Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-12-12

NaNA1 tt ftNHtu uutll tue ttltlt
ment OF the present abnormal state OF
things In the empire: but the founda
ton for such development has at las,
been laid.
Reduction In Cos, Of Maintaining Con.
sular Service.
I call your atiehtion to the reduced
cost In maintaining the consular ser.
vice for the fiscal year ending June
20. 1903. as shown In the annual repor,
Of the auditor for the state and other
departments. as compared with the
year previous. For the year under
consideration the excess OF expendi.
lures over receipts on account OF the
consular service amounted 10 s26.-
1879. az against s96.972 so for the
year ending June 80. 1902, and sl47,-
Ol0l6 for the year ending June 30,
1901. This is the best showing in this
respect for the consular service for
the past fourteen years, and the re-
duction in the cost of the service TO
the government has been made in
spite OF the fact that the expenditures
for the year IN question we're more
than 500 0UU greater than for the pre-.
yious year.
naN 81 1N'NtaT
The rural free delivery service has
been steadily extended. The attention
Of the congress is asked 10 the qucs-
tion 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 bee. installed aimee the first OF
July last than in any like period in the
departments history. While a due
regard to economy must be kept In
mind in the establishment OF new
routes yet the extension OF the rural
free delivery system must he contin.
ned, for reasons of sound public pol
icy. No governmental movement OF
ecent years mas resulted In greater
immediate benefit to the people OF the
country districts.
Rural free delivery. taken In
connection with the telephone, the hi
cycle. and the trolley. accomplishes
much toward lessening the isolation OF
farm life and making il 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 wo-
men from the farms TO the cities: for
they rebelled at lonliness and lack of
mental companionship II Is unheal-
thy and undesirable for cities to grow
at the expense Of the country; and ru-
raj free delivery is not only good
thing In itself hut IL is good be-
cause IL one of the causes which
check this unwholesome tendency to-
wards the urban concentration of our
population at the expense of the coun-
Try districts. II is for the same rea-
son that we sympathize with and APP
prove OF the policy OF building good
roads. The movement for good roads
is one fraught with the greatest bene-
M TO the country districts.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
l trust that the congress will con-
tinue to favor In all proper ways the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition. This
exposition commentaries the Louis
lana purchase, which was the first
great step In the expansion which
made US a continental nation. The ex-
petition of Lewis and Clark across thu
continent followed thereon, and marx
cd the begir ming of the process OF ex
ploration and colonization which
thrust our national boundaries to the
Pacific. The acquisition OF the Ore
gon country, including the present
states OF Oregon and Washington,
was fact OF immense importance In
our history; first giving us our place
on the Pacific seaboard and making
ready for the way for our ascendancy
in the commerce OF the greatest of the
oceans. The centennial OF our estab-
iishment upon the western coast by
~ af I a,A arlf
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
tional government.
Development OF Alaska.
| call your special attention to the
territory of Alaska The country is
developing rapidly, and Il has an unus.
uai future. The mineral wealth is
great and has as yet hardly been tap
ped. The fisheries. IL wisely handled
and kept under national control, will
be q business as permanent as any
other. and OF the utmost importance to
the people. The forests II properly
guarded will form another great
source Of wealth. Portions of Alaska
are fitted for farming and stock rails
ing. although the methods must be
adapted TO the peculiar conditions OF
the country. Alaska is situated in the
far north; but 50 are Norway and
Sweden and Finland; and Alaska can
prosper and play its part In the new
world just as those nations have pros
pered and played their part in the old
world Proper land laws should be en-
acted and the survey of the public
lands Immediately begun. Coal land
lave should be provided whereby the
coal land entryman may make his To-
cation and secure patent and secure
patent under methods kindred to those
aow prescribed for homestead and
mineral entrymen. Salmon hatcheries.
exclusively under government control,
should be established The cable
should be extended from Sitka west
ward. Wagon roads and trails should
lie built, ana the building of railroads
promoted In all legitimate ways.
IAght houses should be built along the
coast. Attention should be paid 10 the
needs Of the Alaska Indians; provision
should be made for an officer, with
acputiee, to study their needs, relieve
their immediate wants, and help them
adapt themselves 20 the new condi-
sione
Alaskan Salmon Fisheries.