Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-08
THE MESSAGE.
Continued from page ~

treaty with us has opened 10 foreign
commerce the cities of Mukden. the
capital of the province Of Manchuria.
and Antung, an important port on the
Yalu river, on the road to Korea. The
full measure of development which our
commerce may rightfully expect can
hardly be looked for until the settle
ment of the present abnormal state Of
things in the empire, but the founda-
ton for such development has at last
been laid.
/ call your attention to the reduced
cost in maintaining the consular service
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1903,
as shown in the annual report of the
auditor for the state and other depart
ments, as compared with the year previ-
GUS. For the year under consideration
the excess of expenditures over receipts
on account Of the consular service
amounted to 500, 1852 as against $780,
9125O for tlG year ending June 80,
1902, and $147, 04O.16 for the year end
ing June 80. 1901. This is the best
showing in this respect for the consular
service for the past fourteen years, and
the reduction in the 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
$4,000 greater than for the previous
year.
Rural Free Delivery Service.
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 car
riers and clerks engaged in the postal
service. especially on the new rural
free delivery routes. More routes have
been installed since the LIST of July
last than in any like period in the de-
partments history. While q due re-
gard to economy must be kept in mind
in the establishment Of new routes, yet
the extension of the rural free delivery
system must be continued for reasons
Of sound public policy. No govern
mental movement of recent years has
resulted in greater immediate benefit
to the people of the country districts.
Rural free delivery, taken in connec-
ton with the telephone, the bicycle and
the trolley, accomplishes much toward
lessening the isolation of farm life and
making it brighter and more attractive.
In the immediate past the lack Of just
such facilities as these has driven
many Of the more active and restless
young men and women from the farms
to the cities, for they rebelled at lone
illness and lack of mental companion
ship. 1t is unhealthy and undesirable
for the cities to grow at the expense of
the country, and rural free delivery is
not only good thing in itself, but is
good because it is one Of the causes
which check this unwhOlesome tenden-
cy toward the urban concentration of
our population at the expense of the
country districts. 1t is for the same
reason that we sympathize with and
approve Of the policy of building good
roads. The movement for good roads
is one fraught with the greatest benefit
to the country districts.
trust that the congress will con-
tinuc to favor in all proper ways the
Louisiana Purchase exposition. This
exposition commentaries the Louisi-
ana purchase, which was the first great
step in the expansion which made us
continental nation. The expedition of
Lewis and Clark across the continent
followed thereon and marked the be-
ginning Of the process of exploration
and colonization which thrust our ma
tional boundaries to the Pacific. The
acquisition of the Oregon country, in
Guiding the present states Of Oregon
and Washington. was a fact of i'm
mcnsc Importance in our history, first
ID giving us our place on the Pacific sea-
Ssboard and making ready the way for
oilEascendcncy in the commerce of the
grentes of the oceans. The centennial
of our establishment upon the western
coast by 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 support from the ma
tional government.
Development Of Alaska.
call your special attention 10 the
territory of Alaska. The country is de
veloping rapidly. and it has an assured
future. The mineral wealth is great
and has rs yet hardly been tapped. The
fisheries il wisely handled and kept I'M
der national control will be business
as permanent as any other and of the
utmost importance 10 the people. The
forests if properly guarded will form
another great source of wealth. Por
tions of Alaska are fitted for farming
and stock raising. although the meth
DDS must be adapted TO the peculiar
conditions of the country. Alaska is sit
uated in the far north. but so are Nor
way and Sweden and Finland. and
Alaska can prosper and play its part in
the new world just rs those nations
have prospered and played their parts in
the old world. Proper land laws should
be enacted and the survey of the public
lands immediately begun. Coal land laws
should be provided whereby the coal
land entryman may make his location
end secure patent under methods kin
1rnS1 IN fhoap NOW ,,pcccrihnd fo,. homo