Evening star., 1899-12-05

Gna River CNew Mexico). and Fish Lake
Ortah). the total estimated area of which
is 5205.7 .7I5 acres. This makes at the pres
ent time total of thrty-six forest reser-
vationS, embracing an estimated area of
46 O21, 800 acres. This estimat ted area Is the
aggregated areas within the boundaries OF
the reserves. The lands actually reserved
are. however, 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 the national forests, in
augurated by the Department of the In
terror in 1897, has been continued during
the past year and much has been accom-
plished In the way of preventing forest
fires and the protection of the timber.
There are now large tracts covered by
forests which will eventually be reserved
and set apart for forest uses. Until that
can be done Congress should Increase the
appropriations for the work of protecting
the forests.
Department of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture is con-
stantly consulting the needs of producers
in all the States and Territories. 1t is in
Producing seeds and plants of great value
and promoting fuller diyersiflcadon of
crops. Grains, grasses, fruits, legumes. and
vegetables are imported for all parts of the
United States. Under this encouragement
the sugar-beet factory multiplies in the
are sent to the South, and congenial eli
mates are sought for the choice produc-
tions of the far east. The hybrtdizing OF
fruit trees and grains is conducted in the
search for varieties adapted to exacting
conditions. The introduction of tea gardens
into the Southern States promises to pro-
vide employment for idle hands as well as
to supply the home market with tea The
subject of irrigation where it Is of vital
Importance to the people is being carefully
studied. steps are being taken to reclaim
injured or abandoned lands, and informa-
ton for the people along these lines is be-
ing printed and distributed.
Markets are being sought and opened up
for surplus farm and factory products III
Europe and Asia. The outlook for the edu-
cation of the young farmer through agrl-
cultural college and experiment station,
with opportunity given to specialize in the
Department of Agriculture, is very prom
Using. The people of Hawaii Porto Rico,
and the Philippine Islands should be helped.
by the establishment of experiment sta
tions, to a more scientific knowledge OF the
production of coffee. India rubber, and other
tropical products, for which there is de-
mand in the United States.
There Is widespread interest In the i'm
provemert of our public highways at the
present time, and the Department of Agrt-
culture Is cooperating with the people In
each locality in making the best possible
reads from local material and in expert
menting with steel tracks. more intellt-
gent system of managing the forests of the
careful study of the whole forestry problem
is being conducted throughout the United
States. very extensive and complete ex
hIbit of the agricultural and horticultural
products of the United States is being pre-
pared for the Paris Exposition.
THE PHILIPPINES.
On the 10th of December, 1898, the treaty
of peace between the United States and
Spain was signed. 1t provided, among other
things, that Spain should cede to the
United States the archipelago known as
the Philippine Islands, that the United
States should pay to Spain the sum of
twenty millions cf dollars, and that the
civil rights ard political status of the ma
tive inhabitants of the territories thus
ceded to the United States should be de-
termined by the Congress. The treaty was
ratified by the Senate on the 9th of Febru-
ary, 1899. and by the Government of Spain
on the 18th Of March following. The ratifi-
cations were exchanged on the 18th Of
April and the treaty publicly proclaimed.
on the 2d of March the Congress voted the
sum contemplated by the treaty, and the
amount was paid over to the Spanish Gov
ernment on the 1st of May.
In this manner the Philippines came to
the United States. The islands We're ceded
by the Government of Spain, which had
been In uudisputed possession of them for
centuries. Ihey were accepted not merely
10y our authorized commissioners in Paris,
under the direction of the Executive but
by the constitutional and welI-considered
action of the representatives of the DeOp,e
Of the United States in both Houses of
Congress. | had every reason to believe
and 1 still believe, that this transfer of
sovereignty was in accordance with the
wishes and the aspirations of the great
mass of the Filipino people.
FROM the earliest moment no opportunity
was lost Of assuring the people Of the is
lands of our ardent desire for their welfare
and of the intention of this Government
10 DO everything possible to advance their
interests. In my order of the 18th of Nav
1928, the commander of the military expe-
dltlon dispatched to the Philippines was in
structed to declare that We came not TO
make war upon the people of that coun-
try, nor upon any party or faction
among them. but to protect them In their
homes, in their emp p,oyments and in their
personal and religious rights" That there
should be no doubt as to the paramount
authority there, on the IIth of Anpnst If
was directed that there must be no Joint
occupation with the insurgents:' that the
United states must preserve the peace and
protect persons and property within the
territory occupied by their military and
naval forces, that the insurgents and all
others must recognize the military occu-
patton and authority of the United States.
As early as December 4, before the cession
and IN anticipation of that event. the COM
mander in Manila was urged to restore
peace and tranquility and to undertake the
esta adjustment of a beneficent government
which should afford the fullest security for
lie and property.
On the 2lst of December, after the treaty
was signed, the commander of the forces OF
occupation vas instructed ito announce and
proclaim in the most public manner that
we come. not as invaders and conuuerors
put as friends to protect the natives in
their homes, In their empl0yments, and in
their personal and religious rights" On
the same day, while ordering General Otis
10 see that the peace should be preserved
IN lloilo. he was adm0nished that: "It is
most important that there should be no
conflict with the insurgents" On the LIST
cay OF January. 1899, urgent orders were
reiterated that the kindly intentions of this
Government should be In every possible
way communicated to the INSURGENTS
On the 2lst Of January | announced NV
intention Of dispatchng to Manila a com
mission composed of three gentlemen of the
highest character and distinction thor
oughly acquainted with the Orient who in
association with Admiral Dewey and Major
General Otis. were instructed Ito facilitate
the most humane and effective extension of
authority throughout the islands, and to
secure with the least possible DELAY the
benefits OF a wise and generous protection
of life and property to the inhabitants /"
These gentlemen We're DIR. Jacob Gould