Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-12-16

has been consummated. Now that
there ia no vegetation, the barren
mountains, scorched by the sun, send
up currents of heated air which drive
away instead of attracting the rain
clouds, and cause their moistlre to be
disseminated. In consequence, instead
Of the regular AID plentiful rains which
existed in these regions of China when
the forests were still in evidence, the
unfortunate inhabitants of the defor-
ested lands now see their crops wither
for lack ~. rainfall, while the seasons
grow more and more irregular: and
as the air becomes dryer certain crops
refuse longer to grow at all. In addi-
ton to the resulting agricultural dis
tress, the watercourses have changed.
Formerly they were narrow and deep.
with an abundance OF clear water the
year around; for the roots and humus
of the forests caught the rain water
and let IL escape by slow. regular seep-
age. They have now become broad.
shallow stream beds, in which muddy
water trickles in slender currents dur
ing the dry seasons, while when it
rains there are freshets, and roaring
muddy torrents come tearing down,
bringing disaster and destruction
everywhere. What has thus happened
in northern China, what has happened
in central Asia, in Palestine, in porth
Africa, in parts of the Mediterranean
countries of Europe, will surely happen
in our country If we do not exercise
that wise forethought which should be
one of the chief marks of any people
calling itself civilized. Nothing should
be permitted to stand in the way OF
the preservation of the forests, and it
is criminal to permit Individuals to
purchase little gain for themselves
through the destruction of forests
when this destruction is fatal to the
wellbeing of the whole country in the
future.
Inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith,
during the present session of the con-
gress, for the improvement of our in
land INTERPRETATION which will re-
suit in giving us not only navigable
but navigated rivers. We have spent
hundreds of millions of dollars upon
these waterways. yet the traffic on
nearly all of them is steadily declin-
ing. This condition is the direct result
of The absence of any comprehensive
and far7eeing plan of waterway i'm
pro- emellt. The plan which promises
the best and quickest results is that
of permanent commission authorized
to coordinate the work of all the gov
eminent departments relating to water
ways, and to frame and supervise the
execution of comprehensive plan.
The time for playing with our water
ways is past. The country demands
results.
The president urges that all our ma
tional parks adjacent to national for
ests be placed completely under the
control of the forest service of the
agricultural department, instead of
leaving them as they now are, under
the interior department and policed by
the army. Congress should provide
for superintendent with adequate
corps of first-class civilian rangers.
The president urges postal savings
banks and parcels post. Better aid
to the national educational department
is advised; war on tuberculosis and
other diseases is applauded: and the
president recommends that legislation
be enacted placing under the jurlsdic-
ton of the department of commerce
and labor the government printing Of
fee. AT present this office is under
the combined control, supervision and
dent and of the joint committee on
printing Of the two houses of congress.
1t has 1859 employees and spends from
100000 to $7.000,000 a year. The
president advocates the immediate ad-
mission of New Mexico and Arizona as
states and calls the attention OF con
gress to the Importance of the prob,
lem of the fisheries in the interstate
waters. The fisheries Of the Missis.
sippi, the Ohio and the Potomac ere
in bad way. For this there is no
remedy except for the United States to
control and legislate for the Interstate
fisheries as part of the business OF in
+sr5tate commerce The federal q at
ute regulating interstate traffic in game
should be extended to include fish.
Foreign Affairs.
We have behaved, and are behaving,
towards other nations, as in private
life an honorable man wNREd behave
towards his fellows.
Panama Canal
The wor oA the Panama canal is
being done with speed. efficiency and
entire devotion to duty, which make ii
a model Of all work Of the kind. No
task OF such magnitude has ever before
been undertaken by any nation; and no
task of the kind has ever tssn better
performed.
Recommendation is made Cor the
extension of the ocean mail AIT of 1891
so That SAT- f., Glory American ocean
mail fines to soutN America, Asia, the
Philippines and Australasia may be
established.
Hawaii.
We have begun to improve Pearl
harbor in Hawaii, for naval base and