The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1903-12-11

the immediate past the lack of Just such
facilities as these las driven many of tho
more active and restless young men and
women from the farms to the cities; for
they rebeled at loneliness and lack OF
mental companlonshp. 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 It Is one
of the causes which check this unwhole-
some tendency towards the urban con-
centration OF our population at the ex-
pense of the country districts. Ii 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.
In the Philippines and Porto Rico.
1t is declared, steady progress is being
made and the condition of the island
ers already has been materially ad
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 ST.
02i.H3.65. an increase of si,762 sl6.i7 over
the preceding year. or this sum- approx
imately, sSi6l 1873 will go to the credit
of the fund for the reclamation OF arid
land. making the total of this fund. up
TO the goth of June. 1903, approximately.
SIS. lgl 1886.
A gratifying disposition has been
eviaced by those having unlawful In
closures OF public land to remove their
fences. Nearly two million acres 80 in
closed have been thrown open on de-
mand. In but comparatively few cases
has 1t been necessary to go into court
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
engineers known as the Reclamation
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 are
progressing throughout the arid states
and territories, plans for reclaiming 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-emlnently needed, construc-
ton has already been begun. In other
parts of the arid West various projects
are we'll advanced toward the drawing
up of contracts. these being delayed In
part by necessities of reaching agree
ments or understanding as regards rights
of way or acquisition of real estate. Most
of the works contemplated for construc-
ton are of national Importance. involv-
Ing interstate questions or the securing
of stable, self-supportlng communities In
tIa t,alt Lot .F. - lnt.l
The Nation as a whole is of course the
gairer by the creation OF these homes,
adding as they do to the wealth and sta
bility Of 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 II Is
designed. Further legislation is not rec
commended until the necessities Of change
are moro 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. or the cotton.
weevil he says:
The cotton growing States have re-
Gently been invaded by n weevil that has
done much damage and threatens the
entire cotton industry. ] suggest to the
Congress the prompt enactment of such
remedial legislation as its judgment may
approve.
The Philippines and Porto Rico.
OF our insular possessions tho Philip
pines and Porto Rico It is gratifying TO
say that their steady progress has been
such ms TO make 1t unnecessary To spend
much lime 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 he
knit closer 10 us by tariff arrangements
IL would OF course he impossible sud
denly TO raise tile people Of the islands to
the high pitch Of Industrial prosperity
and Of governmental efficiency to which
they viii 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 % smoothly Scru-
pulous care has been taken In the choice |
OF governmental agents, and the entire
elimination OF partisan politics from the
public service. The condition of the
Islanders Is 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 haV. benc-
fitted the Filipinus by taking poss. sSlon
Of the Islands,
The message continues;
safety.Appiianoe Law.
In my last annual message the nttcn-
tion Of the Congress WAS called TO the
necessity Of enlarginE the safety. appliance
law, aud II II gratifying To note tina, this
law was amended In important respects,
Win the Increasing railwny mileage OF
the country, the greater number OF men
employed, and the use OF larger and
heavier equipment the urgency for re-
u"wed effort TO prevent the loss ~ life
and limb upon the railroads OF the coun-
tis particularly to employees ID apparent
For the Inspection Of water craft and
the Life Saving Service upon the water
the Congress has built IN an elaborate
body Of protective legislation aud a
thorough method Of Inspection and Ia an.
nunlly spending large sums Of money. II
II encouraging to observe that the Con.
gross Is alive To the interests ~ those
who m" employed upon our wonderful
arteries Of commemorative failrondH-who
- safely transport millions of pnHscn-
gers and billions of tons Of freight, The
F"d"fpl Inspection Of safety appliances.
for which the Congress Is now making
appropriations, u a service analogous To
that which the Government has upheld
for generations In regard 10 vessels and
II u believed viii prove Of great practical
benefit, both 10 railroad employees and
the travelling public A. the greater part
of commerce II interstate and exclusively
under tho control at the Congress the
needed safety and uniformity must be 10.
cured ~ national legislation,
isthmlan Canal,
Tho causes leading up 10 tho osiab.
lishmcnt of the new republic OF Pan.
ANA, and it, recognition by the
United States are given In much dc,
tail. na follows;
ny tho act Of June - ipis, Tho Con.
nrezn authorized the President IN enter
INTO treaty with Colombia Tor tho build.
ina at tho canal scross the trihmus OF
Panama. u being provided that In tho