The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08

roads is one fraught with the greatest
benefit to the country districts.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPOSITION.
trust that the Congress will continue
to favor in all proper ways the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition. This exposition
commentaries the Louisiana purchase,
which was the first great step in the
expansion which made us a continental
nation. The expedition of Lewis and
Clark across the continent followed there
on, and marked the beginning of the pro-
cess of exploration and colonization which
thrust our national boundaries to the
Pacific. The acquisition of the Oregon
country, including the present States of
Oregon and Washington, was a fact of
Immense Importance in our history; first
giving us our place on the Pacific sea-
board, and making ready the way for
cur ascendency in the commerce of the
greatest of the oceans. The centennial
Of our establishment upon the western
coast by the expedition of Lewis and
Clark is to be celebrated at Portland
Oregon, by an exposition in the summer
of 1905, and this event should receive
recognition and support from the Ma
tl0nal Government.
/ call your special attention to the
Territory of Alaska. The country is de-
veloping rapidly, and it has an assured
future. The mineral wealth is great and
has as yet hardly been tapped The fish
cries, if wisely handled and kept under
national control, will be business as
permanent as any other and of the ut
most Importance to the people The for
tests if properly guarded will form another
great source of wealth Portions of Alas
ka are fitted for farming and stock rails
ing, although the methods must be adap-
ted to the peculiar conditions of the
country. Alaska is situated in the far
north; but so are Norway and Sweden
and Finland and Alaska can properly
play its part in the New World just as
those nations have prospered and played
their parts in the Old World. Proper
Hand laws should be enacted; and the
survey of the public lands Immediately
begun. Coalland laws should be provided
whereby the coal-land entryman may
make his location and secure patent under
methods kindred to those now prescribed
for homestead and mineral entrymen.
Salmon hatcheries, exclusively under gov
eminent control, should be established
The cable should be extended from Sitka
westward. Wagon roads and trails should
be built, and the building of railroads
promoted in all legitimate ways Light
houses should be built along the coast.
Attention should be paid to the needs of
the Alaska Indians provision should be
made for an officer, with deputies to
study their needs relieve their immediate
wants, and help them adapt themselves
10 the new conditions.
ALASKAN SALMON FISHERIES.
The commission appointed to investi
gate during the season of 1903, the con-
dition and needs of the Alaskan salmon
fisheries. has finished its work in the
field. and is preparing detailed report
thereon. preliminary report recitins
the measures required for the protection
and preservation of the salmon industry
has already been submitted to the Score
tary of Commerce and Labor for his at
tention and for the needed action.
HAWAII
l recommend that an appropriation be
made for building light-hou in Hawaii
and taking possession of those already
built The Territory should be reimbursed
FOR whatever amounts it has already ex
pended for light houses. The governor
should be empowered to suspend or re-
move any official appointed by him. with
out submitting the matter to the legisla-
Iure.
THE PHILIPPINES AND PORTO RICO
Of our insular possessions the Philip
pines and Porto Rico it is gratifying to
say that their steady progress has been
such as to make it unnecessary to spend
much time in discussing them. Yet the
Congress should ever keep IN mind that
q peculiar obligation rests upon Us to
further in every way the welfare of these
communities. The Philippines should be
knit closer to us by tariff arrangements.
It would, of course, be impossible sud
denly to raise the people Of the islands
to the high pitch of industrial prosperity
and of governmental efficiency to which
they will in the end by degrees attain;
and the caution and moderation shown
in developing them have been among the
main reasons why this development has
hitherto gone on so smoothly. Scrupu-
lous care has been taken in the choice
of governmental agents, and the entire
elimination of partisan politics from the
public service. The condition Of the is
landers is in material things far better
than ever before, while their government
tai, intellectual. and moral advance has
kept pace with their material advance.
No one people ever DeneIlteQ announcer peo-
pie more than we have benefited the
Filipinos by taking possession of the is
lands.
RECEIPTS OF GENERAL LAND OF
FICE.
The cash receipts of the General Land
Office for the last fiscal year were $11,
O24 1856, an increase of 81, 1852, S16.47 over
the preceding year. OF this sum, APP
proximatey, sS,461, 493 will go to the
credit of the fund for the reclamation
of arid land, making the total of this
fund, up to the 3Oth of June, 1903, ap-
proximately, $16,191, 1885,
REMOVAL OF FENCES ABOUT UN-
LAWFUL ENCLOSURES OF PUB
Lie LANDS.
gratifying disposition has been evinced
by those having unlawful Enclosures OF
public land to remove their fences. Nearly
two million acres so inclosed have been
thrown open on demand. In but com
paratively few cases has it been necessary
TO go into court to accomplish this pur-
rcse This work will be vigorously pros
ocuted until all unlawful Enclosures have