La Junta tribune., 1903-12-12

the year under consideration the excess |
OF the consular service amounted to t26.-
ls5.ls. as against So ,2-s0 for the year
ending June 80. 1902, and Sl&5. .oso 16 for the
year ending June 20. 1901 This 10 the
best showing in this respect for the con-
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
10000 grea ter than for the previous year.
Rural Free-0eiivery Service.
The rural free-deivery service has been
steadily extended. The attention of the
Congress is asked to the question OF the
compensation OF the letter carriers and
clerks engaged In the postal service. es-
pecially 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 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-dclisery system must be continued.
for reasons of sound public policy. No
governmental movement of recent years
has resulted in greater immediate benent
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-
sening the Isolation of farm life and max
ing 1t brighter and more attractive. In
the immediate past the lack of Just such
facilities 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 n good thing
In itself. but IL good because II Is one
of the causes which check this unwhole-
some tendency towards the urban con-
centration of our population ut the ex-
pense of the country districts. 1t Is for
the same reason that we sympnthize 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-
vanccd.
Receipts Of General Land offiee.
On the subject OF the public lands
| OF the country the message says:
The cash receipts of thu General land
| Office for the last fiscal year were ILL.,
| oei. .65. m increase Of H'd2,sl6.F over
| tho preceding year. OF this sum. approx
| imately, 8. .isi sa3 Will go to the credit
| of the fund for the reclamation of arid
| land. making the total of this fund. up
| to the 30th OF June. 1906. approximately
| si6 $50
gratifying disposition has been
cvinced by those having unlawful In
closures of public lend to remove their
| fences. Nearly two million acres 80 In
| closed have been thrown open on ne-
mand. In but comparatively few cases
| has II been necessary TO 20 into court
| to accomplish this purpose This work will
| be vigorously prosecuted until all unlaw-
| ful inclosures have been removed.
irrigation.
TIE work of reclamation of the arid
| lands OF the Weat 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 tho Reclamation
| Service. which is conducting the surveys
and examinations. has been thoroughly
| organized. especial pains being taken to
secure under the civll-scrvice rules n
| body OF skilled. experienced. and efficient
men. Surveys and examinations
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
| ana 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
l
| ments or understanding as regards rights
| of way or acquisition OF real estate Most
| of the works contemplated for construc-
| tion are Of national importance. involv-
| ing Interstate questions or the securing
| of stable, seIf-supportlng communities In
| the midst OF vast tracts OF vacant land.
| The Nation as a whole Is OF course the
. gamer by the creation OF these homes.
| adding they do to the wealth and sta
| bility CT tho country. and furnishing n
| home market for the products of the East
| ana South. Tho reclamation law. while
| perhaps not ideal. appears at present to
answer the larger needs for which 1t Is
| designed. Further legislation Is not rec
commended until the necessities Of change
| ara more apparent.
Preservation Of Forests.
| The President points ont 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 a weevii that has
done much damage and threatens the
| entire cotton industry. I suggest to the
| Congress the prompt enactment Of ouch
remedial legislation as Its Judgment may
approve.
isthn,isn 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 g. 1879. the Con-
| eress authorized the President to enter
| into treaty with Colombia for the build
| Ing of the canal across the Isthmus of
| Panama: IL being provided that In the
| event OF faiiure to secure such treaty
i after the lapse of n reasonable time.
| course should be had to building a canal
| through Nicaragua il has not been
! necessary to consider this alternative. as
| I am enabled to lay before the Senate
| a treaty providing for the building of the
| canal across the Isthmus of Panama.
| This was the route which commended
| itself to the deliberate judgment of the
| engress. and We can now acquire by