The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-06-19

forest reserves from the raWageS OF
fire, converted the arid lands and
waste places into fertile fields and
poisoning gardens, extended our
producing area for grains westward
into the dry regions. so that nearly
so million bushels year are being
grown in regions which have hereto
lore been unproductive, and in every
way possible conserving the natural
resources of the country for our
selves and the generations to come
after us.
The-department of commerce and
labor, organized in 1903, has been ac-
tive and potential in extending our
commerce and protecting our labor.
1t has dispatched messengers to for
eign countries, particularly to South
America and the Orient, to learn the
needs and tastes of the people with
view of increasing our trade. The
exports, which in 1908 aggregated
1892 million dollars, will, it is esti-
mated, in 1908 aggregate about 1000
millions, showing an increase prac-
tically to every country. Its bureau
of statistics has established a system
of recording the internal commerce
of the country on the great lakes and
at important interior centers It's 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 beneficen,
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 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. 1t 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. It 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 Of
their employment 1t has enacted a
trict of Columbia 1t 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
S15o,0OO for an investigation into the
cause of mine accidents with a view
of promoting the safety of workers
in our mines
1t is within bounds to say that no
previous sessions OF congress have
displayed more active or intelligent
interest in the needs of the wage
earners than the past three sessions.
nor has there heretofore in the same
length of time been as much impor-
tant and progressive legislation in the
interests. of this class of our fellow
citizens.
The work of the department of the
interior has been prosecuted under
the present. administration with intel
ligence and vigor. During the past
year over million acres of coal
lands have been restored to the pub
lie domain. During the last five
years fences unlawfully closing pub
lie lands have been removed from
3,5l9,533 acres, and steps are now be-
ing taken to remove from such in
closures 3,750,00O other acres.
During the past five years S516,5O1
have been collected for timber tres
passes upon the public land, and
other judgments have been collected
on claims compromised yielding
$510,6s1.
During the last five years 1872
fraudulent land entries have been
cancelled, restoring to the public do
main 1,259.s40 acres. From July 1,
1902, to May 1, 1908, deeds for 100
acres each have been granted to
275,333 homestead settlers on the
public domain. covering 44,O53,2sO
acres.
Since July 1, 1906, 171,O47 original
homestead and desert land entries
have been made, embracing 2s,371, 400
acres, carrying out the avowed policy
of the president to prevent monopoly
of our public lands and place family
on every 100 acres. 1t is estimated
by conservative engineers that the
reclamation act will bring into culti-
walton and occupancy a quarter mil
lion acres of land now desert and
uninhabitable, to be fashioned into
farms for our people, and this vast
area will be. brought into cultivation
without entailing the loss of a single
dollar to the national treasury, as
the land reclaimed is assessed, and
the owner must return to the treasury
the cost Of reclamation.
hIC 10 he L.,