Arizona republican., 1902-12-03

knowledge of their profession. They deserve every consideration that can be shown them. But there are not enough of them. 1t is no more possible to inn provise a crew than it is possible to improvise a war ship. To build the finest ship. with the deadliest battery. and to send it afioat with a raw crew. no matter how brave they were indi- vidually. would be to insure disaster if a foe of average capacity were en- countered. Neither ships nor men can be improvised when war has begun.
 We need a thousand additional offic- CTS in order to properly man the ships now provided for and under construct ton. The classes at the Naval school at Annapolis should be greatly en- larged. At the same time that we thus add the officers where we need them, we should facilitate the retirement of those at the head of the list whose use fulness has become impaired. Promo ton must be fostered if the service is to be kept efficient.
 The lamentable scarcity of officers, and the large number of recruits and of unskilled men necessarily put aboard the new vessels as they have been commissioned, has thrown upon our of ficers, and especially on the lieutenants and junior grades, unusual labor and fatigue and has gravely strained their powers of endurance. Nor is there sign of any immediate let-up in this strain. It must continue for some time longer, until more officers are graduated from Annapolis. and until the recruits become trained and skill full in their duties. In these difficulties incident upon the development of our war fleet the conduct of all our officers has been creditable to the service, and the lieutenants and junior. grades in particular have displayed an ability 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 necessity subjected.
 There is not cloud on the horizon at present. Thre seems not the slight est 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 thoroughly efficient navy. The refusal to maintain such a navy would invite trouble, and if trouble came would insure disaster Fatuous solf-complacency or vanity, or short sightedness in refusing to prepare for danger, is both foolish and wicked in such nation as ours; and past experi- ence has shown that such fatuity in refusing to recognize or prepare for any crises in advance is usually suc- ceeded by a mad panic of hysterical fear once the crisis has actually ar rived.
 THE POSTOFFICE.
 The sriking increase in the revenues of the postoffice department shows clearly the prosperity of our people and the Increasing activity of the business O: the country.
 The receipts of the postoffice depart ment for the fiscal year ending June 30 last amounted to s121, ,S4s. .O47 .26, an Increase of $10, ,216, S53.S7 over the pre- ceding year. the largest increase known in the history of the postal ser vice. The magnitude of this increase will best appear from the fact that the entire postal receipts for the year 1860 amount to but $s.51S,067.
 Rural free-delivery service is no longer in the experimental stage; it has become a fixed policy. The results following its introduction have fully justified the congress in the large ap- propriations made for it's establishment and extension. The average yearly in- crease in post-office receipts in the rural districts of the country 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 en- able us to make comparisons the year ly increase has been upward of ten per cent
 On November 1, 1902, II $50 rural free delivery routes had been established and We're in operation, covering about one-third of the territory of the Unit ed States available for rural free-de- livery service. There are now await ing the action of the department peti- tions and applications for the estab- lishment of 10,74S additional routes. This shows conclusively the want which the establishment of the service has met and the need of further ex- tending it as rapidly as possible. It is Justified both by the financial results and by the practical benefits to our rural population; it brings the men who live on the soil in close relations with the active business world; it 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 pleasant CT and less isolated, and will do much to check the undesirable current from country to city.
 q It is to be hoped that the congress will make liberal appropriations for the continuance of the service already es- tablished and for it's further extension.
 NATIONAL IRRIGATION.
 Few subjects of more importance have been taken up by the congress in recent years than the inauguration of the system of nationally irriga- ton for the arid regions of the far west. good beginning therein has been made. Now that this policy of national irrigation las been adopted the need of thorough and scientific forest protection will grow more rapid ly than ever throughout the public land States.
 Legislation should be provided for the protection of the game. and the wild creatures generally, on the for