The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-12-09

OOnU9FSSU WAN WEA80SsVss 49, $500 Z
problems have been solved and It now
remains to execute with care. economy
and tibroughness the work which has
been lald out. All important details are
being carefully considered by boards OF
consulting engineers, selected for their
thoroySh knowledge and practical ex-
perienbe. Each project II 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-
structidn. The reclamation act has been
found 10 be remarkably complete and ef-
fective. and so broad in its provisions
that a, wide range of undertakings has
been possible under 1t. At the same
time. economy Is guaranteed by the fact
that the funds must ultimately bs re-
turned to be used over again. 1,
r Forests.
It Is the cardinal principle Of the forest
reserve policy of this administration that
the reserves are for use. Whatever in
is to be avoided by every possible means.
But these resources must be used In such
way as to make them permanent.
The forest policy of the government Is
just now 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-
tremc value to the present as well as 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, and SO promote settlement I'M
der the reclamation act. Indeed, they are
essential to tho welfare Of every one OF
the great interests Of the west.
l. Although the wisdom of creating for
est reserves is nearly everywhere heart
lily recognized, yet in few localities
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 cannot
safely, and should not in any case, be
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. it Is everywhere and always
the interest Of the permanent settler and
the permanent business man. the man
with stake in the country, which must
be considered and which must decide.
I 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 is not
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
it is to prove that it should be terminal
ed at 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 is already done,
where practically all Of the trained for
esters Of the government are employed,
where chiefly in Washington there Is
the problems of the reserves acquired
on the ground, where all problems relat-
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 Office department the service
has Increased in efnciency, and conditions
as to revenue and expenditure continue sat-
isfactory. The increase Of revenue during
the year was 1885, 10, or So per cent,
the total receipts amounting to 1882
624A. The expenditures were $152, So, 10,
an increase of about nine per cent. over the
previous year, being thus s.. 979, 492. Is In cx-
cess of the current revenue. Included In
these expenditures was a total appropria-
ton Of $12. 956 6S7. IS for the continuation and
extension Of the rural free delivery service,
which was an increase of s.. 902. 2S7. IS over
the amount expended for this purpose in
the preceding fiscal year. Large as this
expenditure has been, the Eeneficent results
attained In extending the free distribution
Of mails to the residents of rural districts
have justified the wisdom Of the outlay.
Statistics brought down to the LIST of Octo-
Der, 1901, show that on that date there We're
c7.13S rural routes established, serving up
proximately 1900, 600 Of people In rural dis
tricts remote from post offices, and that
there were pending at that time 1859 petit
tons for the establishment of new rural
routes. Unquestionably 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 mail matter and the
curtailment Of abuses Of the second-class
mailing privilege. The average increase In
the volume of mail matter for the period
beginning with 1902 and ending June. 1905
Chat portion for 1905 being estimated), Is
40.47 per cent, as compared with 25.46 per
cent for the period Immediately preced-
ing. and 1892 for the four-year period i'm
mediately preceding that.
National Quarantine Law.
It is desirable to enact a proper nation al
quarantine law. It Is most undesirable
that a state should on its own initia tive
enforce quarantine regulations which are
in effect a restriction upon interstate and
International commerce. The question
should properly be assumed by the govern
ment alone. The surgeon general Of the
national public health and marine hospital
service has repeatedly and convincingly
set forth the need for such legislation.
Currency.
The attention Of the congress should be
especially given to the currency question,
and that the standing committees on the
matter In the two houses charged with the
duty, take up the matter Of our currency
and see whether 1t is not possible to secure
an agreement in the business world for
lettering the system; the committees
should consider the question Of the retire.
ment Of the greenbacks and the problem
of securing in our currency such elasticity
an is consistent with safety. Every silver
dollar should be made by law redeemab!e
in gold at the option Of the holder.
Merchant Marine.
I especially commend to your immediate
attention the encouragement Of our mer-
oho pf ~ hv HI a lerid1afion