Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-12-05

and a steadfaSt cheerfulneSS which en-
all who realize the dishearfening trials
and fatigues to which they are of neces-
There is not a cloud on the horizon at
present. There seems not the slightest
We most earnestly hope that this state
of things may continue: and the way to
lg TO he
to maintain such a navy would invite
disaster. Fatuous self-complacency or
vanity. short-sightedness in refusing
wicked in such a nation as ours: and
past experience has shown that such
pare for any crisis in advance is usually
succeeded by mad panic of hysterfcal
Rural Free Delivery.
The striking increase in the revenues
of the post office department shows clear
ly the prosperity of our people and the
increasing activity of the business of the
The receipts of the post Office depart
ment for the nsca al, year ea f.. ending June 50
of $40 .s5s:a over the preceding year.
the largest increase known in the history
| this increase viii best appear from the
| fact that the entire postal receipts for
Rural free delivery service is no longer
in the experimental stage; it has become
Introduction have fully justified the con-
gress in the large appropriations made
average yearly increase in post office re-
ceipts in the rural districts Of the coun-
able. BY actual results. to show that
where rural free delivery service has
enable us to make comparisons the yearly
increase has been upward of ten per
| cent
| On November 1, 1902 1850 rural free
| delivery routes had been established and
third of the territory of the United States
available for rural free delivery service
department tP petitions and s appeat3o1! foS
the estab bl. $: Of 1918 additional
which the &c estabiishment of the rs service
has met and the need of further extend
hs Results Is and BY
the practical benefits to rural pop
the so into of close rei e WITH the ae
tive business ,Is world; It keeps the farmer f.
potential educational force; it enhances
the value of farm property. makes farm
will do much to check the undesirable
current from country to city.
make liberal appropriations for the con-
tinuance of the service already estab-
lished and for it's further extension.
Progress of Irrigation.
Few. subjects of more Importance have
| been taken up by the congress in recent
years than the Inauguration of the sys-
tenn of nationally aided irrigation for the
arid regions of the far west. good be
that this policy Of national irrigation has
and scientific forest protection will grow
more rapidly. than ever throughout the
Legislation should be provided, for the
protection of the game. and the wild
serves. The senseess slaughter of game,
which can by judicious protection be per-
ss E sssge a9Sa
good sense to permit the present prac-
tice Of butchering off such stately and
beautiful creature the elk for its ant
lers tusks.
So far they are available for agri-
rigatien law. the remaining public lands
builder, the settler who lives on his land,
and for no one else. In their actual use
law. and the Communication clause of the
homestead law have been SO perverted
large areas Of the he public domain for 9TH
auent prevention of SETTLEMENT More
over, the approa ching eSh E 1s of the
, discussion as to the best manner of using
these public lands in the west which al; are
sound and steady development of the
vest depends upon o, the building " IT
as a nation has been due to the opera
, ton of the homestead law. On the other
hand, should recognize the fact that
IN the grazing region the man who cor
/ responds to the homestea der may Re Tn
to use the same amount of pasture lard
that his brother the homesteader is al
dred and sixty acres of fairly rich end
wen watered soil, or much smaller
get ''aS living VII from 100 acres of dry pasture
e side only one head Of cattle to every ten
acres In the past great tracts Of q, the he
t persons having no title thereto, in direct
e defiance of the law forbiddns the main
. tenanee or construction of any such un-
G rious reasons there has been little inter
bnt ample PIE" notice f has now been giver
the trespasseTs, and all the resources p
q hereafter be used to put a stop to such
n In view. of the capital importance q
: earnest consideration of the consress
e dealing with them from lack of thorough
E knowledge of the subject I recommend
Of fat experts Specially to Investigate ant
Z report upon the complicated questions
q involved.
f Alaska Legislation Asked For.
: I especially urge upon the congress thu
4 is not to our credit as a nation tina
e Alaska. which has been ours for ;. cars
q laws as is the case. No country has
s more valuable possession- in minera
: also in land available for certain kinds
e of farming and stock growing 1t IS
q territory of great size and varec re
n sources. well fitted to support a 1arg
e permanent population Alaska needs
= good land law and such provisions 70
5 homesteads and preemptions will 81
e | courage permanent settlement. w
V | should shape legislation WITH view no
/; to the exploiting and abandoning of tn
i territory, but to the building up of home
re therein The land laws should be nbera
v | in type, so to hold out inducen@-+
L | to the actual settler whom we most de
;s | sire to see take possession of the Dun