Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1903-12-11

! the expense OF the country; and rural
| free delivery Is not only good thing
| In itself. but is good because 1t is one
| of the causes which check this unwhole-
some tendency towards the urban con-
| centratIon OF our population at the ex-
| pense of the country districts. 1t is Tor
| the same reason that we sympathize with
| and approve of the policy Of building
| good roads The movement for good
roads is ono fraught with the greatest
| benefit to the country districts.
In the Philippines and Porto Rico.
1t is declared, steady progress is being
made and the condition of the island
ers already has been materially adj
yanced.
Receipts of General Land Office.
On the subject of the public lands
of the country the message says:
The cash receipts of the General Land
Office for the last fiscal year were $1l.-
024 1896. an increase of 1912. Sl6.E over
the preceding year. OF this sum, approx
imately, s., 46l. 4s3 will go TO the credit
OF the fund for the reclamation of arid
land making the total of this fund. up
to the 30tn of June. 1903. approximately,
SIG. 1s1, 1886.
A gratifying disposition has been
eviaced by those having unlawful in
fences Nearly two million acres so IN
closed have been thrown open on lue-'
mand In but comparatively few cases
has 1t been necessary to go into court
to accomplish this purpose. This work viii
be vigorously prosecuted until all unlaw-
full Enclosures have been removed.
irrigation.
Tie work of reclamation of the arid
lands of the West is progressing steadily
70. rrflxr 1of~ hsa f.f
the law setting aside the proceeds from
the disposal OF public lands. The corps of
engineers known as the Reclama ton
Service. which is conducting the surveys
and examinations. has been thoroughly
organized, especial pains being taken to
secure under the civil-service rules
body of skilled, experienced. and efficient
men. Surveys and examinations are
progressing throughout the arid states
and territories, plans for reclaiming 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-eminently needed construc-
ton has already been begun. In other
parts OF the arid West various projects
are well &dvanced toward the drawing
up of contracts. these being delayed in
part by necessities of reaching agree
ments or understanding as regards rights
of way or acquisition of real estate. Most
of the works contemplated for construc-
ton are Of national Importance. involv-
ing interstate questions or the securing
OF stable. self-supporting communities in
the midst of vast tracts of vacant land.
The Nation as a whole is of cotrse the
gamer by the creation of these homes
adding as they do to the wealth and sta
bility CT the country, and furnishing a
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 1t is
designed. Further legislation is not rec
commended until the necessities of change
are more apparent.
Preservation of Forests.
The President points out the neces-
sity Of taking steps for the preserva-
ton of our forests, especially at the
headwaters of streams. OF the cotton
weevil he says:
The cotton growing States have
Gently been invaded by weevil that has
done much damage and threatens the !
entire cotton industry. l suggest to the |
Congress the prompt enactment of such |
remedial legislation as its judgment may |
approve.
lsthmian Canal.
The causes leading up to the estab-
anna, and its recognition by the
United States are given in much de
tail. as follows:
BY the act of June 2S. 1902. the Con-
gress authorized the President to enter
into treaty with Colombia for the build
ing of the canal across the Isthmus of /
Panama; 1t being provided that in the
event of failure to secure such treaty /
after the lapse of a reasonable time re-
course should be had to building canal
through Nicaragua. it has not been
necessary to consider this alternative. as
| am enabled TO lay. before the Senate
a treaty providing for the building of the
canal across the lsthmus of Panama.
This was the route which commended |
Itself to the deliberate Judgment of the |
I, >ngress and we can now acquire by
treaty the right To construct the canal
over this route. The question now. there
fore is not by which route the isthmian |
canal shah be built, for that question
has been definitely and irrevocably de-
cided The question is simply whether or
not we shall have an isthmian canal
In the year 1916 this Government en-
tered into a treaty with new Granada.
The predecessor upon the lsthmus of
the Republic of Colombia and of the
present Republic of Panama. by which
treaty IL was provided that the Govern
ment and citizens of the United States
should always have free and open right
Of way or transit across the Isthmus OF
Panama by any modes of communicate ton
that might be constructed. while in re-
turn our Government guaranteed the
perfect neutrality of the aforementioned
sthmus with the view that the free tran
sit from the one to the other sea might
not be interrupted or embarrassed The
treaty vested in the United States a
property right carved out of
roio 1fv q nd |
which New Granada then had and pos
sessed over the said territory. The name
u New Granada has passed away and its
territory has been divided. Its successor.
he Government of Colombia. has ceased
10 own any property Ia the lstnmus-
new republic. that OF Panama. which was
At one time sovereign state. and at
..ntl.,r Tina q mara lia r1a ri rnenf of the