The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-08

mission Is to report immediately upon those points concerning which it's iudg- ment is clear. on any point upon which it has doubt 1t will take the time necessary to make investigation and reach final judgment.
 Irrigation.
 The 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 p1blic lands. The corps of engineers known as the reclamation ser vice, which is conducting the surveys and examinations. has been thoroughly or ganized especial pains being taken to se- cure under the civil service rules a body of skilled, experienced and efficient men. Surveys and examinations are progress ing throughout the arid states and terri tories. plans for reclaiiBing works being prepared and passed upon by boards of engineers before approval by the secre- tary of the interior. In Arizona and Ne vada, in localities where such work is pre-eminently needed. construction has already been begun. In other parts of the arid west various projects are well ad- vanced towards the drawing up of con tracts. these being delayed in part by the necessities of reaching agreements or un- derstanding Is regards rights of way or acquisition of real estate. Most of the works contemplated for construction are Of national importance, involving inter- state questions of the securing of stabe self-supporting communities In the midst of vast tracts of vacant land. The nation as a whole is of course the gainer by the creation of these homes. adding as they do to the wealth and stability of the country, and furnishing a home market for the products Of the east and the south. The reclamation law, while per- haps not ideal. appears at present to an- swer the larger needs for which it Is de- signed Further legislation is not recom- mended until the necessities of change are more apparent.
 Preservation of Forests.
 The study of the opportunities of re- clamation of the vast extent of arid land shows that whether this reclamation is done by individuals. corporations or the state. the sources of water supply must be effectively protected and the reservoirs guarded by the preservation of the for ests at the headWaters of the streams. The engineers making the preliminary eX- aminations continually emphasize this need and urge that the remaining public lands at the headwaters of the important streams of the west be reserved to insure pcrmanency of water supply for rriga- ton. Much progress in forestry has been made during the past year The necessity for perpetuating our forest. resources, whether in public or private hands, is rec ognlzed now as never before. The de- mand for forest reserves has become in- sistent in the west, because the west must use the water, wood. and summer range which only such reserves can supply. Pro gressive lumbermen are striving. through forestry, to give their business perma- nence'. Other great business interests are awakening to the need of forest preserva- ton as business matter. The govern ments forest work should receive from the congress hearty support, and especial ly support adequate for the protection of the forest reserves against fire. The for est reserve policy of the government has passed beyond the experimental stage and has reached a condition where seieEtihc methods are essential to It's successful prosecution. The administrative features of forest reserves are at present unsatis factory. being divided between the bu- reaus of two departments. If is there fore recommended that all matters per tainng to forest reserves, except those in voving or pertaining to land titles, be consolidated in the bureau of forestry of the department of agriculture.
 Cotton WeeViI.
 The cotton growing states have recently been invaded by weev that has done much damage and threatens the entire cotton industry l suggest to the con gress the prompt enactment of such rem edal legislation as its judgment may approve. ;a,, I'd
 Patents 10 Foreigners.
 In granting patents to foreigners the proper course for this country to follow is to give the same advantages to foreigners here that the countries in which these foreigners dwell extend in return to our citizens: that is. to extend the benefits of our patent laws on inventions and the like where in return the articles would be patentable in the foreign countries con- cerned-where an American could get corresponding patent in such countries.
 Indian Affairs.
 The Indian agents should not be de- pendent for their appointment or tenure of office upon considerations of partisan politics.; the practice of appointing. when possible, eX-army officers or bonded su- perintendents to the vacancies that occur is working well. Attention is invited to the widespread illiteracy due to lack of public schools in the Indian Territory Prompt heed should be paid to the need of education for the children in this ter ritory.
 Safety-AppIiance Law.
 In my last annual message the atten- ton of the congress was called to the
 
 ance law, and it is gratifying to note tha { this law was amended in important re- spects. With the increasing railway mile age of the country the greater number of men employed. and the use of larger and heavier equipment the urgency for renewed effort to prevent the loss of life and limb upon the railroads of the coun- try. particularly to employees, is apparent For the inspection of water craft and the life-saving service upon the water the congress has built up an elaborate body of protective legislation and a thorough Aethod of inspection and is annually spending large sums of money. It is en- couraging to observe that the congress Is alive to the interests of those who are employed upon our wonderful arteries of commerce--the rairoads-who so safely transport millions of passengers and bil- | lions of tons of freight The federal ln- spection of safety appliances, for which the congress Is now making approprla- tions. is a service analogous to that which the government has upheld for genera tons in regard to vessels, and 1t Is be- lieved will prove of great practical ben eft both to railroad employees and the travelling public. As the greater part of commerce is interstate and exclusively under the control of the congress the needed safety and uniformity must be secured by national legislation.
 Pensions.
 No other class of our. citizens deserve so well of the nation as those to whom the nation owes it's very being, the veter- ans of the civil war. Special attention Is asked to the excellent work of the pen sion bureau in expediating and disposing