The state herald., 1909-01-15

intendent of Public Instruction that
teachers should be better paid than
any other individuals serving the pub
lie. We ought to make the teaching
vocation attractive, as a life vocation,
both to men and women OF the finest
edge of faculty.
The State Land Board.-The vast
business of the State Land Board has
been managed in thoroughly capable
and business like manner. The in
crease in the receipts of that board
discloses the fact that Colorado Is
growing in q healthy manner The
constant thought OF the Board OF Land
Commissioners has been to sell the
state lands to actual home makers.
The receipts for the biennial period
have been $S25,90l.67. The prices Sc
cured for lands have been decidedly
better tnan in any former period. The
register of the Land Board makes
three recommendations In which I
heartily concur. First: That you
create by act of the Legislature Il
Board of Land Commissioners, to he
appointed by the governor. with the
State Superintendent of Public lnstru--
tion as member of that board ex
oliicio. At the beginning of the history
of the state the executive officers OF
the state were made members of the
various state boards either by the con
siitution or by early statutes. At that
time the population of the state was
small and the revenues were not adc-
quate to Justify an expenditure for sep
arate boards. All that is changed now.
The executive officers now have abund
ant wnrl; N ,ln without hoiuy rpnnirnI
TO give any time to these boards which
require technical knowledge. So II is
hoped that you will make a new de
parture and create such Il Board Of
Land Commissioners. Second: The
state ought to be permitted. by law.
to go into irrigation districts to secure
water for state lands just as private
individual. Now the state is prevented
from obtaining water for its lands and
therefore we are cstopped from max
ing certain state lands valuable You
all understand that It is important that
water should be secured for these state
lands when the irrigation district IL
formed. Third: The law now prohib-
its the sale of less than forty acres to
one person. but the state owns tracts
of land of less than forty acres. Lcgis-
ih'ioh shoulu Itii'Nt luis TtblTitllbll
The National Guard am glad to
report that the National Guard of Col
orado is In an exceptionally fine condi-
tlon at this time. The officers and
men of the Guard are all pulling to
gcther now. " thCut petty quarrcls tor
the advancement uf the Guard | have
handled all the business OF the Ma
tional Guard absolutely without any
political consideration Two things are
fundamental TO the welfare of the
Guard. First: A re.enactmenL or
amending of the present state laws
which will enable the National Guard
Of Colorado TO conform In organization.
armament and discipline to that pre-
scribed for the regular army of the
United States. Second: The State
Military Board has now undertaken the
purchase of site Tor an armofy for
the sum OF 5000 That means an
expenditure of approximately $4,000
annually for three years. Z, the state
Military Board with It's present re-
sources can not erect proper armory
for that portion OF the National Guard
Of Colorado which Is stationed in the
city Of Denver We. therefore. ought
to have an appropriation which shall
be adequate To the erection of large
nrmcry That means quarter OF u
million dollars.
The Soldiers and Slilors' Home
From the National Guard to the State
Soldiers and Sailors Home is nat
ural transition. The national Inspector
Of soldiers homes reports that the
most home.like home In the country
A. A. - A. -
Captain Aldrich. the commander. mas
served with marked success In a posl
tion which few men are competent to
iill. Old soldiers. with nothing 10 do.
growing weaker In body and some
times weaker In mind. day by day. are
liable to become somewhat querulouH-
Now when you have Il few very qucr
ulous and very dlsagreeable aud very
opinionated old soldiers on the outside
who give their time chiefly to fomont
ing discord in the home, you can see
that the commanders position is on.
requiring tact anC selfcOntrol and pa
tlence. All that Captain Aldrich has
had In plenty lie has been sustained
by as fine n board OF commissioners
ms ever served Soldiers Home In
such capacity In the history of our
country. ! am so proud OF the fine
work that has been done at Monte
Vista to make the old soldiers com
Portable and happy that I wish at this
time and In this place TO thank most
warmly Captain c. 8 Aldrich. the com
mander: and the commissioners. Can.
tain l.. H. Cheney of Monte Vista.
General II. S. Vaughn Of Denver. Gen
eral II. o. Dodge of Boulder and Cap
tain Harry G. Watson of Greeley. the
Department Commander of the GranL
Army Of tn, Republic. May God Civ.
To all old soldiers comfort ani cheer
during all the years OF life aud In tho
end n quiet heart for The Long Fur
lough
Civil serviee.-The passage of the
Civil Service Act by the Sixteenth
General Assembly made beginning In
u much needed reform In Colorado.
The law has not been long enough IN
operation to Justify the request for any
Oh