The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-10-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

nomic system, instituted by othc1als VINO
have all the advantages of 200 years ex-
perience in shaping progressive nation,
at their command, but that is the advant-
age which the Filipinoes are now enjoy
ing and the results promise to prove of
the utmost value to them. A striking in
stance of this advantage is furnished by
reports on work of the PHILIPPINE Bureau
of Forestry which have just been received
by the War Department Instead of the
reckless, extravagant and short sighted
policy which has resulted in the devasta-
ton of the forests of this country and the
grave enhancement of price of lumber to
the consumers of the present day, the
American administrators of the Philip
pines have adopted policy which war
rants the belief that the vast forest re.
sources of the Philippines will prove a
perpetual and constantly increasing
source of revenue to the island and will,
incidentally, contribute to the develop
ment of the archipelago in other direc-
tons.
No forest land is sold in the Philippines
but twenty year leases are granted
to lumbermen conveying the right to cut,
not all the timber in sight, hut only those
trees which have reached maturity and
have been marked by the expert foresters
employed by the government. The
forest lands are divided into classes &C.
cording to their proximity to market and
the trees are divided into groups accord
ing to the value of the wood, the tax
varying from pesos per cubic meter for
the more valuable woods in close prox-
unity to market, to one half peso for the
least valuable group in the most inacces
sibly locality. The lease holders are con-
structing roads and developing hitherto
neglected sections of the archipelago,
the productivity of the forests is being
steadily increased and a perpetual source
of revenue of no mean proportions is
afforded the government. This is but a
single instance of those things which
seem to warrant the reflection, 1--WE do
things better in these days."
w.
The poisoning of twelve persons with
bad whiskey, which occurred in New
York last week, has resulted in DIR.
Wiley's, the Chief of the Bureau Of Chem
istry. giving out some of the results of his
=, -, Oh 1in,,or
drinkers to pause. According to this emf
nent chemist, IS per cent of the Whiskey
sold in the saloons, hotels and clubs of
this country is not the genuine article but
cheap imitation. Although the greater
part of this stuff will not produce death,
as did the New York whiskey, it is SER
iously injurious to health and where used
constantly is at least predisposing cause
to serious diseases. "If the pure food
bill which passed the House last session
and is now. awaiting the action of the
Senate becomes law we will have a
legal method of condemning this stuff, -
said DR.. Wiley today, "but at
present there is no way in which
the Government can reach it. Most
of the Scotch whiskey sold in this
country is adulterated with creosote and
most of the American whiskey is serious
ly adulterated after it is removed from
bond" Thus far the influence of the
whiskey trade, and the Discrimination OF
some temperance advocates who condemn
all use of whiskey have proved an insur-
mountable obstacle to legislation which
would authorize the. combination of
adulterated liquor and the punishment
of those who sell it.
~
Sir William White, retired admiral of
the British navy, has been guest in
Washington this week, and at dinner
given for him by Admiral Dewey he call
ed attention to the necessity of proper
military power to the nation that would
remain neutral in time of war. He cited
the case of China, which is most anxious
to refrain from participating in the exist
ing hostilities between Russia and Japan
Because of China's lack of navy she has
been unable to enforce the neutrality
agreement entered into by, all non bellig-
erent nations. Russia, in time of stress,
has used Chinese harbors as places of
refuge, as in the case OF the Russian
vessel which sought refuge in the harbor
of Shanghai and refused to disarm withip
the required time, and in the case of the
Japanese seizure of the Russian ship in
harbor of Cheefoo, in spite of the grave
violation of the neutrality laws involved,
China being utterly powerless to maintain
them. Sir William, who has visited the
navy yards of this country, declared the
present type of battleships. now building,
to be the finest in the world.
Saves Two From Death.