The Elbert County tribune., 1904-12-08

the Union and the Islands of the sea late
~ come under our tag. Cooperation Is
had VIII 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 tho
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 wide range
Of undertakings has been possible under
H. At the same time. economy Is guar
nnteed by the fact that the funds must
ultimately be returned to be used over
again.
Forests.
1t Is the cardlnal principle OF the for
| est-reserve policy of this Administration
ever interferes with the use of their re-
| sources is to be avoided by every possible
means. But these resources must be used
in such way as TO make them perma-
nent
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 desirable:
he
cessful only when IT has the full support
| OF the people OF the West. 1t can not
safely. and should not I'm 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 land grant lin
Its VIII 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 be Withdrawn from sale or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 as 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
| claim upon the nation such no other
| body OF our citizens possess. The pen
| sion bureau has never in Its history been
managed in more satisfactory manner
| than is now the case
Indians.
The progress of the Indians toward civ
| ilization, 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 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 an Indian tribe
1
which are required in the manager OF a
| large business, but only in exceptional
| cases is 1t possible to secure men of such
a type for these positions.
Postal Service.
In the Postofiice 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 $685. 1S1. TO-
or 60 per cent. the total receipts amount
| ing to 1433S2. .624.34. The expenditures
| were $152 1862. .116.70. an increase OF about
. per cent over the previous year. being
thus SS.979,492.36 in excess of the cur
rent revenue. Included in these expendi-
| lures was a total appropriation of s12.-
| 956,63735 for the continuation and extern
| sion of the rural free delivery service
| which was an increase of s4902. .237. .35
| over the amount expended for this pur-
| pose in the preceding fiscal year Large
as this expenditure has been the benef-
| 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 27,13S rural
| routes established. serving approximately
| 10000. 900 of people in rural districts re-
mote from postoffices. and that there
were pending at that time 1853 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
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 1909 and end
Ing June. 1905 (that portion for 1905 be-
ing estimated). is 40.47 per cent. as COM
II r.pf cd 1uifh r,ar ont for D,
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 ma