The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-03

steadfast cheerfuness which entities
them to the ungruding thanks of all
who realize the disheartening trials ana
fatigues to which they are of necessity
subjected.
There is not cloud on the horizon at
present. There seems not the slightest
chance of trouble with a 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 erllcient navy. The refusal
to maintain such a navy would invite
trouble, and If trouble came would in
sure disaster. Fatuous self-complacency
or vanity or ort-sightedness in refus-
ing to prepare for danger. is both foolish
and wicked in such a nation as ours; and
past experience has shown that such ia
tuity in refusing to recognize or prepare
for any crisis In advance is usually sue
ceeded by a mad panic of hysterical fear
once the crisis has actually arrived.
PosToFFlcE DEPARTMENT.
The striking increase In the revenues of
the postoffice department shows clearly
the prosperity of our people and the in
creasing activity of the business of the
country.
The receipts of the postoffice depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 30
last amounted to 1921, S48. &c. an increase
of $10,sl6 S53.S7 over the preceding year.
the largest increase known in the history
| of the postal service The magnitude of
this increase will best appear from the
fact that the entire postal receipts for
| the year 1860 amounted to but $S51S,067.
| Rural free-delivery service is no longer
| in the experimental stage; 1t 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 incrpasp IN nOafOfffoa ra-
| ceipts In the rural districts of the coun-
| try is about per cent. We are now able
by actual results, to show that where
rural free-delivery service has been es-
tablished to such an extent as to enable
us to make comparisons the yearly in
crease has been upward of 10 per cent.
On November l. 1902, IL $50 rural free
delivery routes had been established and
were in operation, covering about one
| third of the territory of the United States
| available for rural free-delivery service.
| There are now awaiting the action Of the
department petitions and applications for
| the establishment OF 1918 additional
routes. This shows ccnclusively the want
| which the establishment of the service
| has met and the need of further extend
| ing 1t as rapidly as possible. 1t is Jus
| titled both by the financial results and by
the practical benefits to our rural popula-
ton: 1t brings the men who live on the
| Soh III SloSS EeidllOnS Win the active
| business world: 1t keeps the farmer in
daily touch with the markets; it is a po-
| tential educational force:'it enhances the
| value or farm property, makes farm life
| far pleasanter and less Isolated. and will
do much to check the undesirable cur
| rent from country to city.
1t is to be hoped that the congress will
make liberal appropriations for the con-
tinuance of the service already estab-
lished and for its further extension.
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-
ginning therein has been made. Now
that this policy of national irrigation has
| been adopted. the need of thorough and
scientific forest protection will grow
more rapidly than ever throughout the
public-land states.
Legislation should be provided for the