Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-06

much Oh the land to which it is pro-
posed TO apply the grazing homestead.
To establish universally any such
arbitrary limit would be unwise at the
present time. 1t would probably re-
suit on the one hand in enlarging the
holdings Of some of the great land
owners, and on the other in needless
suffering and failure on the part of a
very considerable proportion of the
bona fide settlers who give faith to the
implied assurance of the government
that such an area is sufficient.s The
best use of the public grazing lands re-
quireS the careful examination and
classification of these lands in order to
give each settler land enough to sup
port mis- 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 policy
already in successful operation on the
forest reserves. 1t is probable that the
present grazing value of the open pub
lie range is scarcely more than half
what it once was or what it might
ton.
The forest policy of the administra-
ton appears to enjoy the unbrOken
support of the people. The great users
OF timber are themselves forwarding
the movement for forest preservation.
All organized opposition to the forest
reserves in the West has disappeared.
Since the consolidation of all govern
ment forest work in the National For
est Service there has been a rapid and
notable gain in the usefulness OF the
forest reserves to the people and 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
obstruction and maintenance of the
great system of levees along the lower
course of the mississippi; III my judg-
ment it should do much more.
MERCHANT MARINE.
To the spread of our trade in peace
and the defense Of our flag in war Il
great and prosperous merchant marine
is Indispensable. We should have
ships of our own and seamtn of our
own to convey our goods to neutral
markets, ami in case of need to re-
enforce our battle line. 1t cannot but
be a suurc" OF regret and uneaSincsS to
US thdt the lines Of communication
with our sister republics of South
America Shout be chiefly under foreign
control Ii is not Il good thing that
American merchants and Manufacture
crS should have to send their goods and
letters to South America via Europe if
they wish security and dispatch. Even
on the Pacific, where our ships have
held their own better than Oh the At
lantic, our merchant flag is now
threatened through the liberal aid be-
slowed by other governments on their
own steam lines. | ask Your earnest
consideration of the report with which
the Merchant Marine Commission has
followed it's long and careful inquiry.
Z JAMESTOWN TERCENTENNIAL.
/ again heartily commend to your
favorable consideration the terccn-
tennial celebration of the settlement at
Jamestown, Virginia. Approaching the
dnSirabiity of this comlnemoratiof, the
Congress passed an act, March 3. 1905,
authorizing in the year 1907, on and
near the waters of Hampton Roads, in
the state of Virginia, an international
naval, marine, and military celebra-
ton in honor of this event. by the
authority vested in me by this act, I
have made proclamation of said cele-
l,.at in fAr
ity with its instructions, invitations
to all the nations Of the earth to par
ticipate. by sending their naval vessels
and such military organizations as may
be practicable. This celebration would
fail of its full purpose unless it We're
enduring in its results and COM
meEsurate with the Importance of the
event to be celebrated, the event from
which our nation dates its birth. 1
earnestly hope that this celebration.
already endorsed by the Congress of
the United States, and by the lcgisla-
lures of sixteen states since the action
of the Congress, will receive such adj
ditional aid at your hands as will make
it worthy Of the great event it is in
tended to celebrate. and thereby enable
the government OF the United States to
make provision for the exhibition of its
own resources, and likewise enable
our people who have undertaken the
work of such a celebration to provide
suitable and proper entertainment and
instruction in the historic events of
our country for all who may visit the
exposition and to whom we have ten
dered our hospitality
PENSIONS
1t is matter of unmiXcd satisfaction
once more to call attention to the ex-
cellent work of the Pension Bureau:
for the veterans of the civil war have a
greater claim upon us than any other
class of our citizens. To them. first of
all among our people. honor is due.
Seven years ago my lamented pre-
deccssor. President Mckinley. stated
that the time had come for the Nation
10 care for the graves of the Confeder-
ate dead. | recommend that the Con-
grcsS take action toward this end. The
first need is to take charge of the
graves of the Confederate dead who
died in Northern prisons.
IMMIGRATION.