The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1907-11-22
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IN
WTES ALL GOVERNORS
TO CONFERENCE.
MEET NEXT MAY.
SAYS EVIDENCE THAT RESOURCES
BECOMING DEPLGTED AND
TIME FCR BENEFIT OF Pos
TERITY TO TAKE ACTION
FOB PRESERVATION.

Roosevelt has invited the governor |
Of tho states and territories to meet |
him at the White Honse May 13, IA
and Is, next, TO discuss the question |
Of means to conserve the natural re-
sources OF the country. Invita- tiOns |
are to be extended to the memb ers OF |
both houses OF congress and to the in
land waterways commission. The i'm
portance and manner in which the
subject is to be considered are indica.
ted In the presidents letter to the
governors, which was made public at
the White House today. The letter
follows:
THE natural resources OF the ter
ritory OF the United States were, at
the time OF settlement, richer, more
varied and more available than those
OF any other equal area on the surface
OF the earth. The development Of
these resources has given us for more
than century a rate Of increase In
population and wealth undreamed Of
10y the men who founded our govern
ment and without parallel in history.
1t Is obvious chat the prosperity which
we now ENJOY rests directly upon these
resources. II is equally obvious that
the vigor and success which we desire
and foresee for this nation N the fu-.
ture must have this as It's ultimate
material basis.
FOR OUR DESCENDANTS.
''In view OF those evident facts it
seems to me time for the country to
take accou Z % 'to natural resources,
and to inqaIa bow !51gtusy are like
ly 10 last We are prosperous now:
we should not forget that IL will be
Just as important ts7 our descendants
TO be prosperous in their time as IL 10
TO us to be prosperous in our time S 49,
Recently l expressed the opinion
that there is no question now before
the nation of equal gravity with tho
question OF conservation of our natural
resources; and added that it Is the
plain duty Of those Of Us who, for the
moment are responsible, to make in
ventory OF the natural resources which
have been handed down to us, to fore
cast as well as we may the needs of
the future, and so to handle the great
sources OF our prosperity as not to
destroy in advance all hope OF the
prosperity OF our descendants.
ut is evident that the abundant
natural resources on which the well
rare OF this nati1n rests are becoming
depleted, and In not few cases are
ALREADY exhausted. This is true of all |
portions OF the United States; it is |
especially true Of the longer settled |
communities OF the east The gravity
oi the situation must, L believe, ap-
peal with Special force TO the cover
hors OIL tfe states because of their close
relations to the people, and their re-
sponsloility for the welfare of their
communities. | nave therefore decid -
ed, In accordance with the suggestion
OF the inland waterways commission.
20 ask the governors OF the states and
tefrtorles to meet at the White
house on May l3. IL and I5, to confer
win the president and with each 9TH
er upon the conservation of natural
resources
THREE CITIZENS.
III rlves me groat pleasure to in
VIC you to take part in this confer
ence. L should be glad to have ,o,, .
Seiect three citizens to accompany Won
and to attend the conference as yo,
assistants or advisers. shall a,So
Vlte the senators and representatives.
oi the sixtieth congress to be present
at the sessions so far as their 6ptios ,
will permit. "o'es
Ihe matters to be consi1eres a,
this conference are NOT confnoa
any region or group OF states, but are
vi 'itai concern to the nation as a
wnoie and to all the peorle. These
SUBJECTS include the use and conservo
tlon OF the mineral resources r. tho
.ano' 20 anu ehe resources OF the waite. 1
III every part OF our territory.
In order to open discussions. shall
ih''te lew recognized authorities tn
present brief descriptions of actual
iacts and conditions, without aron
ment, leaving the conference In dol
with each topic as 1t may elect. The
members OF the inland wat er ways com.
mission, will be present In order to
snare with me the benefit OF informa-
lion and suggestion. and, If desired
70 set forth their provisional plans and
conclusions.
IMPORTANT GATHERING
facts, which 1 cannot gainsay,
iorce me 30 believe that the conyen-
tion OF our natural resources Is the
most weighty question now before
the people of the United States. IF
This is so, the proposed conference.
which is Che first OF its kind, will be
lmODR the most imp0rtant uafha,fcoal