Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-01-08

admirable showing.
The troops We're returned from duty
in such numbers and at such times as
conditions warranted, beginning Octo-
ber %, and continuing until Novem-
Der u, 1902. The tour Of duty extend
ed over a period OF 1O5 days. and was
the longest period for which state
troops have been on continuous duty
during the last so years, excepting the
industrial disturbances of 1877, when
the National Guard was on duty from
July 20 to September 20 when it was
relieved by the First Regiment Volun-
teers. which served from September
20 to November Is.
The expenses incurred in connection
with the industrial disturbances of1902
will in all probability be somewhat In
excess Of one million dollars The bills
are being audited and paid by the adj
jutant generals department as soon as
received. / have refrained from pre-
senting at this time a detailed state
ment, inasmuch as the report Of the ad-
jutant general will give detailed infor-
nation, embOdying kilograms. etc,
communications from county officials
and individuals, also reports of the
commanding officers Of the several Ma
tional Guard organizations. and a thor
oughly itemiZed account of all moneys
drawn from the treasury, on the war
rant of the governor and disbursed by
the adjUtant generals department
On September 23d, 1902, the sheriff
Of Lebanon county called for assist
ance in preserving the peace and good
order Of the community in Lebanon,
Pennsylvania where a riot occurred
which resulted in the wOunding Of sew
eral persons This riot was the result
of strike of iron workers in that COM
munity, and not connected in any way
with the disturbances existing at that
time in the anthracite coal regions.
The First Battalion, Twelfth Regiment
Infantry, was transferred from Shen-
andOah to Lebanon, on September 23d.
and remained on duty in Lebanon until
October 1st, when the peace and good
order OF the community having been
restored. the troops were returned to
their former station.
l reiterate the recommendation made
in my message to the last legislature
concerning industrial disturbances. In
my judgment compulsory arbitration
law could and should be passed for the
settlement of difficulties between en-
ployer and employe. Such law is
entirely constitutional and feasible
from q police standpoint, looking upon
strikes as injurious TO the public,
harmful to society and destructive to
life and property. They are generally
settled after all harm has been done.
Why should they not be settled before
the harm is done and before large
losses occur TO life and property? We
should reConuize strikes as existing
evils and as dangerous 10 the public
good, and while mindful of the rights
of both employer and employe, adjust
their frcs7 a higher standpoint. name
ly tor the good of society. the preserva-
tion o. she public peace and Of life and
property. When a large strike is set
tied we delude ourselves with the
thought that no more will occur. We
should contemplate them as likely to
again occur with the same results as in
the past Without criticising employ
ers or employees, without blaming
either. we should so legisate as TO pre-
/ vent tne recurrence OF these disturb
hnces.
/ The state has been buying forest
/ lands in large tracts at reasonable
( prices as rapidly as they could be Sc
/ cured. AS a result, il now owns or has
! under contract 572, 722 acres. The aver
/ age cost for all this land will not ex-
/ ceed $500 per acre, and if it desired 10
do so. the state could dispose of its
| holdings at a large advance. These
| forests are scattered over the state and
will in time, be the source u consider
Lble revenue. As fast as the timber
! becomes marketable, it should be sold
/ on the stump. Not only have lands
| been acquired, but scientific reforesta-
/ tion has been commenced. Within two
| years one-half million white pine trees
will be ready for transplanting These
| reservations will have an influence
upon the water supply and incidentally
| benefit agriculture in every locality.
| They will preserve the forest streams
! and afford places OF recreation and
| amusement to those who desire TO
hunt, camp and fish. Many millions OF
| dollars are spent for parks IN large
| cities of the state. These re-arvations
| are natures parks. belonging TO the
people, far preferable in my judgment
| to artificial parks. They are provided
| for their recreation at a very small
expense. The reservations have also
been opened up, under certain restrIc-
tions, as outing grounds for INDECENT
| sufferers from pulmonary tuberculosis
! and other diseases, where they can live
in cabins as economically as they
| choose. This plan has been eminently
| successful and has attracted wide at
tention.
If the reservations are TO receive
proper care and the unwooded areas
are TO be redeemed as forests, il is
important that early steps be taken IN
this direction. The recommendation Of
the commissioner that a School of
Forestry be located at MontaltO, where
all the conditions are favorable, is en-
titled to your serious consideration.
Such a school would, in my Judgment,
yield many times its cost in benefit to
the state. The students could combine
study with actual labor upon the res
ervations and become in the best sense
practical foresters to be later placed in
charge of the state lands In other sec
tions of the commonwealth In no
other way could the work be done SO
cheaply and so thoroughly.
The report of the factory Inspector
shows a large increase in the number
of employees in the industries coming
under his supervision. An active en-
forcement of the law prohibiting child
labor has been productive of much
good 1t would seem, however, that in
asmuch as children who are too young
to be employed in factories and mer-
camille establishments secure employ
ment in coal breakers and in stone and
clio tfs.-s...