Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-12-17

the Union and the islands of the sea late
ly come under our flag. Cooperation 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 a half years that
have elapsed since the passage of the
reclamation act rapid progress has been
made in the surveys and examinat lions of
the opportunities for reclamation in the
thirteen states and three territories of
the arid West Construction has already
been begun 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
markably complete and effective. and so
broad in it's provisions that 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.
It is the cardinal principle of the for
est-reServe policy of this Administration
that the reserves are for use- What
ever interferes with the of their
sourcs is to be avoided by every possible
means. But these resources must be used
in such 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 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,
leaving desolation behind them.
The making of forest reserves within
railroad and wagon-road Immigrant linn
its will hereafter. as for the past three
years. be managed to prevent the
issue, under the act of June f. 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.
wherein may be preserved specimens
rapidly tending toward extinction is
urged.
The veterans of the civil war have
claim upon the nation such other
body of 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
"a oh No mir is rh1r al
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
improvem ent over that of bygone years,
and while actual corruption fragrant
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 Indian tribe
should possess the high qualifications
which required in the manager of
large business. but only in exceptional
cases is it possible to secure men of such
type for these positions
Postal Service.
In the PostOff1ce Department the serv-
i've has increas ed in efficiency. and con-
ditions to revenue and expenditure
continue satisfactory. The increase of
revenue during the year S9,35S, 1S1. 10,
or 60 per cent. the total receipts amount
ing to S143. $50. 62434. The expenditures
were s152 1862 1850, increase of about
per cent over the previous year being
thus SS.979, 1922 Sc in excess of the
rent revenue. Included in these expendi-
lures was total appropriation of $12,-
$50, 637. 50 for the continuation and extern
sion of the rural free delivery service.
which was increase of 81 900. 237. 81
over the amount expended for this pur
pose in the preceding fiscal year. Large
this expenditure has been the benefi-
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. 1904. show
that on that date there were 21.13S rural
routes established. serving approximately
mote from postofhces. and that there
were pending at that time 1859 petitions
for the establishment of new rural routes.
UnqueStionably 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
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 end
ing June. 1905 Chat portion for 1905 be-
ing estimated). is 40.47 per cent. COM
pared with 25.46 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
he Of