Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1901-12-07

sibly that some of it's requirements
wrong, certainly that the means do, a.e
ed for the enforcement of its nro,,is
ions are defective.
Railways.
The act should be amended Tho -,
way is public servant. Its rates sbo'',,
be just to and open to all shinnanl
alike. Inc government should see To IL
that within it's jurisdiction this is 90
and should provide speedy, inexnanS
i've, and effective remedy to that and
The department of agriculture d.
ing the past 10 years has steadily broad
ened its work on economic lines and
mas accomplished results of real vaIna
IN upbuilding domestic and FOREIGN
trade.
Forest Protection.
Wise forest protection does not mean
the withdrawal of forest resources
whether of wood, water, or grass. from
contributing their full share to the woI,
fare of the people, but, on the con.
trary, gives the assurance of larger and
more certain supplies. The funda.
mental idea of forestry is the pernatu.
'ClOll VI LOl C0Co Wy uoC II OT6SL DrOtpp-
ton is not an end of itself: if is =
means to increase and sustain the re-.
sources of our country and the indus
tries which depend upon them. The
preservation of our forests is an i'm.
perative business necessity. We have
come to see clearly that whatever de.
stroys the forest, except to make wav
70 agriculture, threatens our well-be.
ing.
At present the protection of the for.
est reserves rests with the general land
office, the mapping and description of
their timber with the United States gen
logical survey and the preparation of
plans for their conservative use with
the bureau Of forestry, which is also
charged with the general advancement
Of practical forestry in the United
States. These various functions should
be united in the bureau of forestry, to
which they properly belong.
Arid Lands
II is as right for the national gov.
eminent to make the streams and
rivers of the arid region useful by en-.
cheering works for water storage as
to make useful the rivers and harbors
of the humid region by engineering
works of another kind. The storing of
the floods in reservoirs at the head.
waters of our rivers is but an enlarge
ment of our present policy Of river con-
troll, under which levees are built on
the lower reaches of the same streams.
The government should construct
and maintain these reservoirs as it
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 sea.
son to take the same course under the
same laws as the natural flow.
The reclamation of the unsettled
arid public lands presents a different
'roblem. Here it is not enough to reg
4 llate the flow of streams. The object
of the government is to dispose of the
tand to settlers who will build homes
Upon it. To accomplish this object
water must be brought within their
reach.
The reclamation and settlement Of
the arid lands will enrich every por-
ton of our country, just as the settle
ment of the Ohio and Mississippi val
leys brought prosperity to the Atlantic
states.
Whatever the nation does for the ex-
tension of irrigation should harmonic
with, and tend to improve, the cond-
ton of those now living on irrigated
land.
Our aim should be not simply to re-
claim the largest area of land and pro-
vide homes for the largest number of
people, but to create for this new in
dustry the best possible social and in
dustrial conditions; and this requires
that We not only understand the exist
ing situation, but avail ourselves of the
best experience Of the time in the So
luton of its problems. A careful study
should be made, both by the nation and
the states, of the irrigation laws and
conditions here and abroad. Ultimate
ly it will probably be necessary for the
nation to cooperate with the several
arid states in proportion as these states
by their legislation and administration
show themselves fit to receive it.
Our Islands.
In Hawaii our aim must be to de-
velop the territory on the traditional
American lines. We do not wish
region of large estates titled by cheap
labor; we wish a healthy American
community OF men who themselves till
the farms they own.
1t is pleasure to say that it is hard
ly more necessary to report as to Porto
Rico than as to any state or territory
within our continental limits. The
island is thriving as never before, ana
it is being administered efficiently and
honestly. l ask the attention of the