The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-12-10

| ture, and F. II. Newell chief hydrogra-
at the earliest practicable moment upon
| the condition. operation and effect of the
presen, land laws and on the use. con-
public lands The commission will report
| especially what changes in organization.
laws, regulations and practice affecting
the public lands are needed to effect the
largest practicable disposition of the pub
| lie lands to actual settlers who will build
permanent homes upon them, and to Sc
| cure in permanence the fullest and most
effective use of the resources of the pub
! lie lands: and it will make such other
| reports and recommendations as it's
T sruay co OF tn ssina Questions may suggest
| ~ upon those points concerning which
| Its judgment IL clear: on any point upon
which It has doubt it will take the time
necessary. to make investigation and
| reach a final judgment.
| Progress of Irrigation.
The work Of reclamation of the arid lands
OF the west is progressing steadily and sat
| istactor!ly under the terms OF the Jaw set
| ting aside the proceeds from the disposal
! OIL pubic lands. The corps of engineers
known as the reclamation service, which
| Is conducting the surveys and examina-
; tons, has been thoroughly organized,
pecal pains being taken to secure under
the civil service rules a body OF skilled, ex-
perenced and efficient men Surveys and
| examinations are progressing throughout
| the ario states and territories, pans 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 preeminently needed, con
| struction has already been begun. In other
| parts OF the arid west various projects are
| well advanced towards the drawing up Of
| contracts, these being delayed in part by
| necessities OF reaching agreements or I'M
| defstanding as regaras rights OF way or
| acquisition OF real estate. Most OF the
| works contemplated for construction are
| OF national Importance, involving inter
state questions or the securing OF stable
self supporting communities in the midst
! Of vast tracts of vacant land. The nation
| as Whole Is Of course tie gamer by the
creation of these homes, adding as they do
10 the wealth and stability of the country,
! and furnishing home market tor the
products OF the east and south. The re-
| camation law, while perhaps not ideal,
appears at present TO answer the larger
needs for which ii is designed. Further
| legislation is not recommended until the
necessities Of change are more apparent.
| Preservation of Forests.
The study Of the opportunities of reclaim
| alton 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 effective
| ly protected and the reservoirs guarded by
| the preservation OF the forests at the head
| waters OF the streams. The engineers
making the preliminary examinations con
| tinualIy emphasize tins need and urge that
the remaining public lands at the headwa-
ters of the important streams of the west
be reserved TO insure permanency OF water
supply tor irrigation. Much progress IN
| forestry has been made during the past
| year. The necessity tor perpetuating our
| forest resources, whether in pubic or pil-
vate hands, Is recognized no" as never
| before. The demand tor forest reserves
| has become insistent in the west, because
the west must use the water, wood ana
summer rang, which only such reserves YES
can supply. ProHre sSive lumbermen are
striving through forestry, to give their
business permanence. Other great busi,
| ness interests are awakening to the neeu
| ton, a
The governments forest work should re-
ceive from the congress hearty support,
and especially support adequate Tor INC
| protection Of the forest reserves aga hs'
fire The forest reserve policy OF the gov
eminent has passed beyond the expert
mental stage and has reached cohultiol
| where scientific methods are essentlal 10
its successful prosecution. The admins
trative features OF forest reserves are al
present unsatisfactory, being divided De-
| tween three bureaus of two departments
II is therefore recommended that all mat
ters pertaining to forest reserves, except
those involving or pertaining to anu uties,
| be consolidated in the bureau OF forestry
| Of the department OF agriculture.
The cotton-growing states have recent
| " been invaded by weevil that mas done
much damage and threatens the entire
cotton Industry l suggest to the con
| gress the prompt enactment, Oh sum
remedial legislation as its judgment may
In granting patents to foreigners the
proper course for this country to follow
is to give the same ADVANTAGES to Tor
eigners here that the countries in when
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 me aruc ,t
would be patentable in the forei gn coun-
tries commemorative an American
could get corresponding patent in such
countries
Indian Affairs.
II The Indian agents should not be de-
| fnr h.ir n
Il of ONCE upon considerations OF partisan
politics: the practice of appointing, VIII
possible, ex-army officers or bonded su-
perintendents to the vacancies that oc-
cur is working well. Attention Is invited
to the widespread illiteracy due to lack
of public schools In the Indian territory;
il Prompt heed should be paid to the need
of education for the children in this ter
II ritory.
II Safety-Appliance Law.
In my last annual message the atten-
ton of the congress was called to the
necessity of charging the safety -appli-
ance law, and 1t is gratifying to note
that this law was amended in important
respects. With the increasing railway
Der of men employed. and the use of
larger and heavier equipment, the urgen-
cy for renewed effort to prevent the loss
of life and limb upon the railroads of
the country, particularly to employees is
apparent. For the inspection of water
craft and the life-saving service upon the
| water the congress mas Dulll UP an eldD-
| crate body Of protective legislation and
a thorough method Of inspection and is
annually spending large sums of money
1t in encouraging to observe that the
congress Is alive to the interests of these
who are employed upon our wonderful
arteries of commerce-the railroads--who
SO safely transport millions of passen-
gers and billions OF tons Of freight, The
federal inspection of safety appliances,
for which the congress Is now making
appropriations, Is a service analogous to
, that which the government has upheld
for generations in regard to vessels and
1t Is believed will prove Of great practical
, benefit, both to railroad employees and
the travelling public. AS the greater part
Of. commerce is Interstate and exclusive
iy under the control Of the congress the
needed safety and uniformity must be
secured by national legislation.
Pensions.
No other class OF our citizens deserves
so we'll of the nation as those to HON the
nation owes Its very being, the veterans of
!, the civil war. Special attention is asked
! to the excellent work Of the pension bureau
in expedlting and disposing OF pension
. claims During the fiscal year ending July
l. 1903, the bureau settled PSI, 9s2 claims an
average OF S25 claims for each working day
NJ the wear The numher af IN N te