The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-08

l.
leges of diplomatic and consular Of
ficers, but also for an important ex-
tension of our commerce by increased
facility of access to Chinese ports and
for the relief of trade by the removal
of some of the obstacles which have
embarra ssed it in the past. The Chi
nese government engages on fair nd
equitable conditions, which will prob
ably be accepted by the principal COM
mercial nations, to abandon the lew.
of "liken" and other desirable admin
istrative reforms. Larger facilities are
to be given to our citizens who desire
TO carry on mining enterprises in China.
We have secured for our missionaries
a valuable privilege, the recognition of
their right to rent and lease in per-
petuity such property as their religious
societies may need in all parts of the
empire. And, what was an indispen-
sable condition for the advance and
development of our commerce in Man-
churia, China, by treaty with us, mas
opened to foreign commerce the cities
of Mukden, the capital of the proVince
of Manchuria, and Antung, an inn
portant 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 settlement of the
present abnormal state of things in
the empire; but the foundation for such
development has at last been laid.
Reduction in Consular Expenses.
l call your attention to the reduced
cost in maintaining the consular serv-
ice for the fiscal year ending June 30
1903, as shown in the annual report of
the auditor of the State and other
departments, as compared with the
year previous. For the year under
consideration the excess of expendi-
lures over receipts on account of the
consular service amounted to $26125I9
as against $96,972.50 for the year end
ing June 80, 1902, and $147, 04O.16 for the
year ending 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 ex-
penditures for the year in question We're
more than $4,000 greater than for the
previous year.
The rural free delivery service has
been steadily extended. The atten-
ton of the Congress is asked to the
question of the compensation of. the
letter carriers and clerks engaged in
the postal service, especially on the
new rural free delivery routes. More
routes have been installed since July
last than in any like period in the
departments history. While a 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 contin-
ued, for reasons of sound public pol
icy. No governmental movement of
recent years has resulted in greater
Immediate benefit to the people of
the country districts. Rural free de-
livery taken in connection with the
telephone, the bicycle, and the trolley,
accomplishes much toward lessening
the isolating of farm life and making
1t 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 COM
panionship. 1t is unhealthy and I'M
desirable 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 it Is
one of the causes which check this
unwholesome tendency towards the
urban concentration of our popula-
tion at the expense of the country dis
tricts. 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.
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
lane 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 beginning of the process
of exploration and colonization which
thrust our national boundaries to the
racine. The acquisition of the. Ore
gon country, including the present
states of Oregon and, Washington
was fact of immense importance in
our history; first giving US our place
on the Pacific seaboard, and making
ready the way for our aScendency in
the commerce of the greatest of the
oceans. The centennial of our es-
adjustment 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
tlonal government. E a-
l call your special attention to the
territory of Alaska The country is
developing rapidly, and it has an as
sured future. The mineral wealth is
great and has as yet hardly been
tapped. The fisheries, if wisely
handled and kept under national con-
troll, Will be a business as permanent
as any other, and of the utmost i'm
portance to the people. The forests if
properly guarded will form another
great source of wealth. Portions of
Alaska are fitted for farming and
stock raising, although the methods
must be adapted to the peculiar con-
dltions of the country. Alaska is sit
uated in the Far North: but so are
Norway and Sweden and Finland;
and Alaska can prosper and play it's
part in the New World just as 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 Immediate
ly begun. Coa-land laws should be
provided whereby the coal-land en-
tryman may make his location and
secure patent under methods kindred
to those now prescribed for home
stead and mineral entrymen. SAL
mon hatcheries, exclusively under
government control, should be estab-
Nshed. The cable should be extend
ed from Sitka westward. Wagon
roads and trails should be built, and
the building of railroads promoted in
all legitimate ways Light houses
should be built along the coast. At
tention should be paid to the needs
Of the Alaska Indians: provision
.fAI.