The Benson signal., 1918-02-16

! tNe overseas S0FVaCe VI taA0 AuIoE3s
can Library association Is In opera
ton. Although space is extremely
valuable aboard transports, they have
been provided with bookcases holding
collections Of books which are used
as circulating libraries on the way
over. The cases are emptied at port
of debarkation and the books sent to
the men in the field.
AS a means of further increasing the
supply of books among the overseas
forces, the association plans to have
each soldier carry a book in his kit,
to be put in circulation when he
reaches the other side
Secretary Houston of the depart
ment of agriculture has set forth the
policy which he thinks should be fol-
lowed in highway construction during
the war:
$50 far as It is practicable to do so,
this department will urge the main
tenance of the highways already con-
structed; the construction and cons
pletiOn of those highways which are
vitally important because of their
bearing upon the war situation or for
he movement OF commodities the
Dostponement of all highway construo-
lon relatively less essential or not
based upon important military or
economic needs. The department is
preparing to suggest to the state high
way departments the preparat ton of
schedule of work for the federal aid
projects for 1918 in line with this pol
ICY"
Road construction and maintenance
in the United States involve an annual
expenditure of about $500, 100000.
The department of labor is arrang
ing to bring into the United States
10000 laborerS for railroad and farm
work, from Porto Rico and the Virgin
islands, according to Louis f. Post,
assistant secretary Of the department
of labor
Mr.. Post declares there is no neces-
sity for importing common labor from
Mexico or China. Porto Rico is an
agricultural territory and yet has q
density of population exceeded by only
three states. A considerable surplus
of workers exists on the island. 1t
can furnish 100000 laborers, and the
Virgin islands can send 10000 more.
Arrangements are being made to
bring over $4,000 men as soon as ton
mage is available.
A recent report made by the United
States consul in Tasmania, an island
state of Australia, includes the follow
ing:
"The general scheme for the repatri-
alton of returned soldiers contemplates
placing them upon the land. At re-
cent conference between the common
wealth and the state authorities, 1t
was decided that each state would
have to find the land, while the COM
monwealth government would advance
up to 81, 433 to improve the holding of
each returned soldier and to procure
the necessary stock and implements
In this state it was deemed that the
crown lands would prove too difficult
to improve to attract returned SOL
dierS, and it was decided to purchase
large estates and divide them up into
small farms and to use the money ad-
vanced by the commonwealth govern
ment for buildings, fences and tools.
The money expended by the state in
purchasing the land, as we'll as the
money advanced by the commonwealth
fDr re iC
property and must be repaid in small
annual payments. 1t was also decided
by the commonwealth to advance
money to returned soldiers who may
desire to rent land. Bills will be in
trOduced into the various parliamentS
at once so that this scheme can be
put into operation throughout Aus
tralia."
For purposes of operation railroads
Of the United States have been placed
n three divisions, as follows:
Eastern Railroads.-The railroads in
that portion of the United States north
Of the Ohio and Potomac rivers and
east of Lake Michigan and the In
diana-Illinois state line; also those
railroads in Illinois extending into it
from points east of the 1ndiana-1lli-
nois state line; also the Chesapeake
& Ohio, the Norfolk & Western, and
the yirglnlan railways.
Southern Railroads.&c. railroads
in that portion of the United States
south of the Ohio and Potomac rivers
and east of the Mississippi river, ex-
cept the Chesapeake & Ohio, Norfolk
& Western, and the Virginian railways,
and also those railroads in Illinois and
Indiana extending into those states
from points south of the Ohio river.
Western Railroads.-An railroads
not included in the above definitions
and, broadly speaking, all railroads in
the territory west of Lake Michigan
and Of the IndianaIllinois state line