The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-12-09

with respect 10 the pdFcelS post,
respectfully recommend its adoption
on all rural delivery routes, and that
II pounds-the international limit-be
made the limit Of carriage in such
post"
Abolish Navy Yards.
The president calls attention to GER
tain reforms urged by the secretary of
the navy which he recommends for
adoption, and continues:
The estimates Of the navy depart
ment are 100000 less than the ap-
preparations for the same purpose last
year, and included in this is the build
ing program of the same amount as
that submitted for your consideration
last year 1t is merely carrying out
the plan Of building two battleships a
year, with few needed auxiliary YES
sells. l earnestly hope that this pro-
gram will be adopted.
The secretary of the navy has
given personal examination to every
navy yard, and has studied the uses
Of the navy yards with reference to
the necessities of our fleet With a
fleet considerably less than half the
size of that of the British navy, we
have shipyards more than double the
number, and there are several Of these
shipyards extensively equipped with
modern machinery, which, after inves-
tigati0n the secretary of the navy be-
lieves to be entirely useless for naval
purposes He asks authority to aban-
don certain of them and to move their
machinery to other places, where it
can be made of USE"
The complete success of our coun-
try In arctic exploration should not re-
main unnoticed The unparalleled
achievement of Peary in reaching the
north pole, April 6, 1909, approved by
critical examination of the most ex-
pert scientists, has added to the dis.
tinction of our navy, to which he be-
longs, and reflects credit upon his
country. recommend fitting recogni.
ton by congress Of the great achieve
ment Of Robert Edwin Peary."
Conservation.
THE subject of the conservation of
the public domain has commanded the
attention of the people within the last
two or three years.
There is no need for radical re-
form in the methods of disposing of
what are really agricultural lands. The
present laws have worked well. The
enlarged homestead law has encour.
aged the successful farming of lands
in the semi-arid regions.
Nothing can be more important In
the matter of conservation than the
treatment of our forest lands. 1t was
probably the ruthless destruction OF
forests in the older states that frs,
called attention to the necessity for 9
halt in the waste of our resources.
I'm the present forest reserves there
are lands which are not properly for
est, and which ought to be subject tc
homestead entry This has caused
some local irritation. We are care
fully eliminating such lands from for
est reserves or where their elimina
ton is not practical listing them fol
entry under the forest homestead act
Congress ought to trust the execu
tive to use the power Of reservation
only with respect to land most valu
able for forest purposes. During thu
present administration, 62250, OOt
acres Of land largely non-timbered
have been excluded from forest re
serves, and 100000 acres of Ian,
principally valued for forest purposes
have been included In forest reserves
making reduction In forest reserves
of non.timbered land amounting t,
2.750,000 acres"
Coat Lands.
) "The next subject, and one most I'm
, portant for your consideration. Is tn
J disposition Of the coal lands In tn