Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-08

bly, be accepted by the principal COM
mercial nations, to abandon the levy Of
"liken" and other transit dues through
out the empire and to introduce other
desirable administrative reforms. Lar
ger facilities are to be given to our citi-
zens who desire to carry on mining en-
terprises in China. We have secured
for our missionaries valuable privi-
lege, the recognition of their right to
rent and lease in perpetuity such prop
erty as their religious societies may
need in all parts of the empire. And
what was an Indispensable condition
for the advance and development Of
our commerce in Manchuria, China, by
treaty with us has opened to foreign
commerce the cities of Mukden. the
capital of the province of Manchuria,
and Antung, an important port on the
1alu 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 30, 1903,
as shown in the annual report of the
auditor for the state and other depart
ments, us 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 $26.125.12 as against $780,
072.50 for the year ending June 80.
1902, and Sill, 04O16 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
4 free delivery routes. More routes have
4 been installed since the 1st of July
j last than in any like period in the de-
, partments history. While a due, re-
4 gard to economy must be kept in mind
| in the establishment of new routes, yet
1.-THE extension of the rural free, delivery,
system must, be continued for reasons
4 Of sound public policy. Ne govern.
4 mental movement of recent, years has
resulted in greater Immediate benefit
to the people of the country districts.
Rural free delivery. taken IN tonnec-
/ ton with the telephone, the bicycle and
the trolley, accomplishes much toward
lessening the isolation of farm life and
Emaking 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 lach of mental companion
ship. 1t is unhealthy and undesirable
4
i the country, and rural free delivery is
tpot only good thing in itself. but is
,Igoodg because it is one Of the trauses
(which scheck this unwholesomd teilflen-
5ey toward theaurban concentration Of
n our population at the expense sef The
deountry districts. 1t is forhhes same
reason that we sympatllize iwfthrand
lapprove Of the,policy of building good
roads. The movement for good roads
dis one fraughtiwith the greatest benefit
\ to- the country districts. u s7aaf
j,sI trust thattithe congress will con
tinue to favor in all proper ways the
ILouisiana Purchase exposition. This
deposition commentaries the Louisi-
lana purchase, which was the first great
4 step in the expansion which made us a
continental nation. The expedition Of
4 Lewis and Clark across the continent
followed thereon and marked the be-
4 ginning of theGprocess of exploration
land colonization (which thrust our ma
/ tional boundaries to the Pacific. The
acquisition of tue Oregon country, in
Guiding the present states of Oregon
mense Importance in our history. first
giving us our place on the Pacific sea-
board and making ready the way for
our ascendency III the commerce of the
4 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,
lore, by an exposition in the summer
/ of 1905, and this event should receive
recognition and support from the ma
tional government.
Development of Alaska.
4 / call your special attention to the
territory of Alaska. The country is de-
4 veloping rapidly,tand it has an assured
i future. The mineral wealth is great
and has rs yet hardly been tapped. The
fisheries If wisely handled and kept I'M
/ der national control will. be a business
as permanent as any other and of the
utmost Importance to 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
/ obs must bn oInntnI IN tho T.