The Washington times., 1907-12-03
Would Have Government
Supply Campaign Funds

sad &c cause an annual loss Of about
s.. 0O0, 900.
The Biological Survey has ascertained
and given wide publicity to the fact
tha. at least fOrty-three kinds Of birds
prey Gpon this destructive insect Il
has discovered that hfty-seven species
Of birds feed upon scale-insects-dread-
ed enemies OF tie fruit grower. II has
shown that woOdpeckers as class. by
destroying the larvae Of woOd-borinE in
sects. are so essential &c tree life that
IL is doubtful IL our forests could ex-
ist without them II has shown that
euekoos and orioles are the natural
enemies OF the leaf-eating caterpiIlars
that destroy our shade and fruit trees,
that our Quails and sparrows consume
annually hundreds Of tons OF seeds OF
noxIous weeds: that hawks and owls as
class (exceping the few that kill
poultry and game birds) are markedly
beneficial, spending their lives in catch
ing grasshoppers. mice. and other pests
that preys upon the products OF hus-
bandry.
It has conducted field experiments for
the purpose OF devising and perfecting
simple methods for holding in check
The hordes OF destructive rodents-rats.
nice, rabbits, gOphers, prairie dogs and
grOuno squirreis-Which annually de
stroE crops worth many millions Of do
lars and II has published practical d.
rectIOus Tor the destruction OF wolves
and coyotes on the stock ranges OF the
West, resulting during the past year
in an estimated saving Of cattle and
sheep valued at upward az a million
dollars.
II has iDalgurated a system OF in
spectiOn a I. he principal ports Of en-
Try on both Atlantic and Paclac coasts
by means of which the introduction of
nOXious mammals and birds Is pre-
vented, thus keeping out the mOngoose
an certain birds which are as much TO
be dreaded as the previously intro
duced EnSlish sparrow and the house
rats and mice.
In the interest OF game protection It
has co-Operated with local officials in
every State in the Union. has striven
70 promote uniform legislation IN the
several States, has rendered important
service in enforcing the Federal law reg
ulating interstate traffic in game. and
has shown how game protection may be
made 10 Weld a large revenue TO the
State-a revenue amounting in the case
OF Illinois TO N3,OD IN single year.
The Biological Survey has explored
the faunas and fioras OF America with
reference to the distribution OF ami
mails and plants: il has defined and
mapped the natural life areas-areas in
Wflc cn, Dy reason OF prevailing climatic
conditions, certain kinds of animals and
plants occur-and has pointed out the
adaptability of these areas 10 the cult.
walton Of particular CROPS The results
Of these Investigations are not onlv OF
high exceptional value. but are worth
each year to the progressive farmers
OF the country many times the cost OF
maintaining the survey. which, Il may
be added, is exceedingly small I recon-
mend TO Congress that this bureau
whose usefulness Is seriously haudi-
capped by lack OF funds, be granted an
appropriation in some degrees commen-
srrate with the Importance Of the
work II is doing.
Ocean Mail Service.
I call your especial attention TO the
unsatisfactory condition of our foreign
mail service. which, because Of the
lack OF american steamship lines. is
nov largely done through foreign lines,
and which, particularly so far as South
and Central America are concerned. IS
done in a manner which constitutes a
serious barrier to the extension OF our
commerce.
The time has come. in my Judgment.
to set to work seriously to make our
ocean mail service correspond more
closely with our recent commercial and
political development. A beginning was
made by the ocean mail act Of March
3 1891. but sven at that time the act
was shown 20 be inadequate IN various
particulars. Since that time events