The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 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 of promptly re-
funding to the treasury the cost of con-
Struction. The reclamation act mas Deen
found to be remarkably complete and ef-
fective, and so broad in its provisions
that a wide range of undertakings has
been possible under it. 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 il 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
F, 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 a subject of vivid public inter-
est throughout the west and to the peo-
4
| forest reserves themselves are of ex-
IRENE value to the present we'll 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 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
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, it 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.
1 have repeatedly called attention tc
| the CONFUSION WHICH SAlStS III 6oNSIH
ment forest matters because the work is
scattered among three independent or
CARNATIONS 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, II
| conSonance with the pla1neSt 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 thu
!, 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 il
comprehensive first-hand knowledge o
the problems of the reserves acquired
on the ground, where all problems relat
ing to growth from the soil are alread!
, gathered and where all the science
auxiliary to forestry are at hand 70
prompt and effective cooperation.
The Postal Service.
In the post Office department the servic
. has increased in efficiency, and condition
as to revenue and expenditure continue sat
isfactory. The increase Of revenue during
the year was IS, 1858, 1910 or SO per cent
the total receipts amounting to SAB, 3S2,
. 62434 The expenditures were $152, 1862, 116. Y
! an increase of about nine per cent. over III
previous year. being thus $S,979, 492. 80 in OK
, cess of the current revenue. Included
: these expenditures was a total appropria
ton of $12, 1856 637 .35 for the continuation an
extension of the rural free delivery service
which was an increase of "a, 1902, 237. 35 owe
the amount expended for this purpose
the preceding fiscal year. Large as thi
expenditure has been, the beneficent result
attained in extending the free Distribute
: of mails to the residents of rural district
have justified the wisdom Of the outla.
Statistics brought down to the list of Octt
. Der, 1904 show that on that date there wer
27,13S rural routes established, serving al
proximateiy 100000 of people in rural di:
trictS remote from post offices, and tha
Z there were pending at that time 1888 pet
A tions for the establishment of new rur;
9 routes. Unquestionably some part of TT
h general increase in receipts is due to II
: Increased postal facilities which the rur
6 service has afforded. The revenues hay
i also been aided greatly by amendments
Q the classification Of mail matter, and II
! curtailment of abuses of the second-cla!
: mailing privilege. The average increase
:. the volume of mail matter for the perio
q beginning with 1902 and ending June, 19
a Chat portion for 1905 being estimated),
v 40f per cent, as compared with 25.46 p
: cent. for the period Immediately prece'
Ing and 1892 for the four-year period in
mediately preceding that.
n National Quarantine Law.
= 1t is desirable to enact proper nation
h quarantine law. 1t is most undesirab
e that state should on its own initiati
l. enforce quarantine regulations which a
is in effect restriction upon interstate al
y international commerce. The queStit
E. should properly be assumed by the cover
d ment alone. The surgeon general of L
ID national public health and marine hospit
l. service has repeatedly and convincing
>r set forth the need for such legislation.
s, Currency.
y The attention of the congress should
~ especially given to the currency questio
and that the standing committees on t
matter in the two houses charged with t
e. ., duty, take up the matter Of our curren
~ and see whether it is not possible to secu
an agreement in the business world
nc lettering the system; the committe
~ should consider the question of the retil
Is ment of the greenbacks and the probe
Is of securing in our currency such elastici
&c as is consistent with safety. Every silv
~ dollar should be made by law redeemat
Oh in gold at the option of the holder.
- Merchant Marine.
n especially commend to your immedia
o, attention the encouragement of our m,
lie chant marine by appropriate legislation.
err Tariff.
te On the tariff I shall communicate wi
n you later.
20 immigration and Naturalization.
i There is no danger of having too ma
as ] immigrants of the right kind It makes