The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-03

thereby the price or lumDer cOulu Dt
put down again for two or three oI
more years. Their attitude Is precise
ly like that of an agitator protesting
against the outlay of money by farm
ers on manure and In taking care OF
their farms generally. Undoubtedly
If the average farmer were content alb
solutely to ruin his farm he could fol
two or three years avoid spending any
money on IL and yet make good deal
of money out of il. But only saw
age would in his private affairs show
such reckless disregard of the future,
yet il is precisely this reckless disre-
gard of the future which the oppo-
nents of the forestry system are now
endeavoring TO get the people of the
United States TO show. The only trou-
Bile with the movement for the preser-
vation of our forests Is that IL has
not gone nearly far enough and was
nor begun soon enough. IL is most
fortunate thing, however, that we be-
gan IL when we did. We should ac-
quire In the Appalachian and White
mountain regions all the forest lands
that il is possible TO acquire for the
use OF the nation. These lands be-
cause they form a national asset are
as emphatically national as the rivers
which they feed and which flow
through so many states before they
reach the ocean.
Tariff on Wood Pulp.
There should be no tariff on any for
est product grown in this country, and
In especial there should be no tariff on
wood pulp, due notice of change being
of course given to those engaged in the
business so as TO enable them to adjust
themselves 10 the new conditions. The
repeal of the duty on wood pulp should
If possible be accompanied by an agree
ment with Canada that there shall be
no export duty on Canadian pulp wood.
Mineral Lands.
In the eastern United States the
mineral fuels have already passed into
the hands of large private owners. and
those OF the west are rapidly follow
ing. II Is obvious that these fuels
should be conserved and not wasted
and il would be we'll 10 protect the peU-
pie against unjust and eXtortionate
prices so far as that can still bc done.
What has been accomplished In the
great oil fields Of the Indian Territory
by the action Of the administration Of
fers striking example of the good re-
suits Of such a policy. In my judg-
ment. the government should have the
right to keep the fee of the coal, oil
and gas fields in its own possession
and TO lease the rights To develop them
under proper regulations or else. If the
congress will not adopt this method,
the coal deposits should be sold under
To conserve them as pub
lie utilities, the right to mine coal be-
ing separated from the title 10 the soil.
The regulations should permit coal
lands TO be worked in sufficient guam
tity by the several corporations. The
present limitations have been absurd.
excessive and serve no useful purpose
and often render ii necessary that
there should be either fraud or else
abandonment OF the work of getting
out the coal.
The Panama Canal.
Work on the Panama canal is pro-
ceeding in a highly satisfactory man.
ner. In March last John II. Stevens.
chairman of the commission and chief
engineer, resigned, and the commits
sion was reorganized and constituted
as follows: Lieutenant Colonel George
w. Goethals, corps Of engineers, Unit
ed States army, chairman and chief en-
gineer; Major ID. ID. Gaillard, corps Of
engineers. United States army; Major
William l.. Sibert corps of engineers,
United States army; Civil Engineer III.
III. Rousseau, United States navy; ].
G. s. Blackburn; Colonel w. G. Gorgas,
United States army, and Jackson
Smith, commissioners. This change Of
and direction went into ef-
feet on April / without causing a per-
ceptible check to the progress of the
work. In March the total excavation
in the Culebra cut, where effort was
chiefly concentrated, was S15,270 cubic
yards. In April this was increased to
S70,52 cubic yards. There was a con-
siderable decrease in the output for
May and June owing partly to the ad-
vent Of the rainy season and partly TO
temporary trouble with the steam shov-
ell men over the question of wages.
This trouble was settled satisfactorily
to all parties, and in July the total ex-
cavation advanced materially, and in
August the grand total from all points
In the canal prism by steam shovels
and dredges exceeded all previous
United States records, reaching 1,274,-
40i cubic yards. In September this
record was eclipsed, and total of
1,5lT4l2 cubic yards was removed. OF
this amount 1,4s1,307 cubic yards were
from the canal prism and 36,105 cubic
yards were from accessory works
These results were achieved in the
rainy season with rainfall in August
of 11.S9 inches and in September OF
11.65 inches. Finally in October the
record was again ecliDSed the total OK