The Detroit times., 1910-12-06


existing laws an respect TO much OF tEc
pubic domain | have not thought THAT
ne danger OF disposing coal lands IN
the lInittd states under the present
laws IA iars. quantities. was ." great
rs 70 cali Tor theiF withdrawal be
'anr" under the present provisions IL
II i,asonabty certain that the govern
: btht VIII receive the real value OF the
/ lhhd. nut, In respect to oil lands, or
phosphate lands. and OF gas lands In
/ the united states, and In respect TO
cral lands In Alaska, l have exercised
! the run power OF withdrawal with the
Lope thnt IN" action OF congress would
! follow promptly aud prevent that T.
/ ing up Of the resources OF the country
In the western and less settled portion
ana In Alaska, which means staGnation
ana retrogrt ssion.
D. The question Of conservation Is not "a
| partisan one. and ! sincerely hope that
even III the short time of the present
session consideration may be given To
/ those questions which have now been
| much discussed and that action may
he taken n2on them.
Alaska.
| ] am convinced that the migratory
| character Of the population. ms UT
| equal distribution. and its smallness Of
| number which the new census shows
| To be about 10000. in relation To the
enormous expanse or the territory,
make II altogether impracticable 10
| give 10 those people VINO are In Alaska
today and may not be there a year
I
to govern immense territory 30
which they have a relation so little
| permanent. IL is far better for the oe-
veiopment OF the territory that IL oe
pointed by the Executive.
have been asked TO recommend that
the credit OF the government be ex-
tended to aid she construction OF rail
roads in Alaska. ! am not ready now
| to do SO. - great many millions OF dol
| lars have already been expended In the
construction or at least two railroads,
and IL laws be passed providing for the
| proper Development OF the resources OF
Alaska, especially for the opening up
| or the coal lands. ! believe that the
capital already Invested will induce the
! Investment OF more capital. sufficient
to complete the railroads building, and
| TO furnish cheap coal not only To Alas
ka but tn the whole Paciric coast.
| DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.
The report OF the secretary OF agri-
culture invites attention to the stu
pendous value OF the agricultural pro-
ducts or tails country, amounting In all
TO Ss.s26.O0O.OO0 for this year. This
amount Is larger than that OF 1909 by
$3O5, 100000. The existence OF such a
crop indicates a good prospect for bust
ness throughout the country.
The report contains a most interest
ing account Of the activities OF the de-
partinent IN Its various bureaus. show
| Ing how closely the agricultural prog
| ress In this country Is following along
the lines or Improvement recommended
By the department through it's publica-
tons and the results OF Its experiment
stations In every state. and by the in
structions given through the aFricp
| tural schools aided by the federal gov
eminent and following the general cur
riculum urged by the head and bureau
chiefs OF me department.
Forest Service.
| have already referred TO the for
ests or the United States and their eA-
tent. and have urged, as | do again.
the removal OF III elimination upon the
power OF the executive To reserve other
tracts OF land in six western states In
which Withdrawal for this purpose is
now forbidden. The secretary Of agri-
culture gives a very fun description oil
the disastrous fires that oco urred dur
Ing the last summer in the national
forests
The damage dore was not due to the
lack OF an appropriation by congress
available TO meet the emergency, hut
the difficulty OF hghtina IL Law in the
remote points whore the ares began
and where IL was impossible with the
roads ana trails as they now exist
promptly to reach them. Proper pro-
lection necessitates. as the secretary
points out the expenditure of a good
deal more money In the development OF
roads aRd trails in the forests. the es-
| Enlistment OF lookout stations, and
telephone connection between them and
places where assistance can be secured
The amount OF reforestation shown In
the report OF the forest service--only
about 1000 acres as compared with the
l6O millions Of acres OF national forests
seems small, and l am glad TO note
that In this regard the secretary OF
agriculture and the chief OF the forest
service are looking forward TO far
greater activity In the use OF available
government land for this purpose.
bureau Of Light II ouses.
The reorganization OF the light house
board has effected very considerable
saving in the administration, and the
estimates for that service for the pres
ent year are S42S.00O less than for the
preceding year.
Bureau of Corporations.
The commissioner OF corporations has
just completed the first part OF re-
port on the lumber industry in the
United states. This part does not treat
OF the question OF a trust or combina
/ tion In the manufacture OF lumber.
subject to be dealt with later. The
con: missioner does find, however, n con-
dition in the ownership OF the standing
tim Der OF the United states. other than
the government timber. that calls for
serious attention. The direct investiga-
tion made by the commissioners covered
an area which contains 80 per cent OF
the privately timber OF the Coun-
try His report shows that one-half OF
the timber In this is owned by
200 individuals AID corporations; that
Ia Per cent is owned by corporations,
ownership or stock, as well as other
circumstances. all pointing to friendly
relations among those who own a ma
tority of this timber, relationship
which might lead to a combination for
the maintenance OF a price that would
be very detrimental TO the public In
terest. and would create tn enecessity
or removing all tariff obstacles to the
free importations of lumber from other
countries.
Burean Of Labor.
The commissioner Of labor mas been
actively engaged In composing the diff
ferenccs between employers and en-
ployes engaged In interstate Transport
tation, under the Erdman Act Jointly
with the chairman OF the interstate
commerce commission. | can not speak
In too high terms Of the success OF
these two officers in Cancellation and
settlement of controversies which hut
for their interposition, would have re-
suited disdrtrously to all interests
invite attention to the very serious
injury caused to all those who are en-
gagged In the manufacture OF phosphor-
Gus matches. The diseases incident to
this are frightful, and az matches can
be made from other materials entirely
innocucus. believe that tho Injurious
manufacture could be discouraged ard
ought to discouraged by the imposi-
ton OF n heavy federal tax. | recon-
mend the adoption OF this method OF
stamping out a very serious abuse
EIght-Hour LAW.
Since 1868 IL has been the declared
purpose OF this government To favor
by provision OF law that none OF the
employees employed BY or on behalf OF
the government should work longer
| than eight hours In every twenty-four.