Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-07

he present grazing value OF the open
public range II scarcely more than
ialf what It once was or what 1t might
easily be again under careful regula-
Ion.
The forest policy Of the administra-
lion appears 10 enjoy the unbroken |
OF the people. The great US
ers OF timber are themselves for |
warding the movement for forest pres |
ervation. All organized opposition to
the forest reserves In the West ms
Since the consolidation
of all government forest work In the
forest service there has been
a rapid and notable gain in the use
fulness of the forest reserves to tne
people and In public appreciation OF
their value. The national parks with
In or adjacent to forest reserves
should be transferred to the charge
of the forest service also.
Admission to st>tehood.
recommend that Indian territory
and Oklahoma be admitted as one
state and that New Mexico and Ari-
zona be admitted as one state. There
is no obligation upon us to treat terri
torial subdivisions, which are matters
of convenience only, as binding us on
the question of admission to statehood.
Nothing has taken up more time in
the Congress during the past few
years than the question as to the
statehood to be granted to the four
a., of
careful consideration of all that has
been developed in the discussion of
the question I recommend that they
be Immediately admitted ns two
states. There Is no justification for
further delay; and the advisability OF
states has been clearly established.
In some Of the territories the legis-
lative assemblies issue licenses for
gambling The Congress should by
law forbid this practice. the harmful
results Of which are obvious at a
glance.
The Panama Canal.
The treaty between the United
States and the republic Of Panama,
under which the construction of the
Panama canal was made possible
went into effect with its ratification
ary 23, 1904. The canal properties OF
the French Canal company were trans
ferred to the United States on April
%, 1904, on payment of s40.000,000 tc
that company. On April l, 1905, the
commission was reorganized, and
rod, Rear Admiral Mordecai 7. Endi
colt, Brig. Gen. Peter G. Hams and
Col Oswald II. Ernst. John F. Ste
vens was appointed chief engineer or
| July last Active work in cana
construction, mainly preparatory, has
and "A half. During that period two
points about the canal have ceased
to be open TO debate. First, the ques
tion OF route; the canal will be bull
on the isthmus OF Panama. Second
the question of feasibility; there ar,
no physical obstacles on this route
that American engineering skill will
not be able to overcome without seri
Gus difficulty, or that will prevent th'
completion Of the canal within reas
enable time and at a reasonable cost
This Is virtually the unanimous testi
mony of the engineers who have in
vestigated the matter for the govern
ment.
The point which remains unsettled
is the question OF type, whether the
canal shall he one Of several locks
above sea level, or at sea level with
hope to lay before the Congress al
an early day the findings of the ad
visory board of American and Euro
pean engineers. that at my Invitation
have been considering the subject
together with the report OF the com
mission thereon; and such comment,
thereon or recommendation in refer
cnce thereto as may seem necessary
The American people is pledged tc
| the speediest possible construction Of
"A canal adequate to meet the demands
which the commerce of the world viii
| h'"h' upon ~ "uu appeal inOSt car
nestly to the Congress to aid in the
fulfilment OF the pledge. Gratifying
progress has been made during the
past year and especially during the
past four months. The greater part
of the necessary preliminary work has
been done. Actual work OF excava.
ton could be begun only on a limited
scale TIL the canal zone was made a
healthful place to live Ia and TO work
In. The isthmus had to be sanitated
first. This task has been so thorough.
" accomplished that yellow fever has
been virtually extirpated from Inc
| isthmus and general health conditions
vastly improved. The same methods
which converted the island OF Cuba
from pest hole, which menaced the
health OF the world, into healthful
place OF abode. have been applied on
the isthmus with satisfactory results.
There Is no reason to doubt that when
the plans for water supply, paving and
sewerage OF Panama and Colon and
the large labor camps have been fully
carried out, the isthmus will be. for
the tropics. an unusually healthy place
of Adobe. The work IL so far advanced
tInt H..