Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1907-11-20
CONFERENCE CALLED
President Invites Governors
to Meet With Him
MUST CONSERVE RESOURCES
The Subject For Consideration is the
Question: Of Means to Conserve the
Country's Natural Resources-We
Are Prosperous Now, the Chief
Executive Declares, But it is Time
to Halt and Take Reckoning.


Washington, Special.-President
Roosevelt las invited the Governors
Of the STATES and Territories to meet
him at the White House May 18th,
18th and 18th 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 Con-
gress and Ito the inland waterways
commission. The Importance and
manner inSwhich' the subject is to be
considered; are indicated in the
Presidents letter to the Governors,
which was made public at tic White
House. The letter follows:
"The natural. resources Of the
territory oi, tho United States were,
at the time of settlement, richer,
more varied and more available than
those of any other equal area on the
surface the Garth. The develop
ment Of these resources has given
us for more than century n rate
IF increase in population and wealth
undreamed of by the m.n VIII,
founded onr government and without
parallel in history. 1t is obvious
that the prosperity which we now
enjoy rests. directly upon these re-
sources. It it equally obvious that
the vigor and success which We dc.
sire and foresee for this nation in the
future must have this as its ultimate
material basis.
"In view of these evident favts, it
seems to me time for the country
to take account, Of its natural re-
sources, and to inquire how long
they are likely to last. We are
prosperousanow; we should not for
get that it will be just as i'm
portant to our descendants to be
prosperous in their time as it is to
MS to be prosperous in-our time.
Recently / expressed the oppinion
that there is no other question now
before the nation Of equal gravity
with the question of the conservation
of our natural resources; and l added
that it is the plain duty of those of us
who, for the moment, are resp ons;ble
to make Inventory Of the natural re-
sources which have been handed down
to us; to forecast as well as we may
the need fhe future, and so to
ihaadEs great sources Of f sur pros
:perity as not to destroy in advance
all hope of the prosperity Of our des-
cendants.
"It is evident that~tthe aoumdant
natural resources IN which the well
fare of tlis-Hatiion rests arc be-
coming depleted, and i'll not few
cases are already exhau, ted This
is true of all portions of The United
States; it is especially true Of the
east. The gravity Of the situation
must, I believe, appeal with special
force to the Governors of the States
because OF their close relations TO
the people and their responsibility
for the welfare Of their communities
I have therefore decided. in ac-
cordance with the suggestion Of the
inland waterways commission, to ask
the Governors Of the States and
Territories to meet at the White
House on May 18th, 14tll and 10Th
to confer with the President md
with each other upon the conserva-
tion Of natural resources.
"It gives rue great pier sure to in
vite You to take part in this con-
ference. I should be 81 I'd to have
you select three citizers to ac-
company you and to attend the con-
ference as your ASSISTANTS or adj
visers. I shall also invite the Sena-
tors and Representatives Of the
Sixtieth Congress to be present at
the sessions so far rs their GPeties
will permit.
"The matters 20 be considered at
this conference are not confined to
any region or group of States, but
are Of vital concern to the nation
as whole and to all the people.
These subjects include the use and
conservation Of the mineral re-
sources, the resources OF the land
and the resources of the waters i'll
every part Of our territory.
'In order to open discussion l
shall invite few recognized au-
thorieties to present brief descrip-
tions Of actual facts and conditions,
without argument, leaving the confer
ence to deal with each topic as it
may elect. The members of the in
land waterways commission will be
present in order to share with me the
benefit of information and sugges-
ton, and if desired, TO set forth
their provisional plans and COIL
clusions.
"Facts. which I cannot gainsay.
force me to believe THAT tho con
servation Of our natural resources Is
the most weight: question now be-
fore the people of the United States
se this is so, the proposed conference
which is the frs. of its kind, will b.
among the most important gather
ings in our history in its effect upo!
the welfare of all our people.
'T earnestly hope, my dear Gov
ernor, that you will find it possible
to be present.
Sincerely yours.
iprHEODORE ROOSEVIILT.'