The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-18
TO CONSERVE OUR RESOURCES President Roosevelt Calls a Meeting. GOVERNORS ARE INVITED Call Says Matter is of Concern to
 Country. DeveicDment of Waterways, Mlseral. and Other Thias. wnI Be ssb-
 sects of Discussion By
 GatherinG in May.

Washington. Nov. 17.--Rresident Roosevelt has invited the Governors of the States and Territories to meet him at the White House May is. Hand is next to discuss the question of means to conserve the natural resources of the country.
 Invitations are to be extended to the members of both Houses of Conxrsss and to the Inland Waterways Copnn,in. sion. The manner in which the sub Jeet is to be considered are indicated in the Presidents letter to the Cow ernors which was made public at flln White House today.
 The letter follows.
 The natural resources of the ferri- tory Of the United States were at the time Of settlement richer. more varteS and more available than those or any other equal area on the surface os .he earth. The development of these re- sources'has given us for more than century. rate of increase in pouule- ton and wealth undreamed by the men who founded our Government and with out parallel fin history. It Is obvious that the prosperity which we now en- joy rests directly upon these re- sources. It is equally obvious that tlIa vieor and success which we desire and foresee for this nation in the f,.s ture must have this as its ultimara material basis.
 Tn view of these eviieyt facfa It seems to me time for the country to take account of natural resources and to Inquire how long they are likely to last. We are prosperous now; we should not forget that It win be fusk as important to oHr descendants to hs prosperous in their time as 1t is to ua to be prosperous in our time.
 Prepare for Future.
 Recently 1 expressed the opinion that there IS no other question now be- fore the nation Of equal gravity with the queation of the conservation of ouk natural resources. and add that tt 70 the plain duty Of those of us who. for the moment are responsible. to nfaBa irNentory of the natural rca6ure R which has bssn handed down tn nH to forecast. as we'll as we may tho needs of the future and so t0 handia not to destroy in advance all hope of the prosperitv of osS- descendants.
 Tt is evident tha tho abundant na~ tural resources on which the welfare of this nation rests are becoming de- pleted and in not few cases are all ready exhausted This is true Of all portions of the United States; 1t Ia es~ RSSA9hAJ thuE VI blAN ACAANtIA A%N~tG tAf-A+~ munities of the East. Tho gravity of the situation must believe, appeal with special force to the Governors of the States because of their close rela~ tions to the peoule and their raBponsi bility for the welfare of their consmu mites l have. therefore. decided. In accordance with the suggestion of the Inland Waterways Commission. to a9k the Governors of States and Territories to meet at the White House on May IS. 14 and IS. to confer with the Presi~ dent and with each other. upcn the consideration of natural resources.
 Tt gives me great pleasure to i'm vite you to take part fin this confar+ ence. I should be glad to have you select three citizens to accompany you and to attend the conference as your assistants or advisors I shall also ins , vite the Senators and Representatives of the Sixtieth Congress to be present at the sessions so far as their duties will permit.
 To Cover the Nation.
 'aThe matters to be considered at this conference are not confined to- any region or orou1 of States. but are of vital concern to the natioh as a whole and to all the people. These subjects include the use and congervatiou of the mineral resources the resources of the land and the resources of the wa ters in every part of our territory.
 'In order to open discussion shah invite a few recognized authorities to present brief descriptions of actual facts and conditions without argument. leaving the conferences to deal with each topic as 1t may elect. The mem bers of the Inland Waterways Com mission will be present in order to share with me the benefit of informa- tion and suggestion. and. if desired to set forth their provisional plans and conclusions.
 Facts which c"~"ot gainsay force me to believe that the conservation of our natural resources Is the most weighty question before the people of the United States. I fthis Is so, the proposed conference. which Is the first of it's kind. will be among the most inl- portant EatherinEs in our history in its effect upon the welfare of all our Deoule.
 "I earnestly hope. my dear Gov ernor. that YOU will find 1t possible to be present. Sincerely yours
 Theodore Roosevelts