The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-05


| acres. In the past great tracts of the
| public domain have been fenced in by
| persons having no title thereto, in direct
| defiance of the law forbidding the MAIN
| tenance or construction of any such UNI
| lawful Enclosure of public land. For va
rious reasons there has been little inter
| ference with such Enclosures in the past,
but ample notice has now been given
the trespassers, and all the resources at
the command of the government will
hereafter be used to put stop to such
| trespassing.
Alaska Legislation Asked For.
I especially urge upon the congress the
| need of wise legislation for Alaska. 1t
| is not to our credit as nation that
| Alaska, which has been ours for 80 years,
laws as is the case. No country has a
wealth, in fisheries, furs, forests. and
| also in land available for certain kinds
| of farming and stock growing. 1t is a
territory of great size and varied re-
| sources, well fitted to support a large
permanent population. Alaska needs a
good land and. law wv, and such provisions for
| courage permanent settlement. We
should shape legislation with a view not
| territory, but to the building up Of homes
| therein The land laws should be liberal
| in type, SO as to hold out inducements
to the actual settler whom we most de-
| sire to see take possession of the coun-
| try. The forests of Alaska should be
| protected, and, as a secondary but still
the same time it is imperative that the
! settlers should be allowed to cut tim
be, under proper regulations. for their
| own use. Laws should be enacted to
| protect the Alaskan salmon fisheries
| against the greed which would destroy
them. They should be preserved as a
| Their management and Control should be
| turned over to the commission of fish
and fisheries. Alaska should have a dele
gate in the congress. 1t would be well
| if congressional committee could visit
Alaska and investigate its needs on the
ground.
The Indians.
| In dealing with the Indians our aim
! should be their ultimate absorption into
| the body of our people. But in many
cases this absorption n., must and should
| territory the mixture of blood has gone
on at the same time with progress in
Wealth az and edueatSn SO that there are
| purity of Indian blood who are abso-
| lutely misunderstanding in point of social,
| political and economical ability from
| their white associates There are other
| tribes which have as yet made no per-
ceptible advance toward such equality.
prevent their going forward at all. More
over, the tribes live under widely differ
ent conditions. Where a tribe has made
considerable advance and lives on fertile
farming soil it is possible to allot the
members lands in severalty much as is
the case with the white settlers. There
desirable. On the arid prairie lands the
effort should be to induce the Indians to
lead pastoral rather than agricultural
villages rather than to force them into
The large InGian schools situated remote
from any Indian reservation do a special
and peculiar work of great Importance.
But, excellent though these are, an i'm
mense amount me OF a tio On work must be
the old, and above all among the young.
Indians.
The first and most important step toward
the absorption of the Indian is to teach
him to earn his living; yet it is not neces-
sarily to be assumed that in each commup-
of the soil or stock raisers. Their industries
may properly be diversified, and those who
show special desire or adaptability for in
dustrial or even commercial pursuits
should be encouraged so far as practicable
to follow out each his own bent.
Scientific Aid to Farmers.
In no department of governmental work
in recent years has there beer. greater sue
cess than in that of giving scientific aid to
the farming population, thereby showing
them how most efficiently to help them
its Importance, for the welfare of the
farmer is fundamentally necessary to the
welfare of the republic as a whole. In ad-
dition to such work as quarantine against
animal and vegetable plaques, and war
ring against them when here introduced.
much efficient help has been rendered to the
farmer by the introduction of new plants
specially fitted for cultivation UNDER the
peculiar conditions existing in different
portions of the country. New cereals have
been established in the semi-arid west.
For instance, the practicablity of produc-
ing the best types of macaroni wheats in
regions of an annual rainfall of only ten
inches or Whereabouts has beer conclusive
ly demonstrated. Through the introduce
ton of new rices in Louisiana and Texas
the production of rice in this country has
been made to about equal the home de-
mand In the southwest the possibility of
regrasslng overstocked range lanes has
forage crops have been introduced, while
in the east it has been shown that some of
our choicest fruits can be stored and
shipped in such way as to find a profitable
market abroad.
The District of Columbia is the only part
of our territory in which the national gov
eminent exercises local or municipal func-
lions, and where in consequence the gov
eminent has a free hand in reference to
lation which must be essentially local or
municipal in their character. The govern
ment should see to it, for instance, that the
hygienic and sanitary legislation affecting
Washington is of a high character. The
evils of slum dwellings, whether in the
shape of crowded and congested tenement
house districts or of the back-alley type.
Shou,f never be permitted ERIN to grow up in
f9 81 apa 4
systems of the district should receive con-
sideration at the hands of the congress to
lIt eIU lIldl tUcy may eInUOUy the results
of the most advanced thought in these
fields. Moreover, while Washington is not
a great indus trial city. there is some indus
trialism here, and our labor legislation,
while it WOULD not be important in itself.
might be made model for the rest of the
nation. We should pass, for instance a
wise employer STABILITY act for the Dis
trict of Columbia, and we need such.an act
in our navy-yar6s. Railroad companies in
the district ought to be required by law to
block their frogs.
Protection for Railway Employees.
The safety-appliance law for the better
protection of the lives and limbs of rail-
way employees, which was passed in 1899,
went into full effect on. August 1, 1901 1t
has resulted in averting thousands of
casualties. Experience shows, however, the
necessity of additional legislation to per-
feet this law. A bill to provide for this
passed the senate at the last session. 1t is
to be hoped that some such measure may
now be enacted into law.
Gratifying progress has been made dur
ing the year in the extension of the
merit system of making appointments
in the government service. 1t should be
extended by law to the District of CO.
lumbia. 1t is much to be desired that
our consular system be established by
law on basis providing for appointment
and promotion only in consequence of
proved fitness.
The New White House.
Through a wise provision of the con-
gress at its last session the white house,