The Grit-advocate., 1904-12-09

1
ly come under our nag. Cooperation is
had with the state experiment stations,
and with many other institutions and III
diyiduals. The world is carefully search
ed for new varieties OF grains. fruits
grasses. vegetables. trees. and shrubs
suitable 10 various localities in our cour-
try: and ma rked benefit to our produces
has resulted.
Irrigation.
During the two and a half years that
have elapsed since the passage Of the
reclamation act rapid progress has been
made in the surveys and examinations Of
the opportunities for reclamation in the
thirteen states and three territories Of
the arid West. Construction has already
been begun on the largest and most i'm
portanr of the irrigation works. and plans
are being completed for works which will
utilize the funds now available. The
reclamation act has been found to be re-
markably complete and effective. and so
broad in its provisions that a wide range
of undertakings has been possible under
it. At the same time. economy is guar
anteed by the fact that the funds must
ultimately be returned to be used over
again.
Forests.
II is the cardinal principle Of the for
eSt-reserve policy of this Administrator
ever interferes with the use of their re-
sourcs is 10 be avoided by every possible
means. But these resources must be used
in such a way as to make them perma-
nen;.
Although the wisdom of creating for
est reserves is nearly everywhere heart
lily recognized. yet in few localities
there has been misunderstanding and
complaint. The following statement is
therefore desirable:
The forest-reserve policy can be sue
cessful only when it has the full support
Of the people OF the West. 1t can not
safely. and should not in any case. be i'm
posed upon them against their will. But
neither can We accept the views of those
whose only interest in the forest is tenn
porary: who are anxious to reap what
they have not sown and then move away
leavinS desolation behind them.
The making OF forest reserves within
railroad and wagon-road land grant lin
its Will hereafter. as for the past three
years. be SO managed as to prevent the
issue. under the act of June 4. 1897, OF
base for exchange or lieu selection tusu-
ally called scrip. In all cases where
forest reserves within areas covered by
land grants appear to be essential to
the prosperity of settlers miners. or 9TH
ers, the government lands within such
proposed forest reserves will, as in the
recent past. be withdrawn from sale or
entry pending the completion OF such
negotiations with the owners of the land
grants as will prevent the creation OF So
called scrip.
Establishment of game reserves
wherein may be preserved specimens
of our wild animals which are now
rapidly tending toward extinction is
urged
Pensions.
The veterans of the civil war have a
claim upon the nation such as no other
body OF our citizens possess. The pen
sion bureau has never in its history been
managed in a more satisfactory manner
than is now the case.
Indians.
The progress of the Indians toward civ
ilzation. though not rapid. is perhaps all
that could be hoped for in view OF the
circumstances. 1t is commonly declared
that the slow advance of the Indians is
due to the unsatisfactory character OF
the men appointed to take immediate
charge Of them, and to some extent this
is true. While the standard of the en-
ployes in the Indian service shows great
Improvement over that of bygone years
and while actual corruption faerant
| dishonesty is now the rare exception. it
is nevertheless the fact that the salaries
paid Indian agents are not large enough
to attract the best men to that field OF
work. To achieve satisfactory results
the official in charge of an Indian tribe
should possess the high qualifications
which are required in the manager Of a
large business. but only in exceptional
cases is it possible to secure men of such
a type for these positions.
Postal Service.
In the Postoffice Department the ssSv-
i've has increased in efficiency. and con-
ditions as to revenue and expenditure
continue satisfactory. The increase oi
revenue during the year was s9,35S 1S1.10
| or G.g per cent. the total receipts amount
| ing to s143,3S2. 62i.I The expenditures
were s152. .362 1161O. an increase of abou,
9 per cent over the previous year. being
thus ss.979, 4soS sc in excess of the cur
| rent revenue. Included in these expendi-
| turcs was Il total appropriation of s12,-
| 956. .637.35 for the continuation and extern
| sion of the rural free delivery service
| which was an increase Of sie02 237 81
| over the amount expended for this pur-
pose in the preceding fiscal year. Large
! as this expenditure has been the benef-
| cent results attained in extending the
| free distribution of mails to the residents
| Of rural districts have justified the wis
| dom of the outlay Statistics brought
| down to the 1st of October. 1901. show
| that on that date there were 27,13S rura
routes established, serving Approximately
| 1909, 900 of people in rural districts re.
| mote from postotiices. and that there
we're pending at that time 1853 petitions
| for the establishment of new rural routes
| Unquestionably some part of the genera
| increase IN receipts is due to the in
| creased postal facilities which the rura
| service has afforded. The revenues hav,
also been aided greatly by amendment
| in the classification of mail matter. anc
| the curtailment of abuses of the second
| class mailing privilege. Tie average in
| crease in the volume of mail matter fo
| the period beginning with 1902 and end
| ing June. 1905 tthat portion for 1905 be
ing estmated), Is 40.47 per cent, as com
| pared with 25.4G per cent for the periot
Immediately preceding, and 1882 for th
| four-year period Immediately preceding
! that.
The message here points out th'
heed for improvement in our consula
system, advises the creation of a ma