River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-05


suits were achieved in the rainy sea-
son with rainfall in August of 11.S9
inches and in September of 1855 inches.
Finally, in October the record was
again eclipsed, the total excavation be-
ing 1,S6S,729 cubic yards; a truly ex-
traordinary record. especially in view
of the heavy rainfall, which was III
inches.~ In fact experience during the
last two rainy seasons demonstrates
that the rains are a less serious OBJ
stacle to progress than has hitherto
been supposed.
Work on the locks and dams at
Gatun, which began actively in March
last has advanced so far that it is
thought that masonry work on the
locks can be begun within 10 months.
Last winter bids were requested and
received for doing the work of canal
construction by contract. None of them
was found to be satisfactory and all
were rejected. 1t is the unanimous
opinion of the present commission that
the work can be done better, more
cheaply, and more quickly by the gov
eminent than by private contractors.
Fully so per cent. of the entire plant
needed for construction has been pur-
chased or contracted for; machine
shops have been erected and equipped
for making all needed repairs to the
plant; many thousands of employees
cation has been perfected; a recruiting
system is in operation which is capable
of furnishing more labor than can be
used advantageouSly; employees are
we'll sheltered and we'll fed; salaries
paid are satisfactory, and the work is
not only going forward smoothly but
it is producing results far in advance
of the most sanguine anticipations.
Under these favorable conditions. a
change in the method of prosecuting
the work would be unwise and unjusti-
fable, for it would inevitably disorgan-
ize existing conditions, check progress,
and increase the cost and lengthen the
time of completing the canal.
President Recommends
Postal Savings Banks.
II commend to the favorable consid-
Grafton of the congress q postal saw
ings bank system, as recommended by
the postmaster general. The primary
object is to encourage among our peo-
pie economy and thrift and by the use
of postal savings banks to give them
an opportunity to husband their re-
sources, particularly those who have
not the facilities at hand for depositing
their money in savings banks. Viewed,
however, from the experience of the
past few weeks, it is evident that the
advantages of such an institution are
still more far-reaching. Timid depos-
ltOrS have withdrawn their savings for
the time being from national banks; in
div1dualS have boarded their cash and
the Workingmen their earnings; all
of which money has been withdrawn
and kept in hiding or in the safe de-
posit box to the detriment Of pros
perity. Through the agency of the pos
tai savings banks such money would be
restored to the channels of trade, to
the mutual benefit of capital and labor.
h a1S R0VO1 01klT1d fO In nY7O
the consideration of the postmaster
generals recommendation for an eX
tension of the parcel post, especially on
the rural routes There are now 49,
215 rural routes, serving nearly $4,000
600 people who do not have the ad-
vantageS of the inhabitants of cities in
obtaining their supplies. These recon-
mendations have been drawn up to
benefit the farmer and the country
Storekeeper; otherwise, I should not
favor them, for / believe that it is good
policy for our government to do every
thing possible to aid the small town
and the country district. 1t is desirable
that the country merchant should not
be crushed out
THE fourth-c1ass postmasters' con-
vention has passed a very strong reso
luton in favor of placing the fourth
class postmaSters under the civil-serv-
ice law. The administration has al
ready put into effect the policy of re-
fusing to remove any fourth class post
masters save for reasons connected
with the good of the service; and it is
endeavoring SO far as possible to re-
move them from the domain of partisan
politics. 1t would be a most desirable
thing to put the fourth class postmas-
ters in the classified service"
He renews his recommendations of
last year in regard to Alaska; calls at
as a state; urges the Importance of pro-
viding shipping relief for Hawaii; asks
for citizenship for Porto Ricans, and
promises submission of Secretary
Taft's report on Philippines when that
official returns.
He asks for the creation of a bureau
OF mines; recommends the providing of
funds for preserving The Hermitage
the home of Andrew Jackson; and the
erection of a naval monument at
Vicksburg.
Corporation Contributions
to COmpaign Expenses.
Under our form of government voting
is not merely a right but a duty, and,
moreover, fundamental and necessary
duty II man is to be a good citizen
1t is well to provide that corporations
shall not contribute to presidential or
national campaigns, and Furthermore to
provide for the publication of both con-
tributionS and expenditures. There is
however, always danger in laws of this
kind, which from their very nature are
difficult of enforcement; the danger being
lest they be obeyed 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 ham
per an INSCRIPTIONS man of unlimited
means from buying his own way into Of
fce There is very radical measure
which would, l believe, work a substan-
tial Improvement in our system of con-
Quoting campaign, although 1 am well
aware that it will take some time for
people to so familiarize themselves with
such proposal as to be willing to con-
slider its adoption The need for collect
ing large campaign funds would vanish il
congress provided an appropriation for
the proper and legitimate expenses of
each of the great national parties an ap-
preparation ample enough to meet the
necessity for thorough organization and
machinery, which requires a large ex-
penditure of money. Then the stipula-
ceiving campaign funds from the treasury
should accept more than q fixed amount
from any individual subscriber or donor;
and the necessary publicity for receipts
and expenditures could without diffic lily
be provided"
Wants Improvement I'm the
Ocean Mail Service.
II call your especial attention to the I'M
satisfactory condition of our foreign mail
service, which, because of the lack of
American steamship lines, is now largely
done through foreign lines, and which,