The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-08

water the most valuable of all mineral resources, as a source of power Is be- ing wasted day after day and year after year to the extent of millions of horse power; and that forest fires have burned more lumber than has been used in the building of homes or in the industries. "One of the great national problems is the conserving of the fuel resources" says Mr. Holiness At the present rate of increase in consumption, the better part of the fuel supply of the country will be gone by the end of the present century un- less the proper steps are taken.
 Cheap Fuel Necessary.
 "The future ascendency of American industries will depend largely on our manufacturers being able to secure cheap fuel. The value and cost of labor will never be reduced in the United States to what they are in foreign countries; but this fact renders all the more esse ntial in the struggle for in- dustrial and commercial supremacy that the manufacturers of this coun- try be able to obtain fuel supplies cheaper than they are to be had in other countries.
 The world recognizes Americans as the most wasteful of peoples in the utilization of their resources. Certain ly no nation received so rich an in- heritance as did the United States in it's combination of soil and forest and climate and streams and mineral re- sources.
 The nation has literally grown up in luxury Out of the very abundance of these resources we have developed an Indifference to economy and the habit of waste. We have destroyed our game for it's hides and horns; our forests for their tan bark or a pittance of the lumber they would yield; and meanwhile with q thought less indifference we have allowed the forest fires to burn more lumber than we have used in the building of homes or in the industries.
 Meanwhile through the destruction of the forests about the sources of inn portant streams and the improper cul- tivation of these sloping lands, the fertile soils are washed away from the
 
 posted in the streams and harbors of the country from which their continued removel will cost an enormout sum. We are thus gradually but surely de- stroying the value of our great water resources for power, for irrigation and for navigation purposes. This fertile soil and genial climate have furnished good enough for the nation and to spare; and so luxurious are the habits developed by this over production of food tn at it is sometimes said we waste food enough to supply another nation as large as our own.
 Waste of Water.
 Water, the most valuable of all our mineral resources as source of power, is being wasted day after day and year after year to the extent of mill factor in all irrigation work, it is be- ing wasted by use to excess in many instances; but on much larger scale and to the value of hundreds of mil lions of dollars it is being allowed to go to waste year after year by not being used at all; and in many local fties, the limited supply of artesian water available for irrigation and other purposes is being wasted on consd- erablescale by being allowed to flow continuously when not needed, or in excess of actual need.
 "Other mineral resources are being wasted on as large scale as is true of water. but their waste is even more iserious a matter. for the reason that the supplies are not reproduced, as in the case of water, but when once ex- --~>1->>-~>-~>->>~-