The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-12-09

problems have been solved and IL now
remains to execute with care. economy
and thoroughness the work which has
been laid out All important details are
being carefully considered by boards OF
engineers, selected for their
knowledge and practical az
perience. Each project is taken up on
the ground by competent men and viewed
from the standpoint of the creation of
prosperous homes. and of promptly re-
funding TO the treasury the cost OF con-
struction. The reclamation act has been
found to be remarkably complete and sf-
fective. and SO broad In its provisions
that a wide range of undertakings has
been possible under II. At the same :
time. economy Is guaranteed by the fact |
that the funds must ultimately be re- |
turned to be used over again
Forests.
1t is the cardinal principle Of the forest |
reserve policy of this administration that |
the reserves are for use. Whatever in
terferes with the use of their resources |
Is TO be avoided by every possible means.
But these resources must be used In such
q way as to make them permanent.
The forest policy of the government II
just now a subject of vivid public inter-
est throughout the west and to the peo-
pie of the United States in general The
forest reserves themselves are OF ex-
treme value to the present as well a. to
the future welfare of all the western
public-land states. They powerfully af-
feet the use and disposal OF the public
lands. They are of special Importance
because they preserve the water supply
and the supply OF timber for domestic
purposes. md so promote settlement un-
der the reclamation act. Indeed. they are
essential to the welfare of every one of
the great interests OF the west.
Although the wisdom Of creating for
est reserves is nearly everywhere heart
ily recognized. yet in few localities
there has been Misunderstanding and
complaint The following statement II
therefore desirable:
The forest-reserve policy can Be sue
cessful only when IL has the full support
of the people Of the west. It cannot
safely. and should not In any case. b
imposed upon them against their WILL
But neither can we accept the views OF
those whose only interest In the forest Is
temporary: who are anxious to reap what
they have not sown and then move away.
leaving desolation behind them. On the
contrary. IL Is everywhere and always
the interest of the permanent settler and
the permanent business man. the man
with a stake in the country. which must
| be considered and which must decide.
1 have repeatedly called attention to
/ the confusion which exists In govern
| ment forest matters because the work is
| scattered among three independent or
| ganizations. The United States is the
| only one OF the great nations in which
| the forest work OF the government Ia net
| concentrated under one department. In
consonance with the plainest dictates OF
good administration and common sense
The present arrangement is bad from
| every point of view. Merely to mention
II Is to prove that It should be tsrminat-
ed at once. As have repeatedly recon-
| mended. all the forest work of the gov
| ernment should be concentrated in the
department Of agriculture. where the
i larger part OF that work is already done,
where practically all Of the trained for
esters of the government are employed.
| where chiefly In Washington there II
| comprehensive nrst-hand knowledge of
| the problems OF the reserves acquired
| on the ground, where all problems reiat-
ing to growth from the soil are already
gathered. and where all the sciences
auxiliary to forestry are at hand for
| prompt and effective cooperation
The Postal Service.
In the post ONCE department the servics
has increased in efficiency. and conditions
as to revenue and expenditure continue sat
isfactory. The increase OF revenue during
the year was 8. .35s. .1s1.1o. or So per cent,
the total receipts amounting to S14s. 3s1.
e24A. The expenditures were $lb1 81. 11s 70
| an increase of about nine per cent. over the
previous year. being thus 81. s7s. .4s2. % in ex.
cess Of the current revenue. Incloded II
these expenditures was a total appropria.
ton OF sl2 s5s. ST. IS for the continuation and
| extension Of the rural free delivery service
II over
| the amount expended for this purpose II
the preceding fiscal year. Large an thiI
expenditure has been. the benefcent resultI
| attained In extending the free distribution
Of malls to the residents Of rural districtl
have justified the wisdom Of the outlay
Statistics brought down to the 1st Of Octo
Der. 1904. show that on that date there wer'
| q. 13s rural routes established, serving ap
proximately 1ooo. 900 OF people In rural dis
tricts remote from post ofnces. and tina
there were pending at that time 3.Sss peti
, Il tfons for the establishment of new rura
/ routes. Unquestionably some part OF tn
general increase In receipts is due to tn
increased postal facilities which the rura
| service has afforded. The revenues hav
! | also been aided greatly by amendments Il
. | the classification OF mall matter, and tn
| curtailment Of abuses Of the second-cias
mailing privilege. The average increase 4
| the volume of mail matter for the perio
, l beginning with 1902 and ending June. 1sc
, Chat portion for 1905 being estimated).
: 40.T per cent. as compared with Is 40 pe
cent for the period Immediately preced
ing. and 1882 for the four-year period i'm
| mediateiy preceding that
National Quarantine Law.
1t is desirable to enact a proper nations
b Quarantine law. 1t In most undesirabl
e | that a state should on it's own initiativ
enforce quarantine regulations which ar
. In effect a restriction upon interstate an
y | International commerce. The Questio
: | should properly be assumed by the govern
ment alone. The surgeon general Of III
national public health and marine hospiti
: | service has repeatedly and convincingl
n set forth the need for such legislation
}. Currency.
The attention OF the congress should /
| especially given to the currency question
: and that the standing committees on II
matter In the two houses charged with II
> | duty. take up the matter Of our currenc
u and see whether Il fs not possible to secui
an agreement In the business world q
e | betterfng the system: the committes
Q | should consider the question Of the retir'
5 ment of the greenbacks and the probie
g of securing In our currency such eiastici,
e as Is consistent with safety. Every silv,
dollar should be made by law redeemab
y In gold at the option Of the holder.
~ Merchant Marine.
J. especially commend to your immedia
|. | attention the encouragement Of our me
e chant marine by appropriate legislation.
n Tariff
10 On the tariff shall communicate wi,
l. you later.
q immigration and Naturalization.
IS immigrants of the right kind. 1t makes
20 difference from what country they com
: | II they are sound in body and in mind, an
X above ALL IL they are OF good character,
J. that We can rest assured that their chi
dren and grandchildren will be worthy Il
low citizens OF our children and gran
=, children. then we should welcome the
- with cordial hospitality.
- But the citizenship of this country shou
!, not be debased. II Is vital that we shou
"a keep high the standard of well-beii
"A among our wage workers. and thereto
- we should not admit masses of men who
\, standards OF living and whose personal Gu
3 toms and habits are such that they tend
n lower the level OF the American wage wor
a. er: and above all. we should not admit a
A. man of an unworthy type. any man CO
E. cerning whom We can say that he will hiI