The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-09-10

from this new arrangement. More
than year ago all Western roads en-
tered an agreement to lengthen sched-
ules to the Pacific Coast. The Hill
lines are ready to repudiate this under
standing, for the benefit of better mail
service.
1t has been suggested that the reg
ular army be used in times Of peace
for fighting forest fires and it is prob
able that strong effort will be made
to this end in the near future. Already
such uses have been made of the reg
ulars at posts located in timbered areas,
but fire-ighting has never been re-
garded as a part of the army's routine
service. Army officers Of the North
west do not take kindly to the pro-
posal, as they declare such change
would interfere with martial discipline.
But in view of the great waste Of one
of the chief natural resources Of this
part OF the country each year by fires,
the suggestion appeals strongly to
those interested in conserving timber
interests.
In order to cope with wheat thieves
who are operating in the Wilson Creek
district, the ranchers are planning to
organize band Of might riders" who
will patrol the roads from dark till dawn
until the ranchers haul their wheat to
the warehouses. George Korksen has
lost twenty sacks and w. H. Appling
ten sacks of wheat, stolen from their
grain fields. The enterprising grain
'raisers" drive into the field at night,
load their wagons and hike away in
the darkness. 1t is almost impossible
to track the thieves. And it is almost
equally impossible for the farmers to
guard against such losses, especially
where the grain has been handled with
a combine and the sacks are scattered
over half section or more of land.
A new era in the commercial re-
lations between the United States and
the Orient is about to begin. At least
that is the prediction made by mem
bers of the Honorary Japanese Com
mercial Commission now touring the
country under the auspices Of the AS
ISOLATED Chambers of Commerce of
the Pacific Coast. They reached Seattle
on the steamship Minnesota last week
and after participating in Japan Day at
the Alaska Yukon-Pacif Exposition
started on a trip OF three
the itinerary including every
important commercial section Of the
country. Baron Shibusawa, the lead
ing business man of Japan, heads the
delegation which comes with instruc-
tons from the Mikado, to use its in
auence to cement the friendly relations
between the two great nations border
ing on the Pacific Ocean and to slim
ulate reciprocal trade relations.
Washington's member of President
Taft's cabinet, Richard A. Ballinger,
secretary of the Interior Department,
made himself strong with the recent
National Conservation Congress when
he said: "One thing I do wish to i'm
press upon this assembly, and that is
that the day has gone when our vast
natural resources can be converted to
personal uses. l say this as repre-
of this government. This
desires to and will con-
serve our resources. With this
straightforward declaration, Secretary
Ballinger shattered the controversy
which hostile newspapers have been
trying to rib up between him and
Chief Forester Pinchot. John Barrett,
who presides over the International
Bureau of American Republics, in re-
fening to the episode, told the con-
that it was fortunate
thing that there was difference of
opinion among the heads of depart
ments, for it precluded stagnation and
insured the attainment of the best pos
sible results for all.
Apples Are Food and Medicine
Apples should be part Of the diet of
every man, woman and child. They