The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-11-27
SAVE NATIONS Wealth.
GOVERNORS 10 MEET WITH THE
PRESIDENT NEXT MAY.
Rooeevelt Says the Country's Pros
pcsity Can Only be inquired by Pre-
serving the Natural RESOURCES.


him at the White House May Is. Ia
snd rs next to discuss the question OF
means to conserve the natural re-
sources of the country. Invitations
are TO be extended to the members
Of both houses Of congress and to
the inland waterways commission.
The presidents letter Z. the governors
wss made public at the White Honse
today. The letter foliows:
"Ths natural resources Of the terri
ritory Of the United States were. at
tina time OF settlement. richer. more
varied. and more available than those
Of any other cQuai area on the surface
of the earth. The development Of
these resources has given us. Tor more
than century rate OF increase In
population and wealth undreamed of
BY the men who founded our govern
nsnt and without parallel In history.
Il - obvious that the prosperity which
w now snjoy rests directly upon
these rssourcea II " equally obvious
thai the vigov and success which we
1esirs and foresss for this nation
n ths futars must have this a. its
ultimate material basia
~In view Of these evident facts II
sssms to ms time for the country to
taks seoownt Of In natural resources.
ana 70 inquire how long they are like
~ 70 last, We are prosperous now;
I've should not forget that Il win be
3ass - important to our descsndsnts
% b prosperous In their time - II
= TO ~ 60 b prosperous IN our time
''Recsutiy sxprssssd the opinion
that there 10 no other qusution now
beetrs the nation Of equal gravity
wan the Quetseion Of me conservation
- onr natural resources: and I added
tha& u y the plain duty OF those Of
- who for the momsns are rsspsnsi-
~ 70 make inventory Of the natural
rseouress which have been handed
dswn % ~ to forecast ~ well q we
uay the needs OF the future and 90
70 handle the great resources Of our
ysteosrity q not to destroy In ad-
vence an hope Of the prosperity Of
our dsseshdanta Ah s.
. 'It = evident that the abundant
aatural resources on which the well
tnzs Of this nation rests are becoming
dsplstsd. and In not few cases are
already sxhausted. This 10 true Of all
portions OF the United states: II is
especially true Of the longer settled
communities Of the East. The grav-
ity of the sttuatfon must. I believe.
appeal with special force to the gov
ernors Of the States because OF their
cioss relations to the people and their
responsibility for the welfare OF their
communities have therefore de-
cidsd. IN accordance with the sugges-
tion of the Inland waterways COM
mlssicn. 70 ask the governors of the
statss ana Territories to meet at the
white House on May IL. II and Is.
10 confer with the president and with
each other upon the conservation of
natural resources.
II givss me great pleasure to invite
you 10 take part in this conference. I
should be glad to have you select
three citizens to accompany you and
attspd the conference a. your assist
ants or advisers shall also invite
the senators and representatives OF
the sixtieth congress to be present
at the ssssions % far a. their duties
viii permit. The matters to be con-
sldered at this conference are not
confined 10 any region or group OF
state& but are Of vital concern to the
nation - q whole. and to all the peo-
pie. Those subjects include the use
and conservation Of the mineral re-
sources. the resources OF the land and
the resources of the waters In every
part Of our territory.
I'm order to open discussion I shall
invite few recognised authorities to
present brief descriptions OF actual
facts and conditions without argu-
msnt leaving the conference to deal
with each topic as II may elect. The
members OF the Inland Waterways
Commission will be present In order
90 share with me the benent Of In
formation and suggestion. and. II de-
sired. TO set forth their provisional
plans and conclusions.
Facts which I cannot gainsay force
me to believe that the conservation
Of our natural resources is the most
weighty question now before the peo-
pie OF the United States. II this Is so
me proposed conference which Is the
hrst Of its kind will be among the
a. q Il.