The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-10

- tne consular srrNicc amounted TO w. |
l-s.i- as against tg6ss2-sO for the year |
cnoing juno 30, 1877. and sit7,0iols for tho |
year ending June %. 1901 This Is the 1
best showing In this respect for the con-
suiAr serViee for the past fourteen years. |
and the reduction in the cost Of the Serv- |
Ice 70 the Government has been made In |
spite Of the fact that the expenditures for |
the year In question were more than |
'2o..o greater than for the previous year. |
Rural Free-Delivery Service.
The rural free-dclivcry service has been |
steadily extended. The attention OF the |
congrcss Is asked to the question OF the |
compensntion OF the letter carriers and |
clerk engaged In tho postal service. cs- |
peciaily on the new rural free-drlivery |
routes. More routes have been installed |
since the nrst OF July last than in any |
like period In the departments history. |
While due regard to economy must be
kept In mind In the establishment OF new |
routes, yet the extension OF the rural
free-doliVery system must he 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 delivery. taken In connection
with the telephone. the bicycle. and the
trolley nccomplishcs much toward les
sening the isolation of farm life and maxi
Ing II 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 firms TO tnc cities; for
they reheilcd at loneliness and lack OF
mental companionship. 1t is unhealthy
oud undesirable for the cities TO grow at
tha expense OF the country; and rural
free deiiNory Is not only good thing
In Itself but II good because II is one
OF the causes which chock this unwholc-
some tendency towards tho urban con-
centrntion OF our population ut the cN-
pense Of the country districts. 1t Is for
the same rcason that We sympa:hize with
and approve Of the policy Of building
good roads, The movement for good
ronds is one fraught with the greatest
benent TO the country districts
In the Philippines and Porto Rico.
1t is declared. steady progress is being
mado and the condition OF the island
ers already has been materially ad
vanccd
Receipts Of General Land Office.
On the subject OF the public lands
of she country the message says;
Tho cash receipts OF the General Land
onico for the last fiscal year were ST.
o2f,d2 @, m incroaEe OF Hi62. .s16.fI over
the preceding year. OF this sum. approx
imniely s'.4bi i93 will 20 to the credit
OF the fund for the reclamation OF arid
land, making tho total Of this fund. up
to Nc 2Qth Of June. 1908, approximately
slG.lgl, $50
a gratifying disposition has been
cvincod by those having unlawful in
closures Of public land 10 remove their
fences, Nearly two million acres 20 in
closed have been thrown open de-
mnnd In but comparatively few cases
has Il been necessary 10 Eo into court
to accomplish this purpose. This work will
be vigorously prosecuted until all unlaw-
ful Enclosures have been removed
Irrigation.
Tie work of reclamation OF the arid
Ian
and satisfactorily under the terms OF
the law setting aside the proceeds from
the disposal OF public lands. The corps OF
enginccrsr known as the Reclamation
Service. which is conducting the surveys
and examinations. has been thoroughly
organized. especial pains being taken to
secure under the civll-servicc rules
body Of skilled. experienced. and efficient
men Surveys aud examinations are
progressing throughout the arid states
rrf territories plans for rcclaimug 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 pre-cminenuy needed. construc-
ton has already been begun. In other
parts OF the arid West various projects
are well advanced towurd the drawing
M OF contracts these being DELAYED In
part by neoessltes OF reaching agree
ments or understanding as regards rights
Of way or acquisition Of rcnl estate. Most
OF the works contemplated for couatruc-
tlOn are of national Importance. involv-
Ing Interstate questions or the securing
Of stable. self-supporting communities in
tho midst OF vHst tracts OF vacant land.
The Nation rs whole IS OF course the
eainer by the creation Of these homes.
adding as they do to the wealth and sta
bility CT the country. and furnishing
home market for the products Of the East
ana South. The reclamation law, while
perhaps not ideal. appears at present to
answer the larger needs for which II Is
designed Further legislation IS not rec
ommended until the necessities OF change
are more apparent
Preservation of Forests.
The President points out the neces-
sity Of taking steps for the preserva
tion of our forests. especially at the
headwaters of streams. OF the cotton
weeyil he says;
The cotton growing States have re-
Gently been invaded by weevil that has
done much damage and threatens the
eutire cotton Industry. | suggest to the
Congress the prompt enactment OF such
remedial legislation as It's judgment may
approve.
isthmian Canal.
The causes leading up to the estab-
lishment of the new republic OF Pan
anna. and its recognition by the
United States are given in much de
tail. as follows:
BY the act OF June 2s 1902, the Com
gress authorized the President TO enter
into treuty with Colombia for the build
Ing of the canal across the Istnmus Of
Panama; 1t being provided that in the
event Of failure to secure such treaty
alter the lapse OF reasonable time. re-
course should be had to building a canal
through Nicaragua. u has not been
necessary to consider this alternative as
I am enabled to lay before tho Senate
a treaty providing for the building Of the
canal across the Isthmus OF Panama.
This was the route which commended
Itself TO the deliberate judgment OF the
ngress. and we can now acquire By
troaty the right 10 construet the canal |