Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-06-19

tOtS bCCu uuy1SNuNSNVp 0A~ IA SfSAy
way possible conserving the natural
resources of the country TOR our
selves and the generations to come
after u.s.
The department of commerce and
labor, organized in 1908, has been &C
tive and potential in exteneing our
commerce and protecting ouE labor.
4 has dispatched messengers to for
ngn countries, particularly to South
America and the Orient, to learn the
needs and tastes of the people with
view of creas!ng our trade. The
exports, which in 1903 aggregated
1892 million dollars, will, it is esti-
mated, in 1908 aggregate about 1900
millions, showing an increase prac-
tically to every country. Its bureau
of recording the internal commerce
of the country on the great lakes and
at important interior centers. Its bu-
reau of manufactures has brought
about moreintimate relations between
the manufacturers of the United
States and buyers abroad and, by
bringing purchasers into closer touch
with dealers, aided in the extension
of foreign markets for our manu-
features.
1t has co-operated in the benehcent
work of arbitration to avert or ter
inmate strikes and promote The inter-
ests of our laboring people. Con-
gress has wisely co-operated with and
supplemented the work of this de-
partment by enacting a law for the
better protection of seamen and to
prevent their being induced to ship
through false representations. 1t has
provided for an investigation into the
conditions Of working women and
children. It has amended and
strengthened the law to prevent the
importation of contract labor and
provided a plan for the further ex-
clusion of that class of Asiatic immi-
grafton which enters into competition
with American workmen. 1t has en-
acted law limiting the hours Of la
Dor of employees engaged in railway
train service and of railway tele-
graphers.
The congress just closed re-enacted
the law passed by the Fifty-ninth
congress to conform to the opinion
of the supreme court, making COM
mon carriers liable for accidents to
their employees engaged in interstate
commerce. 1t has enacted a law for
the further protection of the life of
railroad employees in their hazardous
employment. 1t has provided COM
pensation for laborers and mechanics
who may be injured in the service
Of the government and making a pro-
vision for their families in the event
Of their being killed in the course oil
their employment. 1t has enacted a
model child labor law for the Dis
trict of Columbia It has directed a
thorough investigation into the work
ing conditions of the employees Of the
telegraph and telephone companies
doing interstate business. and, in re-
Spouse to the urgent appeal from
both capital and labor, congress be.
fore its adjournment appropriated
$4,000 for an investigation into the
cause of mine accidents with a view
of promoting the safety of worker:
in our mines
| It is within bounds to say that mi
previous sessions Of congress have
displayed more active or intelligen
interest in the needs of the wage
earners than the past three sessions
nor has there heretofore in the sam,
tant and progressive legislation in thu
interests of this class of our fellow
citizens.
The work of the department of tn
interior has been prosecuted unde
the present. administration with intel
ligence and vigor During the pas
year over 2 million acres of Goa
lands have been restored to the pub
lie domain. During the last fv
years fences unlawfu1ly closing pub
lie lands have been removed from
3,519,533 acres. and steps are now be
ing taken to remove from such in
closures 3,75O,00o other acres.
During the past FIVE years s516,50
have been collected for timber tres
passes upon the public land, an
other judgments have been collects
on claims compromised yieldin
$51o6e1.
During the last FIVE years ~
fraudulent lcnd entries have hoe
Cancelled. restoring to the pnhl:~ "a
main 1879 $40 acres. From July
1902. to May /, 1908, deeds for &c
acres each have been granted t
s75.322 homestead settlers or tn
public domain, covering 44,05P.2s
acres.
Since July /, 1906. 171.o47 origin;
homestead and desert land entire
. have been made, embracing ss,37l.4a
acres, carving cu: IKE avowed och
, of the president to- prevent monopl
:. Of our pubic lands and place f2ril
. on every 166 acres. It is estiTnat,
: by conservative engineers that til
reclamation sci WI! bring i.to GU.
! vat;on and nccunarcy quarter mi
! lion acres OF land now desert an
. uninhahitahle. to he fashioned int
farms for our people, ard ttis vas
area VII be hroE~ht into cult:yatio
without entaisinr the loss of sing
:, dollar 10 the national treasury, "a
, the land reclaimed is assessed, an
the owner must ret.rn to the treasur
the cost of reclamation.
I Under this act the government f,a
constructed 1881 miles of canals, 8
!. tunnels and Gil miles Of wagon road
q into; heretofore Inaccessible region
!. the expenditures in this work aggr,