The Glenwood post., 1904-12-10

the Union ana the lSlanuS OF tne sea Ate-
ly come under our flag Co operation is
had with the state experiment stations.
and with many other institutions and in
dividuals The world is carefully search
ed for new varieties of grains. fruits,
grasses. vegetables. trees. and shrubs,
suitable to various localities in our coun
try; and marked benefit to our producers
has resulted.
Irrigation.
During the two and 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
portant 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.
1t is the cardinal principle OF the for
est-reserve policy of this Administration
that the reserves are for use What
sourcs is to be avoided by every possible
means. But these resources must be used
in such a way to make them perma-
nent
Although the wisdom OF creating for
est reserves is nearly everywhere heart
lily 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 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 VIII:
they have not sown and then move away,
leaving desolation behind them.
The making of forest reserves within
railroad and wagon-road land grant lin
It's 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 (usu
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recent past, be withdrawn from sale or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 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 it's history been
managed in a more satisfactory manner
than is now the case.
Indians.
The progress Of the Indians toward civ
lization. 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 or fagrant
| 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 qualifca tions
which are required in the manager of a
| large business. but only in exceptional
cases is it possible to secure men of such
type for these positions.
Postal Service.
] In the Postotiice Department the serv-
! I've has increased in efficiency. and con-
| ditions as to revenue and expenditure
continue satisfactory. The increase Of
revenue during the year was S9.35S IS1. 10,
or 60 per cent. the total receipts amount
| ing to SAB $50 624.34. The expenditures
were $l52.362 ,116.7O an increa Sc Nof about
. per cent over the previous year. beiu-
thus sS,979 1896 in excess of the cur
rent revenue. Included in these expendi-
lures was a total appropriation of SIP
$50. 637.35 for the continuation and exten-
sion of the rural free delivery service
which was an increase of s49O2, 237 3j
over the amount expended for this pur-
pose in the preceding fiscal year. Large
as this expenditure has been the benefi-
cent results ATTAINED in extending the
(rce distribution OF mails to the residents
of rural districts have justified the wis
dom of the outlay. Statistics brought
down to the LIST OF October, 1901 show
that on that date there were 27,13S rural
routes established. serving approximately
100000 900 of people in rural districts re
mote from postotiices and that there
were pending at that time 3,SJ9 petitions
for the establishment of new rural routes
unfuestionably some part of the general
increase in receipts is due to the in
creased postal facilities which the rural
service has afforded. The revenues have
also been aided greatly by amendments
in the classification of mail matter, and
the curtailment of abuses OF the second
class mailing privilege. The average in
crease in the volume of mail matter for
the period beginning with 1902 and er l.
ing June. 1905 (that portion for 1905 be-
ing estimated), is 40,47 per cent, as COM
pared with 25,i6 per cent for the period
Immediately preceding. and 1892 for the
four-year period Immediately preceding
that.
The message here points out the
need for improvement in our consular
system, advises the creation of a ma
tional art gallery and suggests the
enactment of national quarantine
law.
Extravaeance In Printing.
VI call your attention to the great ex-
ti,,.. ~.