The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-08

The creation Of small irrigated farms
under he Reclamation Act Is a power.
full offset to the tendency Of certain
other laws to foster or permit monoD-
oily of the land. Under thai act the
construction of great irrigation works
has been proceeding rapidly and sue
c~essfully, the lands reclaimed are Gag
erly II I'D. and the prospect thas
the policy of national irrigation will
accomplish all that was expected OF II
is bright. The act should be extended
to include the State of Texas.
The Reclamation Act derives much
of its value from the fact that it tends
10 secure the nossible num-
Der of homes on the land. and TO Gre
| ate communities of freeholders. i'm par,
by settlement on public land. in part
by forcing the subdivision of large Dri-
| vate holdings before they can get wa
ter from Government IRRIGATION works.
The law requires that 10 right To the
use of water for land in private owner
! hip shall be sold for a tract exceed
/ ing leo acres to any one land owner.
| This provision has excited active and
powerful hostility. but the success OF
h law itself depends OH the wise anil
| firm enforcement of 1t. We can not
afford TO substitute tenants for free
holders on the public domain
The greater part OF the remaining
!; public lands can not he irrigated. They
are at present and will probably al
ways De Of greater yalue for grains
than for II other purpose. This fact
has led to the grazing homestead of
$40 acres in Nebra and - the pro-
posed extension of it to other States.
Tt is rgu that a family ran not be
supported on $50 acres of arid grazing
land. This is obviously true: but neith-
er Il ? family be supported on $40
or@ ~1-I 20 - T- -
is to aDnlv the grazing home-
stead. To establish universally any
such arbitrary limit would be unwise
at the nresent time. 1t would proba-
bly, result on the one hand in enlarg-
ing the holdings Of some of the great
land owners. and on the Other in need
less suffering and failure on the part
of a very considerable proportion of
the bona fde settlers who give faith
TO the implied assurance of the Gov
eminent that such an area IS sufficient.
The best use of the public grazing
lands requires the careful examination
n Classification of these lands in Or
der to give each settler land enough to
support his family and no more. While
this work is being done. and until the
lands are settled. the Government
should take control of the open range.
under reasonable regulations suited to
local needs. following the general pol
icy already In successful operation on
the forest reserves. II is orOha BILE that
the present grazing value Of the omen
public range IS SCARCELY MOI thai half
what it once IVES ~ what it might cas-
ily be again under careful regulation.
The forest policy OF the Administra-
ton anrnarS to enjoy the unbroken
support of the people. The great users
Of timber are themselves forwarding
the movement for forest preservation.
All opposition to the forest
r~reeer"ation. All organized opposition
TO the forest reserves in the West has
disappeared. Since the consolidation
j, OF all Government forest work in the
National Forest Service there has been
a rapid and notable gain in the use
fulneSs Of the forest reserves to the
peoDle n in public appreciation Of
their value. The national parks within
Or adjacent to forest reserves should
be transferred to the charge Of the
Forest Service also. -
Mississippi Levees.
The National Government already
does something in connection with the
construction and maintenance of the
curse of the Mississippi: in my iudg-
ment it should do much more.
Merchant Marine.
~ Tx VI ouI due ll pCdSC
and the defense of our flag in war a
great and prosperous merchant ma
rine is Indispensable. We should nav
ships of our w and seamen of our
own to convey our goods to neutral
markets. and in case of need to reen-
force u battle line. Tt can not but
he a. source of regret and uneasiness to
us that the lines of communication with
u sister republics Of South America
should be chiefly under foreign con-
troll. It is not a good thing that Amer
lean merchants and manufacturers
should have to send their goods and
letters to South America via Europe il
they wish security and dispatch. Even
on the Pacific. where our ships have
held their own better than on the At
lant1c. our merchant flag is now
threatened through the liberal aid be-
slowed by other governments on their
own steam lines. I ask your earnest
consideration of the report with which
the Merchant Marine Commission has
followed it's long and careful INQUIRY.
Jamestown Tercentennial.
I again heartily commend to your
favorable consideration the t~ercenten-
NAL celebration of the settlement at
Jamestown, Virginia. Approaching
the desirability OF this commemora-
ton the Congress passed an act. March
u. l?Uo. authorizing IN the year 1901,
on and lear the waters Of Hampton
Roads. in the State of Virginia. an in
ternational naval, marine. and military
celebration in honor of this event. By
the authority vested in me by this act.
[ have made proclamation of said ce1e-
bratiOn, and have issued. in ccnformitv
with its instructions. invitations to all
the nations of the earth to participate.
hy sending their naval vessels and
such military ORGANIZATIONS as NAV be
practicable. This celebration would
fail of it's full purpose unless it We're
enduring in it's results and commen-
surate with the Importance of the
event to be celebrated the event from
which our Nation dates its birth.
earnestly hope that this celebration.
already Endorsed by the Congress of
| the United States. and by the legisla-
lures of sixteen States since the action
of the Congress. will receive such addi-
tional aid at your hands as will make
it worthy of the great event it IS in
tended &c celebrate. and thereby en-
able the Government of the United
| Efofac IN r,o1-a rrny;S;on f1~ {Y.o VI: