The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-12-05
The Panama c,naT.

nv WOTk ON tHo EduALlA canal IL OIUCCC0s
ing In a highly satisfactory manner.
In March the total excavation In the
Culebra cut, where effort was chiefly ON
centrated was sl5.2O cubic yards. In
April this was increased to S79,527 cubic
yards. There was a considerable decrease
in the output for May and June owing
partly TO the advent OF the rainy season
steam shovel men over the question OF
wages. The trouble was settled satis-
factorily 10 all parties and in July the to-
in August the grand total from al! points
In the m prism by steam shovels and
dredges exceeded all previous United
States records, reaching 1,274,4O4 cubic,
eclipsed and a total of 1,517, 412 cube
yards was removed. OF this amount 1,4Sl,-
3G cubic yards were from the ana prism
sorry works. These results were achieved
in the rainy season with a rainfall in Au-
gust of 11.S9 inches and in September OF
lies inches. Finally. in October, the rec
ord was again eclipsed, the total exca-
walton being l.S6S, 729 cubic yards; a truly
extraordinary record, especially I'm View
Of the heavy rainfall. which was III
inches.
II Is the unanimous opinion of the pres
ent commission that the work can be done
better, more cheaply. and more quickly By
the government than by private contract
The chief engineer and all HIS profess
sionnl associates are firmly convinced that
the eighty-fve feet level lock canal which
could be desired. Some of them had
doubts on this point when they went to
the isthmus. AS the plans have developed
been ~dispelled. While they may decide
upon changes In detail as construction nd-
vances they are In hearty accord In APP
proyiTs nr the general Plan IN. They believe
to all demands that will be made upon IL,
but superior In every way to a sea level
canal. l concur In this belief.
Postal Affairs.
I commend to the favorable consideration
or the congress a postal savings bank
system, as by the poStmas-
ter general. The primary object is to en-
courage among our people economy n
thrift and by the use OF postal savings
70 give them an opportunity 10
husband their resources. particularly
those who have not the facilities at hand
for depositing their money in savings
banks. Viewed. however, from the expe-
rlence OF the past few weeks. II Is evident
that the advantages of Such an institution
are still more 1ar-reachIng. .1imid depos-
tors nave Withdrawn their savings Tor
the time being from national banks, trust
companies, and savings banks; individuals
have boarded their cash and the working
men their earnings; all OF which money
has been withheld and kept In hiding or IN
the sale deposit box, to the detriment OF
prosperity. Through the agency OF the
postal savings BANKS such money would
be restored to the channels of trade to
the mutual benefit of capital and labor.
L further commend to the congress the
consideration OF the postmaster generals
recommendation for an extension Of the
parcel post, especially on the rural routes.
There are now 3S,216 rural routes, serving
nearly l5.0OO,W0 people who do not have
the advantages of the inhabitants of cities
IN obtaining their supplies. These recon-
mendations have been drawn up to dement,
the farmer and the country storekeeper;
otherwise, I should not favor them, for l
DeIleve that It Is good policy Tor our gov.
nme to do everything possible 10 aid
the small town and the country district.
IL Is desirable tina the country merchant
should not be crushed out.
1t would be a most desirable thing to
put the fourth-class postmasters in the
classined service.
Bureau Of Mines.
I again recommend that the rights of
citizenship be conferred upon the people
OF Porto Rico.
A bureau of mines should be created
under the control and direction of the
secretary of the Interior; The bureau to
have power to collect statistics and make
Investigations In all matters pertaining TO
mining, and particularly 10 the accidents
and dangers of the industry.
Legislation should be enacted at the
present session OF the congress for the
thirteenth census.
Appropriations on Campaigns. !
Under III form Of government voting Is
not merely a right, but a duty, and. more
over. a fundamental and necessary duty
IL O man Is to be a good citizen. 1t Is well
to provide that corporations shall not con-
tribute to presidential or national cam
paigns, and furthermore to provide for
the publication of both contributions and
expenditures. There Is, however, always
danger In laws of this kind, which from
their very nature are difficult or enforce
ment; the danger being lest they be
obeyed only by the honest. and disobeyed
by the u~nscrupulouS so as to act only as
q penalty upon honest men. Moreover, no
man of unlimited means from buying ms
own way into office. There Is a very rad
ical measure which would, / believe, work
a substantial Improvement In our system
of conducting a campaign, although l am
well aware that X will take some time for
people so to famlliarize themselves with
such a proposal as to be willing to con-
slider Its adoption.
!: The need for collecting large cam :
(: paign funds would vanish II congress :
/: provided an appropriation for the :
proper and legitimate expenses or each 4:
Of the great national parties. an appro- :
{: priation ample enough, to meet the /:
: necessity for thorough organization /:
and machinery, which requires a large {:
expenditure OF money. Then the stipu- :
/: lation should be made that no party :
1: receiving campaign funds from the :
reasury should accept more than a :
fixed amount from any individual sub ;
(: scriber or donor; and the necessary !:
: publicity for receipts and expenditures {:
could without difficulty be provided. !:
There should be a national gallery OF art
established in the capital city OF his
country. This Is important not merely
to the artistic, but to the material. well
fare OF the country. So far from there
being a tariff Oh works OF art brought into
the country, their importation should be
encouraged In, every way.
Bars importing Of Undesirable Birds.
1t has ~inaugurated a system of inspec-
ton at the principal ports OF entry on both
Atlantic and EacInc coasts by means OF
winch the Introduction Of noKious man.
mas and birds Is prevented, thus keeping
out the n certain birds winch
are as much to be dreaded as the previous
Ely introduced E.nkIIsn sparrow and the
mouse rats and mice.
l recommend TO congress that this bu-
reau, whose usefulness is seriously handi-
capped by laoL OF funds, be granted an
appropriation In some degree commenSur-
ale with the importance Of the work 1t is
DOING.
strongly a simple