Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-05

consideration of our entire policy of eco |
nomic legislation. Subject TO this proviso /
of the proper protection necessary to our |
Industrial weIl-being at home, the princi- |
pie of reciprocity must command our !
hearty support. The natural line of de- !
velopment for a policy of reciprocity will
in connection with those of our produc |
lions which no longer require all of the |
support once needed to establish them upon
a sound basis, and with those others where
either because of natural or of economic |
causes we are beyond the reach Of success
full competition.
MERCHANT MARINE.
The condition of the American merchant
marine is such as TO call for Immediate
remedial action by the congress. 1t is dis
creditable to US as q nation that our mer-
chant marine should be utterly insignih-
cant in comparison to that of other nations
which we overtOp in other forms of bust
ness. We should not longer submit to con-
ditions under which only trifing portion
of our great commerce is carried in our
own ships. To remedy this state of things
would not merely serve to build up our
shipping interests. but it would also result
in benefit to all who are interested in the
permanent establishment of Il wider mar
ket for American products, and would pro-
vide an auxiliary force for the navy. ships
work for their own countries just as rail
roads work for their terminal points. Ship
ping lines, if established to the principal
countries with which we have dealings,
benefit. From every standpoint it is un-
wise for the United States TO continue to
rely upon the ships of competing nations
for the distribution of our goods. 1t should
be made advantageous to carry American
goods in American-built ships.
| At present American shipping is under
! certain great disadvantages when put IN
| competition with the shipping of foreign
/ countries. Many of the fast foreign steam
| ships. at a speed of IA knots or above, are
subsidized and all our ships sailing YES.
| sells and steamers alike cargo carriers OF
! slow speed and mail carriers OF high speed,
| have to meet the fact that the original cost
| of building American ships is greater than
| is the case abroad; that the wages paid
| American officers and Seamen are very
much higher than those paid the officers
| and seamen of foreign competing cOun-
| tries; and that the standard OF living on
/ our ships is far superior to the standard
| Of living on the ships Of our commerclal
| rivals. Our government should take such
action as will remedy these inequalities.
| The American merchant marine should be
| restored to the ocean.
The gold Standard is endorsed and econ
| omy is urged but it is suggested that care
| should be taken not to reduce the revenues
| so that there will he any possibility OF
| deficit; but, after providing against any
| such contingency, means should be adopted
| which will bring the rev enues more nearly
| within the limit of our actual needs.
The, interstate, railway act should be
| amended, says the president. The railway
| is public servant. Its rates should be just
to and open to all shippers alike. The gov
| eminent should see to it that within its
| jurisdiction this is and should provide
speedy, inexpensive and effective remedy to
| that end.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The department Of agriculture has stead
lily brOadened it's work on economic lines,
and has accomplished results Of real value
| in upbuilding domestic and foreign trade.
1t has gone into new fields until it is now
in touch with all sections 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. 1t is searching the world for
grains, grasses, fruits, and vegetables spe-
cially fitted for Introduction into localities
in the several states and territories where
they may add materially to our resources.
By scientific attention to soil survey anu
possible new crops to breeding of new va
rieties Of plants, to experimental ship
ments, to animal industry and applied
chemistry, very practical aid has been
given our farming and stOck-growing In
terests. 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
now 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 peo-
pie, but, on the contrary, gives the assuI-
ance of larger and more certain supplies.
The fundamental idea of forestry is the
perretuation of forests by use. Forest pro-
lection is not an end of itself; it is g
means to increase and sustain the resources
of our country and the industries which
DEPEND upon them. The preservation Of
our forests .is an imperative business neces-
sity. The president should have by law
the power of transferring lands for use as
forest reserves to the department Of agrl-
culture The forest and water problems
are perhaps the most vital internal ques-
lions of the United States, declared Mr..
Roosevelt.
The forests are natural reservoirs. BY
restraining the streams in Hood ana re-
plenishing them in drought they make pos
sible the use of waters otherwise wasted.
| They prevent the soil from washing, ana
so protect the storage reservoirs from fill
ing up with silt. Forest CONSERVATION IS
| therefore an essential condition TO water
conservation. The forests alone cannot,
however fully regulate and conserve the
| waters of the arid region. Great storage
works are necessary to equalize the flow or
streams and 30 save the flood waters. Their
| construction mas been cOnciusiyely shown
TO be an undertaking too vast for private
| effort. Nor can it be best accomplished by
the individual states acting alone Far
reaching Interstate problems are mVolVed !;
| and the resources of single states would
| often be inadequate. 1t is as right for the
national government to make the streams
and rivers Of the arid region useful by en-
|
| make useful the rivers and harbors of the
humid region by engineering works or an
| other kind. The storing of the hoods I'D
| reservoirs at the headwaterS of our rivers
is bat an enlargement of our present pol
| icy of river control under which ieyees are
built on the lower reaches of the same
streams The government should construct
and raaintain these reservoirs as 1t does
| other public works. Where their purpose
| is to regulate the flow of streams. the
water should be turned freely into the
| channels in the dry season to take the same
| course under the same laws as the natural
| flow.
The reclamation of the unsettled arid
| public Kinds presents a different problem
! Here it is not enuugh to regulate the flow
! Of streams. The object Of the government
| is to dispose of the land to settlers who
| will build homes dpor 1t. TO accomplish
| this object water must be brought Within
| their reach. There remain vast areas OF
| public land which can be made available
| for homestead settlement, but only by
| reservoirs and mainline CANALS 1mprac-
! ticabe for private enterprise. These irri-
| CATION works should be built by the ma
! tional government. The lands reclaimed by
| them should be reserved by the government
| for actual settlers, and the cost or con-
| struction should so FAR as possible be re-
] paid by the land reclaimed. The dlstribu-
| ton Of The water, the division or the
| streams Smong irrigators should be left to
| the settlers themselves in conformity with
| state laws and without interference With
! those laws or with vested rights The pol
J icy of tire national government should be
| to aid irrigation in the several states and
| the people in the local communities to help
| themselves.
| In the arid states the only right to water
! which should be recognized Is that Of use
! In Irrigation this; rfgnt should attach to the
| land reclaimed and be insepdrable there
/ from FrSntine neY0etual water rights 10