and the as
plfations Of the great mass of the Fill
Pine people. From The earliest moment
no opportunity was lost of assuring the
people of thei Stands of our ardent desire
for their welfare and of the intention of
this government to do everything posi-
bic to advance their interests. In my or
der of the 10th of May, 1898, the COM
mander of the military expedition dis
patched to the Philippines was instruct
ed to declare that we come not to make
war upon the people of the country, nor
upon any part or faction among them,
but to protect them in their homes, i'm
their employElents and in their personal
and religious rights That there should
be n o doubt as to the paramount au-
thority there, on the 18th of August, it
was directed that there must be no Joint
occupation with the insurgents;" that
the United States must preserve the
peace n protect persons and property
within the territory occupied by their
military and naval forces: tina the in
and ali others must recognizes
the military occupation and authority OF
the United States. AS early as Dec. 4,
before the CesSion and in a~nticibation OF
that event. the commander in Manila was
urged to restore peace and TRANQUILITY
and to undertake the establishment of a
beneficent government which should at
ford the fullest security for life and
property. On the 2lst of December, after
the treaty was signed. the commander of
the force of occupation was instructed ito
announce and proclaim in the most pub
lie manner that We come, not as INVADERS
and conquerOrs, but as friends to protect
the natives in their homes, in their EN-