Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

and steadfast cheerfulness which en-
titles them to the ungrudging thanks of
all who realize the disheartening trials
and fatigues to, which they are OF neces-
sity subjected
There is not cloud on the horizon at
present. There seems not the slightest
chance of trouble with foreign power.
We most earnestly hope that this state
of things may continue; and the way to
insure its continuance is to provide for
a thoroughly efficient navy. The refusal
to maintain such a navy would invite
trouble, and If trouble came would insure
disaster Fatuous. ,self-complacency or
to prepare for danger, is both foolish and
wicked in such nation as ours; and
past experience has shown that such
faulty in refusing using to recognize or pre-.
succeeded by mad, panic of hysterical
fear once the crisis has actually arrived.
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
country.
The receipts of the post Office depart
ment for the nscal year ending June 30
Of $40 2lss5sS7 over the preceding i year.
the largest increase known in the history
of the postal service. The magnitude of
this increase will best appear from the
the year. 1860 amounted to but sS.5ls.oS7.
Rural free delivery service is no longer
in the experimental stage; it has become
a fixed policy. The results following it's
introduction have fully justified the con-
gress in the large appropriations made
for its establishment and extension. The
average yearly Increase in post office re-
ceipts in the rural districts of the coun-
try is about two per cent. We are now
able. by actual results, to show that
where rural free delivery service has
been established to such an extent as to
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
We're in operation. covering about one
available for rural free delivery service.
| There are now awaiting the action of the
department. petitions and ap,pplicattons for
Tha shows the
| which the establishment of the service
| has met and the need of further extend
ing i as rapidly as possible It is just-
| fled both by the financial results and by
| the practical benefits to our rural pop
| ulation: 1t brings the men who live on
the soil into close relations with the ac-
| tive business world 1t keeps the farmer
| in daily touch with the markets; It is a
| potential educational force: it enhances
the value. of farm property, makes farm,
life far pleasanter and less isolated and
| will do much to check the undesirable
| current from country to city
1t is to be hoped that the congress will
tinuance of the service already estab-
lished and for Its further extension.
Progress of Irrigation.
Few subjects of more importance have
4 been taken up by the congress in recent
/! years than the Inauguration of the sys-
arid regions of the far west A good be-
ginning therein has been made. Now
that this policy of national irrigation has
been adopted, the need of thorough
and scientific forest nrOfacfinpy will
more rapidly than ever throughout the
public-land states.
protection of the. game, and the wild
creatures generally. on the forest re-
serves. The senseless slaughter of game
which can by judicious protection be per.
manently preserved on our national re.
serves for the people as whole, should
be stopped at once. 1t is, for instance
good sense to permit the present prac.
tice of butchering off such a stately and
beautiful creature as the elk for its ant
iers or tusks
culture, and to whatever extent the.
may be reclaimed under the national ir.
should be held rigidly for the home
builder. the settler who lives on his land
and for no one else. In their actual us
the desert-land law, the timber and ston
law and the Communication clause of tn
homestead law have been so perverted
from the intention with which they wer,
. / ENACTED DIS 10 permit Tile ACQUISITION u
large areas of the public domain for 9th
er than actual settlers and the conse
quent prevention of settlement. More
over. the approaching exhaustion of tn.
discussion as to the best manner Of using
these public lands in the west which ar
suitable chiefly or only for grazing. TIL
sound and steady development of tn
west depends upon the buiidipp I'm .
homes therein. Much of our prosperit.
as a nation has been due TO me opera
nf he bpy pSte @ law ha ut q
hand. we should recognize the fact tina
in the grazing region the man who cor
| able to settle permanently II only allowe
to use the same amount of pasture Ian
!; that his brother, the homesteader is al
lowed to use of arabic land. One hun
| dred and sixty acres of fairly rich en-
well watered soil, or much smalle
, amount of irrigated, land, may keen
5 family in plenty. whereas no one coul
get living. from 100 acres of dry pastur
t land capable of supporting at the out
! side only one head of cattle to every tie
aereS In the past great tracts tracts Of tn
! persons having no title thereto, in direc
defiance of the law forbidding the n'air
tenance or construction of any such ur
lawful inclosure of public land. For va
d rious reasons there has been little inter
ference with such Enclosures in the pas
but ample notice has now been give
, the command of the government wi
! hereafter be used to put a stop to sue
i, treSpaSSing.
, In view of the capital imnorfance :
: these matters. I commend them to til
! earnest consideration of the consres
and If the congress finds difficulty !
{ dealing with them from lack of thoroug
{ knowledge of the subject. I recommen
that provision be made for a commiseio
: of experts specially to investigate an
!, report upon the complicated question
q involved
( Alaska Legislation Asked ForA,
! especially urge upon the congress til
need of wise legislation for Alaska.
! Is not to our credit as nation thu
q Alaska, which has been ours for @t vear
should still have as poor system
Il laws lis the case. No country has
. more valuable possesson-in miners
q wealth, in fisheries, fuls. It,r."ts. =
: also in land available for certain kline
g of farming and stock growing. il is
r sources, we'll fitted to support a lare
e permanent population. Alaska needs
: good land law. and such provisions e
!, homesteads and praemptions as Will q
e courage permanent settlement. "
v should shape legislation with a view n,
:: to the exploiting and abandoning of II
/ territory, but to the building up of home
e therein The land laws should be liber
Y in type so as to hold out inducame>
. To the actual settler whom we most d.
s sire to see take possession Of The cou.
n try. The forests OF Alaska should
O protected, and. as secondary but sti
Il important matter. the game also. and