Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-20

their proper extension. and the beads
up by the proceeds Of returns to the
reclamation fund. which returns. a.
the years 20 on. will increase rapidly
in amount.
New Law Requisite.
Respecting the comparatively smail
tfmbered areas on the public domain not
included In national forests because Of
their isolation or their special value for
agricultural or mineral purposes, 1t Is APP
parent from the evils resulting by vfr-
tue Of the imperfectlons of existing avs
for the disposition Of timber lands that
the acts OF June 8, 1873. should be re-
pealed and a law enacted for the dispo-
sition Of the timber at public sale. the
lands after tho emovel of the timber to
DO subject to appropriation under the
agricultural or mineral land laws.
What ! have said Is really an epitome
OF the recommendations OF the secretary
OF Tho interior In respect to the future
conservation of the public domain In his
present annual report. He has given
close attention to the problem OF DISPOSE
ton OF these lands under such conditions
as to invite the private capital necessary
to their development on the one hand.
and tho maintenance OF the restrictions
necessary to prevent monopoly and abuse
from absolute ownership on the other.
These recommendations are Incorporated
In bills he has prepared. and they are at
the disposition of the congress. / earnest
ly recommend that all tho suggestions
which he has made with respect to these
and shall he embodied in statutes and
especially. that the Withdrawals already
made shall be validated SO far as neces-
sary and that doubt as to the authority
OF the secretary of the Interior to with
draw lands for the purpose of submitting
A. H,-. H.
of them where new legislation Is needed
shall be made complete and unauestioned.
Disposition Of Forest Reserves.
The forest reserves Of the United
States, some 100. coo, 600 acrcs in extent. are
under the control of the department of
agriculture, with authority adequate to
preserve them and to extend their growth
90 far as that may be practicable. The
importance of the maintenance OF our
forests cannot be exaggerated. The possi-
bility of a scientific treatment of forests
so that they shall be made to yield @
large return in timber without really re-
ducing the supply has been demonstrated
in other countries. and we should work
toward the standard set by them as far
as their methods are applicable 20 U
conditions.
Improvement Of River.
! come now to the improvement OF the
inland waterways. He would be blind.
indeed. who did not realize that the peo-
Pile of the far west. and especially those
Of the Mississippi valley. have been
aroused to the need there Is for the Ina
provement Of our inland waterways.
Tho Mississippi river. with the Missouri
on the one hand and the Ohio on the
other, would seem to offer q great nat
and trafic. How far. II properly improved
they would relieve the railroads or sup
plement them in respect to the bulkier
and cheaper commodities 10 Q matter OF
conjecture. No enterprise ought to be
undertaken the cost Of which 10 not def
initely ascsrtained and the bensht and
advantage Of which are not known and
authority. When. however. . project OF
. Definite character for the Improvement
Of . waterway has been developed %
that the plans have been drawn. the cost
definitely estimated. n the trafae
which will be accommodated 10 reason
probable think II is the duty OF
congress to undertake the project N
make provision therefor la the proper APP
preparation bill.
One OF the projects which answers the
description ! have given 10 that Of intro
ducing dams into the Ohio river from
Pittsburg to Cairo. so as to maintain at
all seasons o.. the year. by slack water.
a depth OF nine feet. Upward Of seven
Of these dams nave already been con-
structed and six are under construction.
while the total required Is 80. The re-
naming cost 10 known to be Ss3.0O0 900.
1t seems to me that in tho development
OF our inland waterways IL would be
wise 10 begin with this particular project
and carry 1t through as rapidly as may
be. ] assume from reliable
that Il can be constructed economically
In ten years. recommend. therefore,,
that the public lands. In river and har-
Dor bills. make provision for continuing
contracts to complete this Improvement,