The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-12-11

/
Rural Free Delivery.
The rural free-delivery service has been
| steadily extended. The attention of the
congress is asked to the question OF the
compensation of the letter carriers and
clerks engaged in the postal service, es-
| peclally on the new rural free-del1very
routes; More routes have been installed
since the first of July last than in any
IKE period in the departments history.
| Whlle due regard to economy must be
kept in mind in the establishment of new
routes, yet the extension of the rural
Iree-delivery system must be continued,
for reasons of sound public policy. No
governmental movement of recent years
mas resulted in greater immediate benefit
Rural free delivery. taken in connection
| with the telephone. the bicycle, and the
troiley. accomplishes much toward les
| SEEMING the isolation of farm life and
| making 1t brighter and more attractive.
International Expeditions.
trust that the congress will continue
TO favor in all proper ways the Louisiana
| Purchase exposition. This exposition COM
| memorates the Louisiana purchase, which
was the hrst great step In the expansion
| winch made US continental nation. The
| expedition of Lewis and Clark across the
continent followed thereon, and marked
and colonization which thrust our national
boundaries to the Pacific. The acquisition
OF the oregon country, including the pres
| ent states of Oregon and Washington, was
TACT of immense Importance in our his
| tory; nrst giving us our place on the Pa
! cine seaboard, and making ready the way
! for our ascendency in the commerce of the
! greatest of the oceans The centennial of
our establishment upon the western coast
py the expedition. of Lewis and Clark is
to be celebrated at Portland, Ore. by an
| exposition in the summer of 1905. and this
| event should receive recognition and sup
port from the national government.
Our Insular Possessions.
l recommend that an appropriation be
| made for building lighthouses in Hawaii,
| and taking possession of those already
built. The territory should be reim-
| bursed for whatever amounts it has al
ready expended for lighthouses. The
pend or remove any official appointed by
him., without submitting the matter to
/; the legislature
| OF our insular possessions the Philip
pines and Porto Rico it is gratifying to
| say that their steady progress has been
such as to make it unnecessary to spend
much time in discussing them Yet the
congress should ever keep in mind that
peculiar obligation rests upon us to
further in every way the welfare of
these communities. The Philippines
rangements. 1t would. of course, be i'm
possible suddenly to raise the people of
the islands to the high pitch of industrial
prosperity and of governmental efficiency
attain; and the caution and moderation
shown in developing them have been
among the main reasons why this devel-
opment has hitherto gone on so smooth
ly. Scrupulous care has been taken in
the choice of governmental agents, and
the entire eliminate of partisan politics
of the islanders is in material things far
better than ever before, while their gov
ernmental, intellectual and moral ad-
vance has kept pace with their material
another people more than we have bene-
fitted the F'ilipinos by taking possession
of the islands.
The Public Lands.
A gratifying disposition has been
evinced by those having unlawful in
closures of public land to remove their
fences. Nearly 100000 acres so in
closed have been thrown open on demand
In but comparatively few cases has it
complish this purpose. This work will be
vigorously prosecuted until all unlawful
Enclosures have been removed.
Experience has shown that in the west
ern states themselves, as we'll as in the
rest of the country. there is widespread
conviction that certain of the public land
laws and the resulting administrative
practice no longer meet the present needs.
The character and uses of the remaining
public lands differ widely from those of
the public lands which congress had es-
pecialIy in view when these laws were
passed. The rapidly increasing rate of
disposal of the public lands is not fol-
lowed, by a corresponding increase in
d
mass in large holdings public lands, es-
pecially timber and grazing lands. and
thereby to retard settlement. renew
and emphasize my recommendation of
last year that so far as they are available
for agriculture in its broadest sense. and
to whatever extent they may be re-
claimed under the national irrigation law,
the remaining public lands should be held
rigidly for the home builder. The atten-
ton of the congress is especially direct
ed to the timber and stone law, the
,&,&s
clause of the homestead law. which in
their operation have in many respects
conf1icted with wise public-land policy.
The discussions in the congress and else
a wide divergence of opinions between
those holding opposite views on these
subjects; and that the opposing sides
tives of weight both within and without
the congress: the differences being not
only as to matters of opinion but as to
information may be available for the use
of the congress, I have appointed COM
mission composed of w. A. Richards,
commissioner of the general land office:
forestry of the department of agricul-
ture, and F. H. Newell, chief hydrogra-
pher of the geological survey, to report
at the earliest practicable moment upon
the condition, operation and effect of the
present land laws and on the use, con-
dition. disposal and settlement of the
pubic lanQS. Inc commission Will report
especially what changes in organization,
laws, regula tiops and practice affecting
the public lands are needed to effect the
largest practicable disposition of the pub
lie lands to actual settlers who will build
permanent homes upon them, and to Sc
cure in permanence the fullest and most
effective use of the resources of the pub
lie lands: and it will make such other
reports and recommendations as its
study of these questions may suggest.
The commission is to report Immediate
ly upon those points concerning which
it's Judgment Is clear: on any point upon
which it has doubt it will take the time
necessary to make investigation and
reach final judgment.
The Army and Navy.
The effect of the laws providing a gen
eral staff for the army and for the more
effective use of the national guard has
been excellent. Great Improvement has
been made in the efficiency of our army
in recent years. Such schools as those
erected at Fort Leavenworth and Fort
Riley and the institution of fall maneuver
work accomplish satisfactory results
The good effect of these maneuvers upon
appropriation should be made to enable
the guardsmen of the several states to
share in the benefit. The government
should as soon as possible secure suitable
permanent camp sites for military man
euVerS in the various sections of the
country. The service thereby rendered
not only to the regular army, but to the
national guard of the several states will
be so great as to repay many times over
the relatively small expense. We should
not rest satisfied with what has been
hny nnIx rryl,0