The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-12-05
The Panama Canal.

Culenra cut, where EFFORT was chiefly con-
April this was .nGTSassd 10 1901 cubic
yards. There was a considerable decrease
partly to the advent Of the rainy season
and partly to temporary trouble with the
steam shovel men over the question of
factorily to all parties and in July the to-
TAI excavation materially and
IN IN august the nr grand ! total from r AL points
dredgcs exceeded all previous United
States records. reaching ], s74.4o4 cubic
eclipsed and a total of i.5i7, AZ cubic
yards was removed. OF this amount 1.ASl,-
3N cubic yards were from the canal prism
and 36,105 cubic yards were from Access
sorry works. These results were achieved
in the rainy season with a rainfal in Au-
Lies inches. Finally, In October, the rec
walton being 1855. 72s cubic yards; a truly
inches.
1t 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
sional associates are firmly convinced that
the eighty-tive feet level lock canal which
could be desired. Some of them had
doubts, on this point when they went to
under their direction their doubts have
been dispelled. Willie hey may decide
| upon changes in detail as construction adj
proving the general plan. They believe
that 1t provides q canal not only adequate
but superior in every way to a sea level
canal. L concur in this belief.
Postal Affairs.
| commend to the favorable consideration
OF the congress a postal savings bank
system, as recommended by the postmas-
ter general. The primary object is to en-
courage among our people economy and
thritt and by the use OF postal savings
DankS 10 give them an opportunity TO
husband their resources. particularly
those Who have not the facilities at hand
banks. Viewed, however. from the expe-
renee OF the past few weeks, it is evident
that the advantages of such an institution
are still more far-reachlng. Timid depos-
ltors nave withdrawn their savings tor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
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 to the congress the
consideration Of the postmaster generals
recommendation FOR al extension of the
parcel post, especially on the rural routes.
There are now 1928 rural routes serving
nearly l5,G00,W people who do not have
the advantages of the inhabitants of cities
IN obtaining their supplies. These recon-
mendat!ons have been drawn up to benefit
otnerWlse, l should not favor them, for l
believe that 1t is good policy for our COY,
eminent TO do everything possible to AID
the small town and the country district.
1t is desirable that the country merchant
should n95 be crushed out.
1t would be a most desirable thing to
put the 1ourth-claSS ~poStnaSters In the
claSslned service.
Bureau of Mines.
l again recommend that the rights of
cltlZenship be conferred upon the people
of Porto Rico.
A bureau OF mines should be created
under the control and direction OF the
nave power to collect statistics and make
Investigations in all matters pertaining to
mining, and particularly to the accidents
and Danger of the industry.
Legislation should be enacted at the
present session of the congress for the
thirteenth census
Appropriations on Campaigns.
Under our form of government voting is
| not merely a right, but a duty. and, more
over, a f~undamenta and necessary duty
if a man is to be a good citizen. 1t is well
tribute to presidential or national cam
paigns. and furthermore to provide for
expenditures. There is, however, always
danger in laws of this kind, which from
Their very nature are difficult of enforce
ment; the danger being lest they be
! oheyed only BY the honest, and disobeyed
by the INSCRIPTIONS so as to act only as
a penalty upon honest men. Moreover, no
such law would hamper an INSCRIPTIONS
man OF unlimited means from buying ms
OWL way into office. There is q very rad
ical measure which would, 1 believe, work
/ q substantial Improvement in our system
of conducting a campaign, although L am
i well aware that it will take some time for
| people so to familiarize themselves with
such a proposal as to be willing to con-
slider its adoption.
+: The need for collecting large can
/: paign funds would vanish If congress
:: provided an appropriation for the ]:
:: proper and legitimate expenses Of each /:
of the great national parties, an appro-
:: priation ample enough to meet the :
!: necessity Tor thorough organization /:
and machinery. which requires a large
! expenditure OF money. Then the stipu- +:
lation should be made that no party !:
(: receiving campaign funds from the
: treasury 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 this
country. This is important not merely
to the artistic. but to the material, vel
fare Of the country. So far from there
being q tariff on works OF art brought into
the country, their importation should be
encouraged in every way.
Bars Importing Of Undesirable Birds.
1t has i~uaugurated a system of inspec-
ton at the principal ports OF entry on both
Atlantic and bacinc coasts by means OF
winch the INTRODUCTION OF noNlouS mann
mas and birds is prevented, thus Keeping
out the lnonSoose and certain birds winch
are as much 10 be dreaded as the previous
ly lnCl.oCuceu llnSl4Sh sparrow and the
house rats and mice.
l recommend to congress that this bu-
reau, whose usefulness is seriously handi-
J ca n, ny tnFlk of .IIndS hn ~ rod 1n