New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-08
OPEN DOOR IN CHINA.

OPEN DOOR IN CHINA.
The signing of new commercial treaty with
China, which took place at Shanghai on october
g. is a cause for satisfaction. This act. the re-
suit of long discussion and negotiation, places
our commercial relations with the great Orien-
tai Empire on a more satisfactory footing than
they have ever heretofore enjoyed. II provides
not only for the ordinary rights and privileges
Of diplomatic and consular officers, but also Tor
an important extension Of our commerce BY IN
creased facility of access TO Chinese ports. ana
for the relief of trade by the removal or some
of the obstacles which have embarrassed it in
the past. The Chinese government engages, on
fair and equitable conditions, which will prob
ably be accepted by the principal conrIerclaI
nations to abandon the levy of "likin" and
other transit dues thToughc"t the empire, and TO
introduce other desirable administrative re-
forms. Larger facilities are to be given TO our
citizens who desire 10 carry on mining enter
sionaries a valuable privilege, the recognition
Of their right to rent and lease in perpetuity
such property their religious societies may
need in all parts of the empire. And. what
an indispensable condition for the advance and
deveIopment of our commerce in Manchuria,
China, by treaty with US, has opened to foreign
commerce the cities of Moukden, the capital OF
the province Of Manchuria. and Antung, an i'm
pOrtant port the Yalu River. on the road to
Corea. 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.
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
I call your attention to the reduced cost in
maintaining the consular service for the fiscal
year ending June 30 1903. as shown in the an
nual report Of the auditor for the State and
other departments, as compared with the year
previous. For the year under consideration the
excess of expenditures over receipts on account
of the consular service amounted TO S26120 II,
as against $96912 80 for the year ending June
80 1902. and S147,O40 Is for tn year ending
June so, 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
spite Of the fact that the expenditures for the
year in question were more than $4,000 greater
than for the previous year.
FREE DELIVERY AND GOOD ROADS.
The rural free delivery service has been stead
lily 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, especially 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
c he regard TO economy must be kept in mind in
the establishment Of new routes, yet the extern
sion of the rural free delivery system must be
continued. for reasons of sound public policy.
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 isolation 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 loneli-
ness 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 good thing-fn itself, but is
good because il is of the which
check this unwholesome tendency towards the
urban concentration or our population at the
expense of the country districts. Tt is for the
same reason that we sympathize with and APP
prove of the policy Of building good roads The
/ movement for good roads is fraught with
the greatest benefit to the country districts.
EXPOsIFIONs-
I trust that the Congress viii continue to IA
/ vor in all proper ways the Louisiana Purchase
/ Louisiana purchase, which was the first great
/ step in the expansion which made US a CONT
mental nation Inc EXPEDITION or Lewis and
/ Clark across the continent followed thereon. and
marked the beginning Of the process of explOra-
/ ton and colonization which thrust our national
/ boundaries TO the PACING The acquisition of
/ the Oregon country. including the present States
/ of Oregon and Washington. a fact of i'm
/ mense Importance in our history; first giving
/ ing ready the way for our ascendanCy In the
| commerce of the greatest of the oceans The
/ centennial Of our establishment upon the west
/ ern coast by the expedition of Lewis and Clark
/ is to be celebrated at Portland Ore, by an ex-
| position in the summer OF 1905, and this event
/ should receive recognition and support from the
/ national government
| DEVELOPMENT OF ALASKA
| call your special attention to the Territory
/ of Alaska The country is developing rapidly
! and it has assured future The mineral
/ wealth is great and has as yet hardly been
| tapped The fisheries, if wisely handled and
| kept under national control will be a business
| as permanent as any other, and of the utmost
/ Importance to the people The forests if prop
| erly guarded viii form another great source of
/ wealth Portions of Alaska are fitted for farm
| ing and stock raising, although the methods
! must be adapted TO the peculiar conditions of
| the country Alaska is situated in the Far
| North; but so are Norway and Sweden and Fin
/ land, and Alaska can prosper and play its part
| prospered and played their parts in the Old
| World. Proper land laws should be enacted;
| and the survey of the public lands Immediately
! begun Coal land laws should be provided
| whereby the coal land entTyman may make his
| location and secure patent under methods kim
| mineral entrymen. Salmon hatcheries excIu-
| stvely under government control should be es-
| tabLShed- The cable should be extended from
| Sitka westward. Wagon roads and trails should
| in all legitimate ways. Lighthouses should be
! built along the coast Attention should be Dafd
| 10 the needs of the Alaska Indians: provision
! should be made for an officer. with deputies "a
! study their needs. relieve their inmedia te
| wants and help them adapt themselves to the
new conditions
The commission appointed to investigate dur-
| ing the season Of 1908, the condition and needs
| of the Alaskan salmon fisheries has finished It's
work IN the field. and is preparing detailed re-
measures Immediately required for the prOtec-
| ZION and preservation Of the salmon Industry
has already been submitted to the Secretary Of
! Commerce and Labor for his attention and for
| he needed action.
INSULAR POSSESSIONS.