The sun., 1903-12-08

nracIice affecting the public lands are
needed to effect the largest practicable
disposition of the public lands to actual
sr' inrs, who will build permanent homes
mnon Them, arS to secure in permanence
,lc fullest itol most effective use of the re-
sources Of the public lands; and it will
make such other reports and recommended
tion- as IT, study of these questions may
suggest The commission Is to report i'm
uediately upon those points concerning
which it, Judgment il clear; on any point
mon which il has doubt it will take the
time necessary TO make investigation and
reach 4 final judgment.
IRRIGATION,
Tie work of reclamation of the arid lands
of the West il progressing steadily end
satisfactorily under the terms OF the law
setting aside the proceeds from the disposal
OF pubic lands. The corps Of engineers
krnwuas the Reclamation Service, which IL
conducting the surveys and examinations,
la- been thoroughly organized. especial
pains helng taken to secure under the civil
service rules body of skilled, experienced
and efficient men. Surveys and examna-
lions are progressing throughout the arid
states and Tcrrit ories, plans for reclaiming
works Icing prepared aud passed upon by
boards "f engineers before approval by the
Secretary Of the Interior. In Arizona and
Nevada, in localities where such work is
rrrrnulrrhiv needed. const ruct ion has
arcadv heen begun, In other parts of
the arid West various projects are well
advanced toward the drawing up OF
contracts, these being delayed in part
h.. u'cr~eiii"- al reaching agreements or
understanding a. regard. rights OF way or
acquisition Of rcal estate. Most of the
works contemplated for const ruct ion are OF
a'r"ua Importance, involving interstate
gu,,,iou- OF the securing of stable, self
supporting communities in the midst of vast
,r,rt, Of vacant land. The ion as IA
wuoDo l. of course the gamer by the creation
OF tbc>o hom"-, adding as they do to the
wealth and stability of the country, and
furnishing a home market for the products
of the Fast and South, Tho Reclamation
law. wiilc perhaps not ideal, appears at
pro-ou. rp answer the larger needs for
vur.h il Is Designed, Further Iegslai ion
l. uuD recommended until the necessities
q. ,hHug" ar" morc apparent
OBSERVATION OF FORESTS.
Tuo study or the opportunities Of rec
lpmailO Ot the vast extent ot ard land
shows that whe; her this reclamation is
done hv mdy'd,lals, corporations or the
Stat" the sources Of water supply must
H., effectively protected and the reservoirs
guarded ly the pr"servat ion of the forests
~ the h"aiwa"rs of the streams. The
,us,n""r- making the preliminary ex-
a.n.l.a ION, cont inually emphasize this need.
and urg" that the remaining public lands
n tl" n"udwators of the important streams
Of the W"st hc reserved TO insure perma-
I''lf'N W Nd''l Nhl'piN iVi HIiSoNioi' 'uN''
Irngre-- in forestry has been made dur
ing the past yea The necessity for per-
l".ua' ng our forest resources, whether
nD public or private hands. is recognized
rov A. never before, The demand for
forest reserves has become ilisistent in
Tho West, because the West must use the
water, wood and summer range which
only such reserves can supply. Pro-
gr"~sye lumbermen are striving, through
forestry, TO give their business perma-
N,l. l,,,st into
ar" awakening to the need OF forest pres
rrvation "a business matter The
Governments forest work should receive
from the Congress hearty support. and
specially support adequate for the pro-
ecion Of the forest reserves against fire.
Tho forest reserve policy of the Govern
ment has passed beyond the experimental
stage and has reached condition where
scientific methods are essential to its sue
crssful prosecution. The administrative
unsatisfactory, being divided between
three bureaus of two Departments. 1t
is therefore recommended that all matters
pertaining to forest reserves. except those
involving or PerssnnS rss to and ne Foss.tEs 1s
Of the Department of Agriculture
COTTON wEEvIL
The cotton growing States have recently
becn invaded by a weevil that has done
much damage and threatens the entire
cotton industry. suggest to the Congress
the prompt enactment Of such remedial
legislation as its Judgment may approve.
PATENTS TO FoREIoNERs.
In granting patents to foreigners the
proper course for this country to follow
i TO give the same advantages to foreign
ers here that the countries in which these
foreigners dwell extend In return 70 our
citizens: that Is, to extend the oenetits OF
our patent laws on inventions and the like
whore in return the articles would be pat
entable in the foreign countries concerned
where an American could get correspond
ing patent in such countries.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The Indian agents should not be de-
pendent for their appointment or tenure OF
politics. the practice Of appointing, when
po.shle. former army officers or bonded
-lperintendents to the vacancies that
occur is working well. Attention is invited
public schools in the Indian Territory.
Prompt heed should be paid to the need of
ed,lcat ion for he children of this Territory.
SAFETY APPLIANCE LAW.
In my last annual Message the attention
Of the Congress was called to the necessity
of enlarging the Safety Appliance law.
and it is gratifying to note that this LAY. lay
vas amended in important respects. With
the Increasing railway mileage OF the ooun-
nv. the greater numEer of men employed,
aud the use of larger and heavier equip
mcut. the urgency for renewed effort to
prevent the loss of life and limb upon
'hc railroads of the country, particularly
rp employees, is apparent. For the in
>pccion of water craft and the Life Saving
service upon the weter the Congress has
hur up an elaborate body OF protective
'ogslation and thorough met hod Of in
SECTION and is annually spending large
suns of money. 1t is encouraging to
opscr,r hat the Congress is alive to the
interests of those who are employed upon
our wonderful arteries of commercemths
rallroads-who so safely transport millions
%, passengers and billions of tons OF freight.
HE federal inspection OF safety appli-
aurrs for which the Congress is now max
ing appropriations. is a service analogous
'o ha, which the Government has upheld
Tor generations in regard to vessels, and 1t
i believed will prove of great practlcal
h"uetIt both to railroad employees and the
travelling public. As the greater part OF
commerce is interstate and eHo!usiVeiy
under The control Of the Congress the
needed safety and uniformity must be Sc
cured hy national legislation.
PENSIONS,
No other class of our citizens deserves
80 we'll of the nation as those to whom the
nation owes its very being, the veterans oi
The civil war. Special attention is asked
II, il,. rly nft tho ppp ainp Hlroau