The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-22
AN IMPORTANT MEETING.

Early in January next there Is to be held at Washington a convention having for it's object an inquiry and discussion as to the best method oi preserving and making the best of oui natural resources, including fuel oil water power, etc. It will also go into the subject of forest preservation--a matter which has been too long de- layed.
 In some respects the Caucasians are a race of destroyers. wffen the white men came to the American continent it was one of the richest parts of the earth in the extent and variety of It's timber resources. The Indians were not timber butchers. If they had re- tained possession of this country a thousand years the forests would have suffered little diminution. Their num- bers did not cause them to he crowded. and their disposition was not to cut down and destroy the trees that pro- tCNhSo ttASAA 9ohAOs
 It was different when the tide of the white race began to come. over and multiply by millions. They foun1 an embarrassment of timber wealth and set to work to get rid of it. What they wanted was space, and. the way to get it was by cutting out the trees. This has gone on until now we ere fast nearing timber famine. Wood for fuel is scarce and that for build ing equally so. Whether it is possible to save any considerable portion of 1t may possibly be matter of doubt. Whether any real remedy can be found in system or reforestation may also be considered uncertain. If something can be saved out of the wreck, or if some of the loss can be replaced it will be well.
 And the subject of water power is one of vital importance. Without re- flection person might think that this power will always be with us. If power is used at one point. they will reason, the waste can be gathered 'ip at another and so be continually usod, but that would not be strictly correct reasoning, and the destruction of the forests has a great deal to do with 1t. If the forests are destroyed there are ok rH oA another. and so the water power is un- certain and unreliable.
 This question of power is not tri- vial one. by any means. The rapid exhaustion of fuel, both wood and coal. means that mankind cannot much longer depend on heat to generate me chanical power. If some new method of producing power is not discovered the indications are that the time is not far distant when water must sup- ply all the, energy for all mechanical purposes, either directly or by the generation of electricity. If the water is cut off In one place by the destrue- tion of the forests, and in another by wasteful irrigation methods. there may come a time when power will be want ing. A @
 And so it may be said of other sub jects of importance that may come be- fore the convention. although we mo- tice that Maine contemporary, The Portland Telegram, does not appear very hopeful. It says:
 The time is ripe for a careful con- sideration of all these problems al- though some are doubtless overdrawn. At the same time many should have are resources to conserve even at this present day of wastefulness and 1t is well that the country should be in formed as to the true situation and convention will go so far to accom- plishs the purposes for which it Is called may well be doubted. Those powerful interests which are wasting our re- sources will have their, glib-tongued ited capital. There will be the cus- tomary flood of talk in which contra dictory propositions will be made. and If a majority fortunately decides on any good policy, 1t must even. then be can be put in actual operation.
 Perhaps it may turn out better than The Telegram expects. 'In the multi tude of counsellors there is safety" says the proverb. and possibly some good may come of the meeting. Ger