The Yale expositor., 1903-12-11


and Alaska can prosper and play its part
ia the New World Just as those nations
have prospered ana played their parts
In the Old World. Proper land laws
should be enacted. ana the survey OF the
public lands Immediately begun. Coal
land laws should be provided whereby
tho coal-land entryman may make his
location and secure patent under meth
DDS kindred Ia those now prescribed Tor
homestead and mineral entrymen. Sal
mon hRtcheries. exclusively under Gov
eminent control. should be established.
The cable should be extended from Sitka
westward. Wagon roads and trails
should be built. and the building OF rail-
roads promoted Iva all legitimate ways
Light houses should be built along the
coast. Attention should be paid To the
needs of the Alaska Indians. provision
should be made for an officer, with depu-
ties. TO study their needs, relieve their
Immediate wants, and help them adapt
themselves Ia the new conditions.
The commission appointed To investi-
gate. during the season OF 1905, the con-
dition and needs Of the Alaskan salmon
fisheries. has finished It's work In the
Held. and IN preparing detailed report
thereon. A preliminary report rcciting
the measures Immediately required FOR
the protection and preservation OF the
salmon industry has already been sub
mitted TO the Secretary OF Commerce and
Labor FOR his attention and for the needed
action.
Hawaii.
recommend that an appropriation DE
made for building lighthouses la Hawaii
and taking possession 81 those already
built. The Territory should be reim-
bursed for whatever amounts IL has al
ready expended FOR lighthouses. The
governor should be empowered to sus-
pend or r, move any official appointed by
him. without submitting the matter to
the Legislature.
The Philippines and Porto Rico.
OF our lnsular possessions the Philip
pines and Porto Rico II II gratifying to
say that their steady progress has heen
such a Co make "a unnecessary TO spend
much time In discussing them. Yet the
Congress should ever keep an mind that
a peculiar obligation rests upon us to
further In every way the welfare OF these
communities. The Philippines should be
ki.it closer Ia IL by tarin arrangements.
II would. OF course. he Impossible sud
denly to raise the people OF the Islands To
the high pitch Of industrial, prosperity
and OF governmental efficiency to which
they will in the end by degrees attain; .
and the caution and moderation shown
Ia developing them have been among
the main reasons why this development
has hitherto gone On 70 smoothly. Scru-
puiods care has been taken IN the choice
OF governmental agents. ana the entire
elimination OF partisan politics from the
public service. The condition OF the
islanders - In material things far better
than ever before. while their govern
mental Intellectual. and moral advance
has kept pace with their material adj
vance. No one people ever benefited an
other people more than We have bene-
nted the Filpinos by taking possession
of the islands.
Receipts OF General Land office.
The cash receipts Of the General Land
ONCE for the last fiscal year were Ni.-
O24.7i36s. an increase OF u162. Si6F over
the preceding year. OF this sum. approx
imately. p.46i.ts3 will 80 TO the credit
of the fund for the reclamation 90 arid
land. making the total OF this fund. up
90 the 9Oth OF June. 1903 approximately.
SIC. .S36
A gratifying disposition has been
evinccd by those having unlawful In
closures Of public land To remove their
fences. Nearly two million acres 90 IN
closed have been thrown open on de-
mand. In hut comparatively few cases
has 10 been necessary 10 80 into court
10 accomplish this purpose This work viii
BE- vigorously prosecuted until all unlaw-
full Enclosures have been removed.
Experience has shown that In the west
crn states themselves. as well as Ia the
rest OF the country. there IL widespread
conviction that certain OF the publlc-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 nad especially IN view when
these laws were passed. The rapidly In
crcasinE rate OF disposal Of the public
lands is not followed by a corresponding
increase In the home building. There is
"a tendency To mass In large holdings pub
lie lands. especially timber and grazing
lands. and thereby 10 Tetard settlement
/ renew and emphasize my recommended
ton OF last year that 80 far as they are
available for agriculture In It's brOadesi
sense and To whatever extent they may
be reclaimed under the national irriga-
ton law. the remaining public lands
should be held rigidly for the home
builder. The attention OF the Congress Is
especially directed To- the timber and
stone law. the descrt-land law. and ths
Communication clause Of the homestead
law. which In their operation have IN
many respects confiicted with wise pub
iceland policy. The discussions Ia the
Congress and elsewhere have made II
evident that there is Wide divergence
of opinions between those holding oppo-
site views on these subjects. and that
the opposing sides have strJng and CON
WINGED representatives OF weight both
within and without the Congress; the
differences being not only as TO matters
OF opinion but as To matters OF fact 10
order that definite Information may b,
available for the use of the Congress.
have appointed commission composed
Of w a Richards. Commissioner of IN,
General Land Office. clifford pinchot
chief of The Bureau Of Forestry OF a.,
Department OF Agriculture. and r. IA
Newell. chief photographer of the Geo
logical Survey. To report IA the earliest
practicable moment upon the condition
operation and effect OF the present land
laws and on the use. condition. disposal
and settlement 81 the public lands Ths
commission will report especially wha
changes in organization. laws. regula
lions. and practice affecting the public
lands are needed To- effect the largest
practicable disposition Of the public land'
Co actual settlers who viii build per
mancnt homes upon them. and To secure
tn pcrmancnce the fullest and most 81
fcctlvc use % the resources 81 the pub
DC lands: and u Will make such other re-
ports and recommendations as rs study
Of these questions may suggest Th'
commission is TO report Immediately up
on those points concerning which iti
judgment 81 clear. on any point upof
which Il mas doubt II Will take the Tins
necessary 20 make tuveHtiRafiou ant