The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-07

governmental movement OF recent years
has resulted In greater immediate bene-
nt 10 the people of the country districts.
Rural free delivery taken In connection
With the telephone, tho bicycle and the
trolley. accomplshes ipuch toward less
ening the Isolation of farm life ana max
ing II brighter and more attraciive' Ih
the immediate past ne lack " just such
facilities as these has driven many OF
thA moro active and rest1c - young men
~ they rebclled 1T loneliness and lack
O. mental companionship. IL ts unhealthy
sNI undesirable Tor the cities 10 grow
at the expense OF tho country. and rural
itse bat rs good because II is one or
tho 'anScs which check this unwhole-
SOM tendency towards the urban con-
pense OF the country districts IL IN Tor
the same reason that We sympatnlze
with aud approve OF the policy. Of build,
roads Is one fraught with the greatest
benefit 10 the country districts.
THE EXPosfTfoNs.
90 favor in all proper ways the LOUISIANA
Purchase exposition, This exposition
commentaries the Louisiana purchase,
which was tho first great step n the eN-
psneion which made us a continental n<-
lion. The expedition OF Lewis and clark
across the continent followed thereon.
and marked the beginning OF the process
of exploration and colonization. which
thrust our national boundaries TO tho Pa
rific. The acquisition OF the oregon coul-
try, including tho present states OF ore
gon and Washington. was fact OF I'M
pnenso imports iu our historyi hrst
giving us q place OH the Pacific seaboard,
and making ready tho way Tor our as
tendency In the commerce OF tho great
est OF tile oceans The centennial az our
establishment upon the western coast by
the expedition of Lewis and Clark - TO
be celebrated 81 Portland. oregon. by an
event should receive recognition and sup
port from the national government.
ALASKAN DEVELOPMENT.
I call your special attention 20 the ter
Yitory OF Alaska. Tho country s develop
Ing rapidly, and IL has an assured future.
The mineral wealth Is great and has as
yet hariiy been tapped. Tho nshories. IL
wisely handled and kept under national
control, will be- a business as permanent
as any other. and of the utmost import
ance 10 the people. The forests IL prop
efly guarded will form another great
source OF wealth. Portions Of Alaska are
fitted for farming and stock raising al
though the methods must 6c adapted to
the peculiar conditions OF the country.
Alaska In situated I'm the far north: but
90 are Norway and Sweden and Finland.
and Alaska can prosper and play It's
part In the New World just as those ma
sion have prospercd and played their parts
IN the Old World. Proper land laws should
be enacted: and the survey Of the public
3ands Immediately begun. Coal-land laws
shouid be provided whereby the coal-lsnd
estry1nan may make his location and Sc
cure patent under methods kindred 10
those now prescribed for homestead and
mineral entrymen. Salmon hatchcrics.
exclusively under government control.
should be established. The cable should
: be extended from q4tlal westward Wagon
roads and trails should be built. and the
building OF railroads promoted I'm ell lc-
xitimate ways Lighthouses should he
built along the cost. Attention should be
paid TO the needs OF the Alaska Indians
provision should be made for an officer.
with deputies, 60 study their needs re-
lieve their immediate wants. and help
them adapt themselves 10 the new con-
ditions.
The commission appointed 10 invosti-
gate, during the season OF 1903. the copdi-
ton and needs of the Alaskan salmon
hsheries. has finished it's work i'm the field
and IL preparing detailed report thereon.
A preliminary report reciting the meas
ures Immediately required for the pro-
lection and preservation OF the salmon in
dustry has already been submitted 10 the
secretary OF commence and labor for his
attention and for the needed action.
FOR HAWAII.
recommend that an appropriation be
made for building lighthouses In Hawaii
and taking possession of those already
built. The territory should be reimbursed
eor whatever amounts n has already ex
pended for lighthouses. The governor
should be empowered 10 suspend or re
move any official appointed by him. with
out submitting the matter 10 the legis
aature.
PHILIPPINES AND PORTO RICO.
OF our insular possessions the Philip
pines and Porto Rico IT is gratifying e
say that their steady progress has beer
such a. 20 make IL unnecessary 10 spent
much time I'm discussing them. Yet an,
congress- should ever KEEP in mind tha
n peculiar obligation rests upon us tc
further in every way the welfare OF these
communities. The Philippines should bs
knit closer 20 us by tariff arrangements
IL would, OF course be impossible. sud
denly TO raise the people OF the islands
20 the high pitch OF industrial prosperity
and OF governmental efficiency 90 which
they Will In the end by degrees attain; and
the caution and moderation shown I'm de-
veloping them have been among the main
reasons why this development has hithcr-
60 gone on so smoothly Scrupulous caro-
has been taken I'm the choice OF govern
mental agents. and tho entire elimination
cf partisan politics from the public SER
Vice The condition OF the islanders q
IN material things far better than ever
before. while their governmental. intellec-
ttial, and moral advance has kept pace
with their material advance. No one peo-
pie ever benefited another people more
Than we have benefited tho Fiiipinos by
taking possession OF the islands.
LAND OFFICE RECEIPTS.
The cash receipts Of the General Land
offico for the last fiscal year were sli .024 i.
sf3so. an increase of A,762 sls.s7 over IN,
preceding year. or this SIM approximate
~, S.i6l.4sS will go 60 the credit OF th,
fund Tor the reclamation OF arid land
making the total OF this fund, up 10 IN.
soth OF June. 1909 approximately
1855.
A gratifying disposition has been evince,
by those having unlawful Enclosures q
public land 90 remove their fences. Nearl-
two million acres so inclosed have bee,