The sun., 1901-12-04

and eimilar devices are haoItunifv fo.Ou ~
scyor 70, vo ~ the large shipper; that they drive
out Of business the smaller compeutor;
that while many rates are too low, many
others are exceesive; and that grose prefer
ences are made, affecting both Iocsnt,eSs S
ahs ame rs;lWays assert that the law by Its very
terms tends to produce many OF these
iilesai practices by deprfving carriers
OF that right Of concerted action which they
claim II necessary 70 establish ana main-
tain non-discrimlnating rates =,
The act should be amended The rail-.
way IL q public servant. It's ratee shoulo
he lust TO and open to all shippers alike
The Government should see TO II that WIN
in its Jurisdiction this Is 40 and should pro-
rsmedv To that end. At the same time
il must not be forgotten that our railways
are the arteries through which the COM
mercial hfeblood OF this nation hows.
Nothing could be moro foolish than the
unnecsssarIly interfere with the develop;
ment and operation Of these commercial
aSencies. The subject Ia one OF great I'M
portanoe and calls for the earnest atten-
ton OF the Congress.
AGRICULTURE.
The DEPARTMENT Of Agriculture during
the pa st fifteen years has steadily broadened
he work on economic lines, and has accom-
plisbed results Of real value In uPbuilding
domestic and foreign trade. II has gone
into new fields until il is now i'm touch with
ali sectionr of our country and with two
OF the island groups that have lately come
under our Jurisdiction. whose people must
look to agriculture as livelihood. IL Is
searching the world for grains, grasses,
fruits. and vegetables specially fitted for
Introduction ipto localities in the several
States and Territories where they may
add materially 70 our resources. By SCI
entifc attention to soil survey and possible
new crops, to breeding new varieties OF
final industry and applied chemistry, very
practical aid has been given our farming
and stock gro wing interests. The products
OF the farm have taken an unprecedented
place IN our export trade during the year
that has just cloeed.
THE FORESTS
Public opinion throughout the United
States has moved steadily toward a Just
appreciation OF the value OF forests, whether
planted or OF natural growth. The great
part PLAYED by them in the creation and
maintenance OF the national wealth is nov
more fully realized than ever before.
Wise forest protection does not mean the
withdrawal OF forest resources, whether
Of wood, water or grass, from contributing
their full share TO the welfare OF the people,
but, on the contrary, gives the assurance
Of larger and more certain supplies. The
fundamental idea Of forestry is the per-
petuation Of forests by use Forest pro-
lection is not an end Of itself; II In means to
increase and sustain the resources Of o'Ir
country and the industries which depend
upon them The preservation Of our forests
is an imperative business necessity. We
have come to see clearly that whatever
destroys the forest. except TO make way for
agriculture. threatens our well-being.
The practical usefulness OF the national
fOvnuf fhA MINING CRAVING
irrigation, and other interests OF the region
In which the reserves lie, has led TO a wide
spread demand by the people OF the West
for their protection and extension. The
forest reserves will inevitably be Of still
greater use In the future than in the past.
Additions should be made TO them whenever
practicable and their usefulness should
be increased by thoroughly budnees-hke
management.
At present the protection Of the forest
reserves rests with the General Land Offlce,
the mapping and description Of their tim
bcr with the United Safes Geological Sur
vev, and the preparation OF plans for their
conservative use with the Bureau Of Forestry.
which is also charged with tie general ad-
vanoen,ent Of practical forestry In the
United States. These various functions
should be united in the Bureau Of Forestry,
TO which they properly belong. The present
diffusion Of responsibility Is bad from every
standpoint. IL prevents that effective o.
men who utilize the resources of the re-
serves, without which the interests Of both
must suffer. The scientific bureaus
generally should he put under the Depart
ment Of Agriculture The President should
have by law the power Of transferring
Department Of Agriculture. He already
has such power In the case Of lands needed
by the Depart ments of War and the Navy.
The wise administration of the forest re-
l. l..l.
which depend on water than 10 those which
depend upon wood and grass. The water
supply i'sef depends upon the forest.
In the arid region. IL il water, not land.
which measures production. The western
half of the United States would sustain q
population greater than that of our whole
country to-day II the waters that now
run 10 waste were saved and used for ir-
rigation The forest and water prob.
lems are perhaps the most vital internal
questions ~ the United States
Certain of the forest reserves should alro
he made preserves for the Wild forest cnes-
lures All ~ the reserves should be better
protected from fre-. Many Of them need
sfs@cial protection because Of the great in
Jury done by live stock, above all by sheep
Tie incrAs- Ia deer, elk and other animals
in the yellow stone Park shows what may
be expected when other mountain forests
are properly protected by law and properly
guarded Some 81 these areas have teen
~ denudei of surface vegetation 10y over
grazing that the ground breeding birds
Including Erou~. and quail, and many
mammals, Including deeT. have been eI-
terminated or driven away A. the same
time. tho water-sionnS caTacity of the sur
face has been decreased OF DESTROYED,
thus prumoting hoods IN times ~ rain and
diminishing the how - streams between
rams
IN csses wher natural conditions have
he"n rrsion~d for lev y'ars vegetation
Lac again carI-rt"d the ground. birds ant
deer are coming hack and hundreds -
t-f-lrs. ESPECIALLY from tho immediate
No. siiuFiSzi. oonp. @srh summer a. enjoy
no puNlsg- - oampins sume ~ lsasi -
ths t,r.-i r---ryss should an rd I=ustu ual
IYfuis-'iinn g. to NATIVE fauna Ahd snra.
safs lAten- = f-fug' g. oW tapifly d'min.
iriine vih aHimals - flr lATsuf klnis
and ffss oaHfins grounds To- tho ever
incf.s.ns nuuii-fs ~ itnT ard ~oHssn v h.
have kan.sd o. hnd rrsi isalth aud 90 90.
afiuH No. no splendid fHfrrs ahd huN~f
rlsi lsadu~s n uuf mnuntsins 10
f.psss s-.Ftss Il uuii h. - afAn fsfrtrf
fHf 10 go sHd isnrh' - uuf I-a Tis ss %
sl..lf sut i,.l s-.rTl lDod .. tls shHus EIirl
,f.--d 80 fss
~. fsfssff go nsfufsl n-pulrs ~
fssifsinirg No. snauss it 81 afi fI
IIffIsiIhs u.sm lU trHuFiH tt.t rstf
ssIi.If 0f tlf- = saIsfs .fisfF Ia rHHIf.H