The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-12-07

In my Judgment 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 ne sold under limita-
tons, to conserve them as public utilities,
the right to mine coal being separa ted
from the title to the soil. The regulations
should permit coal lands to be worked
in sufficient quantity by the several cor
poratons.
The Panama Canal.
Work on the Panama canal is proceed
ing in highly satisfactory manner.
In March the total excavation in the
Culebra cut, where effort was chiefly con-
centrated, was S15,Ho cubic yards. In
April this was increased TO S9,527 cubic
yards. There was considerable decrease
in the output for May and June owing
partly TO the advent Of the rainy season
and partly to temporary trouble with the
steam shovel men over the question OF
wages. The trouble was settled salts
factorily TO all parties and In July the to-
in August the grand total from all points
in the canal prism by steam shovels and
dredges exceeded all previous United
States records, reaching ,1,274,4O4 cubic
eclipsed and a total OF 1,517, ALP cubic
yards was removed OF this amount 1.4S1.-
3W cubic yards were from the canal prism
and 36.105 cubic yards were from access
in the rainy season with rainfall in Au-
gust of 11.s9 inches and In September of
l1.65 inches. Finally. in October, the rec
ord was again eclipsed, the total exoa-
walton being 1,s6S. 72S cubic yards; truly
extraordinary record especially in view
of the heavy rainfall. which was III
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
ors.
The chief engineer and all his profess
sional associates are firmly convinced that
the eighty-five feet level lock canal which
they ARE Re sessS o Is the , best thai
doubts on this point when they went to
the isthmus. AS the plans have developed
under their direction their doubts have
been dispelled. While they may decide
upon changes in detail as construction ad-
vances they are in hearty accord In APP
proving the general plan. They believe
to all demands that will be made upon 1t,
bu. superior in every way to sea level
C nal. i concur in this belief.
Postal Affairs.
commend to the favorable consideration
or the congress postal savings bank
ter general. The primary object is to en-
courage among our people economy and
thrift and by the use OF postal savings
banks to give them an opportunity to
husband their resources, particularly
those who have not the facilities at hand
for depositing their money in savings
banks. Viewed, however. from the expe-
rience OF the past few weeks, II IL evident
are still more far-reachIng. Timid depos-
itors have 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 or which money
has been withheld and kcD, In hiding or In
the safe deposit box, to the detriment OF
prosperity. Through the agency OF the
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 tho rural routes.