The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-08

cause for satisfaction. This act the re- suit of long discussion and negotiation. places our commercial relations with the great Oriental empire on a more satle- factory footing than they have ever here tofofe enjoyed. It provides mot only for the ordinary rights and privileges of di- plomatic and consular officers. but also for an important extension of our com merce by increased facility of access to Chinese ports, and for the relief of trade by the removal of some of the obstacles which have embarrassed it in the past The Chinese government engages, on fair and equitable conditions. which will pro- bably be accepted by the principal com mercial nations. to abandon the levy of 'liken' and other transit dues through the empire. and to introduce other desir- able administrative reforms Larger f1- cilities are to be given to our citizens who desire 10 carry on mining enterprises In China. We have secured for our mission aries valuable privilege. the recognition of their right to rent and lease In perpetu- fly such property as their religious socie- l ties may need in all parts of the empire l And, what was an indispensable condi- i tion for the advance and development of our commerce in Manchuria, China by I treaty with us, has opened to foreign commerce the cities of Mukden the cap
 
 Antung an important port on the Yalu river, on the road to Korea. The full measure of development which our com merce may rightfully expect can hardly be looked for until the settlement of the 1 present abnormal state of things in the empire; but the foundation for such de- velopment has at last been laid.
 Reduction in Cost of Consular Service. call your attention to the reduced cost in maintaining the consular service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903, as shown in the annual report of the audi tor for the state and other departments. as compared with the year previous. For the year under consideration the ex- cess of expenditures over receipts on &C., count of the consular service amounted i to $26,125.12, as against s96.972.50 for the year ending June %, 1902, and s14704O.16 for the year ending June 30, 1901. This is the best showing in this respect for the . consular service for the past fourteen years, and the reduction In cost of the | service to the government has been made in spite of the fact that the expenditures for the year in question were. more than 600 greater than for the previous year.
 Rural Free Delivery Service. | The rural free delivery service has been steadily extended. The attention of con- gross is asked to the question of the com- pehsation of letter carriers and clerks en- gagged In the postal service. especially on the new rural free delivery routes. More routes have been installed since the first of July last than in any like period in the departments history. While a due regard to economy must be kept in mind in tho establishment of new routes, yet the ex-
 ision of the rural free delivery sys-
 n must be continued. for reasons of
 ind public policy. No governmental
 Hey of rseent years has resulted in
 eater immediate benefit to the people
 the country districts. Rural free de-
 very. taken in connection with the tele-
 hone, the bicycle, and the trolley. ac- complshes much toward lessening the Isolation of farm life and making 1t brighter and more attractive. In the im- mediate past the lack of just such faeil- tiles as these has driven many of the more active and more restless young men and women from the farms to the cities; for they rebelled at lonliness and lack of mental companionship. It is unhealthy and undesirable for the cities to grow at the expense of the country: and rural free delivery is not only a good thing in itself. but it is good because it Is one of the causes which check this unwholesome tendency towards the urban concentra- ton of our population at the expense of the country districts.
 Good Roads.
 { It is for the same reason that we sym pathize with and approve of the policy. of building good roads. The movement for good roads is one fraught with tha greatest benefit to the country districts.
 Louisiana Purphase Exposition.
 I trust that the congress- will continue to favor in all proper ways the Louisiana