The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-09

I
remains 20 execute with care. economy
and thoroughness the work which mas
been laid out All important details are
being carefully considered by boards OF
consulting engineers. selected for their
thorough knowledge and practical eN-
perience. Each project Is taken UP on
the ground by competent men ana viewed
from the standpoint OF the creation OF
prosperous homes. ana OF promptly re-
I funding 10 the treasury the cost ~ con
struction. The reclamation act has been
found TO be remarkably complete ana Ell
feCtivc and 50 broad In - provisions
that wide range OF UNDERTAKINGS mas
been possible under H. Al me same
time. economy IS guaranteed hy the fact
that the funds must ultimately be re-
turned TO be used over again
Forests.
Il Is the cardinal principle OF The forest
reserve policy OF this administration that
the reserves are for use. Whatever in
tcrfcrcs with the use OF their resources
IS TO be avoided by every possible means
But these resources must be used In such
a way as 10 make them permanent
The forest policy OF the government Is
Just now a subject q vivid public inter
est throughout the west and % the peo-
pie OF the United States IN general The
forest reserves themselves are OF eN-
IRENE value 20 the present well as TO
the future welfare OF all the western
public-land states. They powerfully az
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. and so promote settlement un-
der the reclamation act. Indeed they are
essential 10 the welfare OF every one Of
the great interests OF the west
Although the wisdom OF creating for
est reserves Is nearly everywhere heart
lly recognized. yet IN a few localities
there has been misunderstanding and
complaint The following statement IS
therefore desirable.
The forest-reserve policy can be sue
cessful only when i has the full support
OF the people OF the west IL cannot
safely. and should not In any case. be
imposed upon them against their VIII
But neither can We accept the views Of
those whose only interest in the forest -
temporary. who are anxious 20 reap what
they have not sown and then move away,
leaving desolation behind them. on the
contrary, II 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.
/ I have repeatedly called attention 20
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 o. the government IS not
concentrated under one department, in
4 cOnsorance with the plainest dictates OF
good administration and common sense
The present arrangement Is bad from
every point OF view Merely 20 mention
Il Is 10 prove that Il should be termlnat-
ed az once. As have repeatedly recon-
mended all the forest work OF the gov
/ eminent should be concentrated IN the
department OF agriculture where the
larger part OF that work 5 already done.
where practically all OF the trained for
esters OF the government are employed.
where chiefly In Washington there Is
comprehensive frst-hand knowledge OF
I the problems OF the reserves acquired
on the ground. where all problems reiat-
ing u growth from the soil are already
gathered. and where all the sciences
auxiliary 20 forestry are at hand for
prompt and effective cooperation
The Postal Service.
In the post once department the service
has increased in efficiency. ard conditions
as 10 revenue and expenditure continue sat
isfactory. The Increase OF revenue during
the year was ss.3ss.lsl.i0. or SO per cent,
the total receipts amounting 10 N43.as2.-
GAIA The expenditures were sis2 3e2. ZIG 70.
an increase OF about nine per cent over lie
previous year being thus 1878. is2- 70 IN cx-
cess OF the current revenue Included In
these expenditures was a total appropria-
ton OF sl2.s55. ss7 IS for the continuation and
extension OF the rural free delivery service.
which vas an Increase OF 81 90 20 = over
the amount expended for this purpose IN
the preceding fiscal year Large as this
expenditure has beer, the berefiCent results
attained IN extending the free distribution
OF mas 10 the residents or rural districts
have justified the wisdom q the outlay.
Statistics brought down 10 the lst q Octo-
Der. 1894 show that on that date there were
27.i3S rural routes established serving ap-
, proximateiy L On 900 or people In rural dis
, tricts remote from pest Offices and that
! there were pending al that time 3ss9 petl-
, lions for the establishment OF new rural
. routes. Unquestiorabiy some part Of the
general increase IN receipts Is due to the
increased postal facilities which the rural
service has Afforded. The revenues have
/ also been aided greatly by amendments in
the classification Of mall matter. and the
curtai.ment Of abuses OF the seconded
mailing privilege. The average Increase In
the volume Of mall matter for the period
, beginning with 1902 and ending June. 40.
! Chat portion for 1905 being estimated). IS
' 40F per cent, as compared with =. 70 per
: cent for the period Immediately preced-
ing. and Is % for the four-year period i'm
msdiateiy preceding that
, National Quarantine Law.
= II IS desirable to enact proper naiioua
h quarantine law. II is most undesirable
e that state should on its own initiative
J. enforce quarantine regulations which arc
IS in effect a restriction upon interstate and
, international commerce. The question
, should properly be assumed By the govern
4 ment alone The surgeon general OF ths
! national public health and marine hospita
J. service has repeatedly and convincingly
z set forth the need FOR such legislation.
;. Currency.
= TIE attention % the congress should "a
especially given 10 the currency question
and that the standing committees on ths
matter IN the two houses charged with The
4, duty. take Up the matter OF our currency
and see whether IL is not possible 70 secure
: an agreement In the business world foi
lettering the system. tho committees
Y should consider the question Of the retire
ment OF the gfeerhacks and the problem
OF securing in our currency such elasticity
= as is consistent with safety Every silver
!, dollar should be made by law reteemab.,
= In gold al the option Of the holder
Merchant Marine
J. especially commend 20 your immedlat.
D. attention the encouragement Of our mer
e chant marine by appropriate legislation.
n Tariff
e On the tariff I ehatf rorr rnurIraso ..ttt