The news & observer., 1905-12-06


ing on such misdeeds. it is unjust not
TO add that they are altogether ex-
ccptional, and that on the whole the
employees of The Government render
upright and faithful service TO the
people There are exceptions. notably
i'm one or two branches of the service;
but at no time i'm the nations history
has the public service of the nation
taken as a whole stood on higher
plane than now, alike as regards hon.
esty and regards efficiency.
Public Land Laws.
Once again / call your attention
to the condition of the public-land Il
laws. Recent developments nave given
new urgency to the need for sucn
change as WIFI tit these laws to actual
present conditions. The honest dis
poSal and right use of the remaining
public lands is OF fundamental inn
portance. The iniquitous methods by
which the monopoizing of the pu0-
lie lands is being brought about under
the present laws are becoming more
generally known, but the existing iaWs
do not furnish effective remedies. Tee
recommendations of the Public Lands
Commission upon this subject are wise
and should be given effect.
The creation of small irrigated
farms under tre Reclamation Act is
powerful offset to the tendency Of
certain other laws to foster or per-
nit monopoly Of the land Under
that act tho construction Of great ir-
rigation works has been proceeding
rapidly and successfully, the lands r2-
claimed are eagerly taken up, ana the
prospect that the policy OF national
irrigation will accomplish all thai was
expected Of it is bright. The act should
be extended to include the state OF
Texas.
The Reclamation Act derives much
Of it's value from the fact that 1t tends
to secure the greatest possible number
of homes on the land, and to. create
communities of freeholders, in pars
by settlement on public land, in part
by forcing the subdivision of large
private holdings before they can get
water from Government irrigation
works The law requires that no right
to the use of water for land in private
ownership shall be sold for tract eX-
ceeding 100 acres to any one land
owner. This provision has excited ac-
tive and powerful hostility, but the
success of the law itself depends on
the wise and firm enforcement Of it.
We can not afford to substitute ten
ants for freeholders on the public do
main.
ne RIedICI Ddil VI tilt lVAAAetiiAiAis3
public lands can not be irrigated. They
are at present and will probably al
ways be of greater value for grazing
than for any other purpose. This fact
has led TO the grazing homestead CI
Gao acres in Nebraska and to the pro-
posed extension OF it to other states.
Il is argued that n family can not
be supported on 100 acres OF arid
land. This is obviously true;
but neither car a family be supported
on 640 acres of much Of the lana 10
which it is proposed TO Apply the graz
ing homestead. To establish universally
any such arbitrary limit would be un-
wise at the present time. 1t would
probably result on the one hand in en-
larging the holdings OF sOfe of tho
great land owners, and on the otncr IN
needless suffering and faifure on the
part of very considerable prop0ruon
of the bono fide settlers who give f2llh
to the implied assurance OF the GOV
that such an area Is sufftcl-
ent The best use Of the public graz
ing lands requires the careful eXamln-
alton and classification OF these lands
In order to give each settler land en-
ough 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 regula-
lions suited TO local needs, following
the general policy already in success
full operation on the forest reserves.
1t is probable that the present grazing
value of the open public range Is
scarcely more than half what it once
was or what it might easily be again
under careful regulation.
The forest policy of the Administra-
ton appears to enjoy the unbrOken
support of the people. The great users
Of timber are themselves forwarding
he movement for forest preservation.
All organized opposition to the forest
reserves in the West has disappeared.
Since the consolidation of all Govern
nent forest work in the National For
EST Service there has been 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 adjcent to
forest reserves should be transferred
20 the charge of the Forest Service al
so.
Mississippi Levees.
The National Government already
does something in connection with the
and maintenance or thc
great system of lcvecs along the lower
course Of the Mis- issippi; in my judg
ment It should do much more.
TO the spread Of our trade in peace
and the defense of our flag in war
yreat and prosperous merchant marine
Is indispeneable. We should have
ships of our own and seamen of our
own to convey our goods to neutral
markets, and in case of need 10 re-
enforce our battle line. 1t can not
but be a source Of regret and uncast-
ness n 11S that the lines Of C0mn11i-
cation with our sister republics o
Sou h America should be chiefly u.2deF
foreign control. 1t is not a good thing
that American merchants and manu-
should send thoir goods and
letters to South An erica via EuTore II
they HiSh security and dispatch. Even
IN thu Paci6c. where our sfi"S 1d"@
held thoir own better than on the e 4
Iantia our merl hant da~ IS nov
threatened throueh the liberal ID be
slowed by other governments on thei9
own steam lines. l ask your earnest
of the report with WhicA
the Merchant Marine Commission has
followed its long and careful inquiry
jamestown Exposition.
] again heartily commend to your
favorable consideration the tercenten-
NAL celebration cf tho settlement at
jamestown. Virginia. Approaching
the dcsirability of this commemora-
ton the CONGRESS passed an act,