The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-11-19
CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES
President Roosevelt Invites the Gov
ernors Of All the States to
meet Him.

Washington, Nov. 17.-President
Roosevelt has invited the governors
Of the states and territories to meet
him at the White House. May l3, IA
and Is, 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 housese Of congress and to the
Inland Waterways commission. The
Importance and manner in which the
subject is to be considered are in
dicated in the presidents letter to
the governors, which was made pub
lie at the White House today. The
letter follows:
1.-THE natural resources Of the ter
ritory Of the United States we're, at
the time Of settlement, richer, more
varied and more available than those
of any other equal area on the sur
face Of the earth. The development
Of these resources has given US, for
more than a century, rate of in
crease in population and wealth un-
dreamed Of by the men who founded
our government and without parable;
in history. It is obvious that the
prosperity which We now enjoy rests
directly upon these resources. It is
equally obvious that the vigor and
success which we desire and foresee
for this nation in the future must
have this as its ultimate material
basis.
I'm view of these evident facts it
seems to me time for the country to
take account of its natural resour-
ces, and to inquire how long they are
likely to last. We are prosperous
now; we should not. forget that it
will be just as important to our de-
scendants to be prosperous in their
time as it is to us to be prosperous in
our time.
"Recently I expressed the op!n-
ion that there is no other question
now before the nation Of equal gra-
witty with the question Of the con-
servattion Of our natural resources,
and I added that it is the plain duty
Of those Of us who, for the moment,
are responsible to make inventory Of
the natural resources which have
been handed down to us, to forecast
as we'll 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.
Resources becoming Depleted.
"It is evident that the abundant
natural resources on which the well
fare Of this nation rests are becoming
depleted and in not a 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 gra-
vity Of the situation must, I believe,
appeal with special force to the gov
ernors of the states because Of their
close relations to the people and their
responsibility for the welfare Of their
communities. I have, therefore, de-
cided, in accordance with the sug-
eestion of the Inland Waterways
commission, to ask the governors of
the states and territories to meet at
the White House on May IS, "A and
Is to confer with the president and
with each other upon the conserva-
tiou OF natural resources.
II: gives me great pleasure to in
vite yol 70 take part in this confer
ence. should be glad to have You
select ihree citizens TO accompany
You anG to attend the conference as
your assistants and advisers. I shall
also invite the senators and repres-
entatives of the Siyiteth congress to
be present 1T the sessions. so far as
their duties will permit.
"The matters 10 be considered at
t.,iS conference are not confined to
any region or group Of states. but are
Of vital concern to the nation as
wAcle and to all the people. These
subjects Include the use and corSer-
vaiian IT the mineral re* "tr"os. the
resources. Of tie !:;ld 60 ne res"uE
ces Of the wate,:, N =" - H::", #
CIR territory.
Suggestion by Authorities. =: