Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-12-05


the past year in an estimated saving
of cattle and sheep valued at upwards
of million dollars.
Message s
1t has inaugurated a system of in
spection at the principal ports of en-
try on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts
by means of which the introduction
OF noxious mammals and birds is pre-
vented thus keeping out the mon
goose and certain birds which are as
much to be dreaded as the pre-
viously introduced English sparrow
and the house rats and mice.
In the interest of game protection
1t has co-operated with local officials
in every state is the union, has striven
to promote uniform legislation in the
several states. has rendered important
service in enforcing the federal law
regulating interstate traffic in game.
and has shown how game protection
may be made to yield large reve-
nue. to the state-a revenue amount
| ing in the case of Illinois to SOS. 900
in single year.
The biological survey has explored
the faunas and fioras of America with
refernece to the distribution of ami
mails and plants; 1t has defined and
mapped the natural life areas-areas
in which, by reason of prevailing
| climatic conditions, certain kinds OF
animals and plants occur--and has
pointed out the adaptability of these
areas to the cultivation of particular
crops. The results of these investi
cations are not only of high educa
tional value but are worth each year
to the progressive farmers of the
country many times the cost of main
tanning the survey, which, 1t may be
added. is exceedingly small. This
bureau, whose usefulness is seriously
handicapped by lack of funds, should
be granted an appropriation in some
degree commensurate with the i'm
portance of the work It is doing.
Ocean Mail Service.
The time has come to set to work
seriously to make our ocean mail serv-
ice correspond more closely with our
recent commercial and political de.
velopment.
The expenditure of public money
for the, performance of such neces-
sary functions of government Is GER
tainly warranted nor Is 1t necessary
to dwell upon the incidental benefits
to our foreign commerce, to the ship
building industry, and to ship owning
and navigation which will accompany
the discharge of these urgent public
duties, though they, too, should have
weight.
The only serious question is
whether at this time we can afford to
improve our ocean mail service as 1t
should be improved. All doubt on
this subject is removed by the reports
of the post office department. For
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1907,
that department estimates that the
postage collected on the articles ex-
changed with foreign countries other
than Canada and Mexico amounted to
$G,579, 043.4S, or S3,G37 ,22GSl more
than the net cost of the service exclu.
siye of the cost of transporting the
articles between the United States ex-
change postoffices and the United
State postofIlces at which they were
mailed or delivered. In other words,
the government of the United States,
having assumed monopoly of carry
ing the mails for the people, is max.
irG profit of ever $3,600,000 by rem
dering cheap and inefficient service.
That profit should be devoted to
strengthening our maritime power In
those directions where II will best
promote our prestige. Following the
failure OF the shipbuilding bill we
lost our only American line of steam.
ers to Australasia, and that loss on
the Pacific has become serious en-
barrassment to the people Of Hawaii.
and has wholly cut off the Samoan
islands from regular communication
with the Pacific coast. Puget sound,
in the year, has lost over half -four
out OF seven) of its American steam
ers trading with the orient.
The president recommends a sim
pie amendment to the ocean mail act
of 1891 which shall authorize the post
master general in his discretion to en-.
ter into contracts for the transporta-
ton of mails to the republics OF South
America, to Asia, the Philippines, and
Australia at rate not to exceed 81 a
mile for steamships OF 16 knots speed
or upwards, subject to the restrictions
and obligations of the act Of 1891.
The profit of s3,6O0,000 will fully cover
the maximum annual expenditure in
volved I'm this recommendation, and II
is believed will in time establish the
lines SO urgently needed.
The Army.
Again and again In the past our little
regular army has rendered service lit
orally vital 70 the country, and It may