The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-12-10

| treaty with China, which took place at
Shanghai on the Sth Of October, is a
cause for satisfaction. This act, the
result of long discussion and negotia-
ton, places our commercial relations
with the great Oriental Empire on a
more satisfactory footing than they
have ever heretofore enjoyed. 1t pro-
vidcs not only for the ordinary rights
and privileges of diplomatic and con-
sGlar officers, but also for an impor-
tant extension Of our commerce by in
creased 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.
l call your attention to the reduced
cost in maintaining the consular SER
vice for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1903, as shown in the annual report OF
the Auditor for the State and other
Departments, as compared with the
year previous. For the year under con-
sideration the excess Of expenditures
over receipts on account Of the con-
sular service amounted to 6,l25.l2,
as against 96,972.50 for the year end
ing June 80, 1902, and $4,000 l6
for the year ending June 80, 1901. This
is the best showing in this respect for
the consular service for the past four
teen 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 ques-
ton were more than $4,000 greater
than for the previous year.
Rural Free Delivery.
Tho froo-do1ivprv carvipa has
been steadily extended. The attention
o. the Congress is asked to the ques-
tion of the compensation OF the letter
carriers and clerks engaged in the pos
tai 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 De-
partment While due regard to econ
omy must be kept in mind in the es-
tablshment Of new routes, yet the ex-
tension of the rural free-delivery sys-
tenn must be continued, foT reasons OF
sound public policy. No governmental
movement of recent years has resulted
in greater immediate benefit to the
people of the country districts. Rural
free delivery, taken in connection with
the telephone, the bicycle, and the troll
lev. accomplishes much toward lessen
ing the isolation Of farm life and max
ing it brighter and more attractive.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
l trust that the Congress will con-
tinue to favor in all proper ways the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition. This
Exposition commentaries the Louis!-
ana purchase, which was the first great
step in the expansion which made us a
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
mense importance in our history; first
giving us our place on the Pacific sea-
board, 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 by the expedition Of Lewis and
Clark is to be celebrated at Portland,
Oregon, by an exposition in the sum-
| VI lOOC, Ouc lhlo SfShU ohNutu ~
ceive recognition and support from
the National Government.
Foreign Possessions.
1t is urged that we do all we can to
help Hawaii by constructing light
houses and helping to build up the
commercial interests Of the islands.
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 a peculiar obligation rests
upon us to further in every way the
welfare Of these communities. The
Philippines should be knit closer to US
by tariff arrangements: 1t would, OF
course, be impossible suddenly 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 IN
developing them have been among the
main reasons why this development
has hitherto gone on 80 smoothly.
Scrupulous care has been taken in the
choice of governmental agents, and
the entire elimination Of partisan poll
tics from the public service. The con-
dition Of the islanders is in material
things far better than ever before, while
their governmental, intellectual, and
moral advances has kept pace with
their material advance. No one people
ever benefited another people more
than we have benefited the Filipinos
by taking possession fthe islands.
Public Land Laws.
The cash receipts Of the General
Land Office for the last fiscal year were
$11, ,O24, ,743.65, an increase of $4,762,-
S16.47 over the preceding year. or this
sum, approximately, $S,461 ,493 will 90
to the credit of the fund for the re-
clamation Of arid land, making the
total Of this fund, up to the Goth of
June, 1903, approximately, s16,191, 1886.
A gratifying disposition has been
evinced by those having unlawful in
closures Of public land to remove their
fences. Nearly two million acres so in
closed have been thrown open on de-
! rnand In huf cOm M r. tively fow nacac