The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04


have a total population of 154OO1, show
ing an increase over that reported in |
1886, of 44,9S1 or Alp per cent
There has been marked progress in the |
educational. agricultural, and railroad de- |
velopment of the islands
In the Territorial act of April go 1900 |
sction Z of said act repeats chapter "a of |
the Civil Laws of Hawaii. whereby the
Government was to assist in encouraging
and developing the agricultural resources
of the Republic, especially irrigation The
Governor of Hawaii recommends legisla-
tion looking to the development of such
water supply as may exist on the public
lands, with view of promoting land set
Element. The earnest consideration of
the Congress is invited to this important
recommendation and others, as embodied
in the report of the Secretary of the In
terror.
THE TWELFTH CENSUS.
The Director of the Census states that
the work in connection with the twelfth
| census is progressing favorably This ma
| tional undertaking, ordered by the Con-
| gress each decade, has finally resulted in
| the collection of an aggregation of Stats
| tical facts to determine the industrial
| growth of the country, its manufacturing
| and mechanical resources, its richness in
| mines and forests, the number of it's
| agriculturists, their farms and products
! its educational and religious opportuni-
| ties, as we'll as questions pertaining to
sociological conditions.
| The labors of the officials in charge of
| the bureau indicate that the law of March
| 3, 1899, requiring the completion of the
! four important and most-desired subjects,
namely, population, agricultural manu-
| featuring, and vital statistics, will be
completed within the prescribed limit
The field work incident to the above in
| quiries is now practically finished, and
| as result the population of the States
and Territories, including the Hawaiian
Islands and Alaska has been announced.
| The growth of population during the last
decade amounts to over 13, 600 900. a
greater numerical increase than in any
previous census in the history of the
country.
Bulletins will be issued as rapidly as
| possible giving the population by States
and Territories, by minor civil divisions
| Several announcements of this kind have
already been made, and it is hoped that
the list will be completed by January l.
Other bulletins giving the results of the
will be given to the public as rapidly as
| circumstances will admit.
The director, while confident of his
ability TO complete the different branches
| of the undertaking in the allotted time,
finds himself embarrassed by the lack of
trained force properly equipped for
statistical work, thus raising the ques-
ton whether in the interest of economy
and thorough execution of the census
work there should not be retained in the
Government employ a certain number of
experts not only to aid in the preliminary
organization prior to the taking of the
decennial census, but in addition to have
the advantage in the field and office work
OF the bureau of trained assistants to ia
cilitate the early completion of this enor-
nous undertaking.
l recommend that the Congress at it's
present session apportion representation
among the several States as provided by
the Constitution.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The Department of Agriculture has been
extending it's work during the past year,
reaching farther for new varieties of
seeds and plants; cooperating more full
ly with the States and Territories in re-
search along useful lines; making pro-
gress in meteorological work relating to
lines of wireless telegraphy and forecasts
for ocean going vessels; continuing in
quiry as to animal disease; looking into
the extent and character of food adultera-
ton; outlining plans for the care, pre-
servation and intelligent harvesting of
our woodlands; studying soils that pro-
ducers may cultivate with better knowl-
edge of conditions, and helping to clothe
desert places with grasses suitable to
our arid regions. Our island possessions
are being considered that their peoples
may be helped to produce the tropical
products now so extensively brought into
the United States. Inquiry into methods
of improving our roads has been active
during the year; help has been given ia
many localities, and scientific investiga-
ton of material in the States and Ter
ritories has been inauguarted. Irriga-
, ton problems in our semi arid regions are
receiving careful and increased consid-
| GRAFTON.
An extensive exhibit at Paris of the
! products of agriculture has made the
peoples of many countries more familiar
with the varied products of our fields
and their comparative excellence.
The collection of statistics regarding
our crops is DelnS improved ana sources
of information are being enlarged. tt
the end that producers may have the ear
Hest advices regarding crop conditions
There has never beep time when those
for whom it was established have shown
more appreciation of the services of the
department.
ALIEN CONTRACT LAW.
In my annual message of December s.
1898, l called attention to the necessity
for some amendment of the alien contract
law. There still remain important fea-
lures of the rightful application of the
eight-hour law for the benefit of labor
and of the principle of arbitration, and
l again commend these subjects to the
careful attention of the Congress.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
That there may be secured the best
service possible in the Philippine Islands
1 have issued, under date of November
3d. 1900, the following order:
THE United States Civil Service Com.
mission is directed to render such assis-
lance as may be practicable to the Civil