Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-12-19

the year under consideration the excess
of expenditures over receipts on account
1z5-12. against SIS. 9zz- 80 for the year
ending June 3d. 1902. and H47. O40-16 for the
year ending June 20. 1901 This is the
best showing in this respect for TIE coma
sular service for the past fourteen years.
and the reduction In the cost of the serv-'
ice 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
Congress is asked to the question of the
compensation of the letter carriers and
clerks engaged in the postal service, es-
pecfaily on the new rural free-denvery
routes More routes have been installed
since the first of July last than in any
like period IN the departments history
While due regard 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
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
trolley. accomplishes much toward les
SEEMING the isolation of farm life and max
ing 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 loneliness and lack of
mental ,companionship. 1t is unhealthy
and undesirable for the cities to grow at
the expense of the country, and rural
free delivery is not only a good thing
in itself but is good because 1T is one
of the causes which check this unwhole-
centration of our population at the ex-
pense of the country districts. 1t is for
the same reason that we sympa thize 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.
In the Philippines and Porto Rico,
it is declared, steady progress is being
made and the condition of the island
ers already has been materially adj
vanced.
Receipts of General Land Office.
On the subject of the public lands
of the country the message says:
The cash receipts of the General Land
Office for the last fiscal year were s11,-
the preceding year OF this sum. approx
imate4y, ss,461 493 will go to the credit
of the fund for the reclamation of arid
land, making the total of this fund up
to the 3Oth of June, 1903 approxima tely,
SIG. 191. $50.
A gratifying disposition has been
closures of public land to remove their
fences. Nearly two million acres so in
closed have been thrown open on oe-
mand- In but comDara lively few cases
has it been necessary to go into court
to accomplish this purpose. This work will
be vigorously prosecuted until all unlaw
full Enclosures have been removed.
Irrigation.
Tie work of reclamation of the arid
lands of the West is progressing steadily
and satisfactorily under the terms of
the law setting aside the proceeds from
the disposal of public lands The corps of
Service, which is conducting the surveys
and examinations, has been thoroughly
organized, especial pains being taken to
secure under the civil-service rules a
body of skilled experienced, and efficient
men. Surveys and examinations
progressing throughout the arid states
and territories. plans for retaining works
being prepared and passed upon by
boards of engineers before approval by
the Secretary of the Interior. In Arizona
and Nevada. in localities where such
work is pre-eminently needed construc-
ton has already been begun In other
parts of the arid West various projects
are well advanced toward the drawing
up of contracts. these being delayed in
part by necessities of reaching agree
ments or understanding regards rights
of way acquisition of real estate Most
of the works contemplated for construc-
ton are Of national Importance invo1v
ing interstate questions the securing
OF stable, Se1-SuppOrtlnS communities IN
the midst of vast tracts of vacant land.
The Nation whole is of course the
gamer by the creation of these homes,
adding they do to the wealth and sta
bility CT the country. and furnishing
home market for the products of the East
ana South The reclamation law, while
perhaps not ideal. appears at present to
answer the larger needs for which it is
designed. Further legislation is not rec
commended until the necessities of change
are more apparent
Preservation of Forests.
The President points out the neces-
sity of taking steps for the preserva-
ton of our forests, especially at the
headwaters of streams. OF the cotton
weevil he says:
The cotton growing States have
Gently been invaded by weevil that has
done much damage and threatens the
Congress the prompt enactment of such
remedial legislation as its judgment may
approve
Isthmian Canal.
The causes leading up to the estab-
lishment of the new republic of Pan
anna, and its recognition by the
United States are given in much de-
tail, as follows:
BY the act of June IS. 1902 the Con-
gress authorized the President to enter
into treaty with Colombia for the build
Panama. it being provided that in the
event of failure to secure such treaty
after the lapse of reasonable time.
course should be had to building canal
necessary consider this alternative. as
1 am enabled to lay before the Senate
a treaty providing for the building of the
canal across the Isthmus of Panama