The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1904-12-09

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 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 availablc. The
reclamation act has been found to be re-
markedly complete and effective. and so
broad in its provisions that wide range
of undertakings has been possible under
| 1t. 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
| 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 tho 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 what
they have not sown and then move away.
leaving desolation behind them.
The making of forest reserves within
| railroad and wagon-r road land grant linn
| its will hereafter as for the past three
| years, be so managed as to prevent the
issue, under the act of June A, 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
/ Tie prosperity VI SelllcIS, luilclo Vi Osh
| 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.
The veterans of the civil war have
claim upon the nation such as 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, 1t
| 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 qualifications
which are required in the manager OF
large business, but only in exceptional
ic i1,Ia In Of SICh
type for these positions.
Postal Service.
In the Postoffice 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 $9,35S, 1S1.10,
or SO per cent, the total receipts amount
ing to $143, 3S2, 62434. The expenditures
were $152, 1862 1850, an increase of about
per cent over the previous year. being
thus $S,979, 492.36 in excess Of the cur
rent revenue. Included in these expendi-
lures was a total appropriation of $12,-
956, 63735 for the continuation and extern
sion of the rural free delivery service,
which was an increase Of $4,000, 1918
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
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
IL, 000, 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 1902 and end
| ing June, 1905 Chat portion for 1905 be-
ing estimated), is 40.47 per cent, as 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
system, advises the creation of a ma
tional art gallery and suggests the
enactment of a national quarantine
| law.
Extravapance In Printing.
| t0 ha Nv