The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-07


| phasize my recommendation OF last year
| that 30 far as they are available for agri- |
] culture In its broadest sense, and 10 what |
ever extent they may he reclaimed under
/ the national irrigation law, the remaining
public lands, should be held risidiy for
! The home builder. The attention OF the
| congress Is especially directed TO the tim
her and stone Law, the desert-land law, |
and the communication clause OF the home |
stead law. which in their operation nave
| IN many respects oonnicted With wise pub |
! lic-land policy.
| The discussions IN ths Congress and
! alseprhere have made N evident that there |
! is n wide divergence OF Opinions between !
/ those holding opposite views on these
subjects and that the opposing SIDES
4 have strong and convinced representa-
| tives OF weight both within and without !
tho congress: the differences being not
| only as 10 matters Of opinion but as 20
| matters OF fact In order that Definite IN
| forma tion may be available for the use OF
i tho congress. have appointed commis-
sion composed OF w. A. Richards. COM
| missioner of the general land onice;
| clifford Pinchot chief OF the bureau OF
foresty or the department. OF agriculture,
| and r. VI. Newell. chief hydroerapher OF
1 the geological survey. TO report az the
| earliest practicable moment upon the con-
dition operation, and efYect OF the present
| land laws and on the use condition. dls-
posal. and settlement of the public lands.
The commission Will report especially
/ what changes I'm organization. laws, regu-
lations. and practice affecting the pubic
lands are needed TO effect tho largest
practicable disposition OF tho public lands
! 10 actual settlers who will build perrna-
nent homes upon them. and TO secure In
| perme nence the fullest and most effective
use OF the resources or the public lands;
and IL will make such other reports and
recommendation as Its study OF these
questions may suggest. The commission
Is TO report Immediately upon those points
concerning which its Judgment IL clear
on any point upon which II has doubt IL
| will take the time necessary 90 make I'M
vestieation snd reach final judement.
The work OF reclamation OF the arid
lands OF the West Ia progressing steadily
and satisfac torily under the terms OF the
law setting aside the proceeds from the
disposal OF public lands. The corps OF
engineers known as the Reclamation SER
vice which - conducting the surveys and
examinations. has been thoroughly organ
ized. especial pains being taken TO secure
under the civil service rules body or
skilled. experienced and efficient naen
Surveys and examinations are progress
ing throughout the arid states and terri
tories, plans for reclaiming works being
prepared and passed upos by boards ofen-
gineers before approval BY the secretary
Of the interior In Arizona and Nevada, IN
localities where such work is pre-emi-
nently needed. construction has already
been begun. In other parts OF the arid
4 West various projects are well advanced
towards the drawing up OF contracts
these being delayed in part by necessities
OF reaching agreements or understanding
as regards rights OF way or acquisition of
real estate.
Most OF the works contemplated for con-
strtiction aro of national importance. In
yolvtng interstate questions or the secur-
ing OF stable. self-supporting communities
In the midst OF vast tracts or vacant land.
The nation as "A whole n OF course the
gamer by the creation OF these homes,
adding az they do 10 the wealth and sta
biity or the country. and furnishing
!, home market for the products of the East
and South The reclamation law, while
perhaps not ideal, appears at present To
answer the larger needs for which IL is
designed. Further legislation is not recon-
mended until the necessities OF change
arc more apparent.
PRESERVATION OF FORESTS
The study OF the opportunities OF re-
clamation OF the vast extent OF arid land
shows that whether this rcclama-
tion In done by individuals. corpora
tons. or the state the sources or water
supply must be effectively protected and
the reservoirs guarded by the preserva-
ton OF tho forests at the hesdwaters OF
! the streams The engineers making the
, | preliminary examinations continually
emphasize this need and urge that the re-
naming public lands at the headwaters of
the important streams OF the West be re-
served 10 insure permanency OF water
supply for irrigation. Much progress I'm
forestry has been made during the past
: year The necessity for perpetuating our
forest resources, whether in public or
private hands. Ia recognized now as never
before.
,ar ,rho .~nxarn,oa,t'. foras. xror,, .ho,,ta
, receive from the congress hearty support.
and especially support adequate for the
] protection OF the forest reserves against
: fire. The forest-reserve policy OF the gov
| ernment has passed beyond the experi-
mental stage and has reached condition
. whore scientific methods are essential TO
Its successful prosecution. The adminis-
trative features of forest reserves are at
present unsatisfactory. being divided be-
, | tween three bureaus Of two departments.
II Is therefore recommended that all mat
ters pertaining TO forest reserves except
those involving or pertaining TO land IT,
ties. be consolidated IN the bureau OF for
estry OF the department OF agriculture
The cotton growing states have recent
, " been invaded BY a weevil that has done
much damage and threatens tho entire
cotton industry suggest TO the congress
the prompt enactment of such remedial
legislation as It's Judgment may approve.
In granting patents 20 foreigners the
proper course for this country 20 follow is
, ! 20 give the same advantages TO foreigners
here that the countries In which these
. foreigners dwell extend I'm return 10 our
cftizens; that r., 10 extend the BENEFITS Of
our patent laws on inventions and the
like where in return the articles would be
patentable IN tho foreign countries con-
cernedwhere an Amedcan could get a
corresponding patent IN such countries.
} INDIAN AFFAIRS
The Indian agents should not bc depend
, ent for their appointment or tenure OF Of
fee upon considerations OF partisan poll
ties tho practice of appointin :g when poe
> sible, cx-army officers or bonded superin-
tendents TO the vacancies that occur L.
\ working well Attention r. invited 90 the
I widespread iliteracy due 90 lack OF pub
y lic schools in the indian territory. Prompt
n heed should he paid 20 the need OF edu-