Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-12-09

| connected with irrigation. The larger
problems have been solved and 1t 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
consulting engineers selected for their
thorough knowledge and practical ex-
perience Each project is taken UP on
| the ground by competent men and viewed
| from the standpoint of the creation of
prosperous homes. and cf promptly re-
funding to the treasury the cost of con-
struction. The reclamation act has been
| found to be remarkably complete and eff
fectlve. 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 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
a way as to make them permanent.
The forest policy of the government Is
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 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 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
lily recognized. yet in few localities
there has been misunderstanding and
complaint. The following statement Is
therefore deslrable:
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
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 1t 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.
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
1t is to prove that it should be terminal
ed at once. AS 1 have repeatedly recon-
= mended, all the forest work of the gov
ernment should be concentrated in the
department of agriculture. where the
: larger part of that work is already DONE
l where practically all of the trained for
r esters of the government are employed
= where chiefly in Washington there is
comprehensive frst-hand knowledge of
the problems of the reserves acquired
l on the ground, where all problems relat-
t | ing to growth from the soil are already
S gathered, and where all the sciences
: auxiliary to forestry are at hand for
prompt and effective cooperation.
t The Postal Service.
In the post office department the service
!, has increased in efficiency, and conditions
! as to revenue and expenditure continue sat
isfactory. The increase of revenue during
, the year was s9,35s 10, or 6.9 per cent.
u the total receipts amounting to $143, ,3S2,
= 62i.8. The expenditures were s152 362, ,116 20
= an increase of about nine per cent over :he
:, previous year being thus SS,979, 492 36 in ex-
cess of the current revenue. Included in
T these expenditures was total appropria-
ton of $i2, $50, ,637 35 for the continuation and
extension of the rural free delivery service
which was an increase of 81 902, 237. .35 over
the amount expended for this purpose in
= the preceding fiscal year Large as this
, expenditure has been, the beneficent results
= attained In extending the free distribution
a of mails to the residents of rural districts
have justified the wisdom Of the outlay.
= Statistics brought down to the LIST of Octo-
n ber, 1904, show that on that date there were
= H,13S rural routes established, serving ap-
d proximately 12,0oo000 of peopleNin rural dis
a tricts remote from post offices, and that
Il there were pending at that time 1859 peti
a tions for the establishment of new rura
3 routes. Unquestionably some part of the
h general increase in receipts is due to tht
: increased postal facilities which the rura
g service has afforded. The revenues have
II also been aided greatly by amendments II
e the classification of mail matter and th'
l. curtailment of abuses of the second-clas!
l. mailing privilege. The average increase IL
r the volume of mail matter for the period
o beginning with 1902 and ending June, 100
ID Chat portion for 1905 being estimated) Il
y 40.7 per cent, as compared with 25,46 pc
e. cent. for the period Immediately preced
ing, and 1892 for the four-year period i'm
mediately preceding that.
n National Quarantine Law.
c. It is desirable to enact a proper nationa
III quarantine law. 1t is most undesirable
le that a state should on its own initativ
l. enforce quarantine regulations which ar
is in effect restriction upon interstate ant
y international commerce The question
ID ment alone. The surgeon general OF tn
Id national public health and marine hospita
l. service has repeatedly and convincingl.
or set forth the need for such legislation.
s. Currency.
~ The attention of the congress should b
~ especially given to the currency question
and that the standing committees on TIL
. matter in the two houses charged with tn
q, duty, take up the matter of our currenc
"a -. and see whether II is not possible to secur
W an agreement in the business world 70
te te betterng the system; the committee
" should consider the question of the retire
Is ment of the greenbacks and the probler
~ of securing in our currency such elasticit
te as is consistent with safety. Every silve
u dollar should be made by law redeemabl
OF in gold at the option of the holder.
~ Merchant Marine.
n especially commend to your immedi lat
%. attention the encouragement of our mel
de chant marine by appropriate legislation.