The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-18
n lfl1 973GIf
THE NATIONS & NATURAL RE.

SOURCES.
President Roosevelt is much inter
ested IN the subject Of the nations
natural RESOURCES. He has invited the
Governors o. the States and Terrific
ries 70 meet him at the White House
May ~ and Is next to discuss tho
question Of means to conserve the nat.
nral resources Of the country. Invita-.
lions are to be extended to the mem.
terss o. both houses Of congress and
to the inland waterways commission.
The Importance and manner in which
the subject Is considered are indicated
By his letter to the governors which
has beeng given out at the White House.
THE letter follows:
The natural resources Of the terri
tory Of the United States were, at
the time5of settlement, richer. moro
varied and more available than those
sof any other equal area on the surface
of the earth The development. OF
these natural resources has given us.
for more than a century, a rate OF
increase In population and wealth I'M
dreamed of by the men who founded
our country and without parallel in
history Isl obvious that the pros.
perity which we now enjoy rests di.
reetly upon these resources. 1t is
equally obvious that the vigor AMI
success which we desire and foresee
foEthis !nation5ln the future must have
this AS an ultimate material basis.
IS I'm view Of these evident facts it
seems to me time for the country to
4 take account of the natural resources
and inquire how long they, are
likely to- last. We are prosperous now,
We should mot forget that It will be
= Just as important to our descendants
TO be prosperous in their time as It
rs 10 us to be prosperous in our time.
recently ! expressed the opinion
that there Is mo other question now
4 before the nation Of equal gravity
with the5question Of conservation Of our
natural resources; and I added that it
10 the plain duty Of those OF us who.
for the moment, are responsible to
make inventory Of the natural resour-
ces which have been handed to us.
to forecast as well as we may the
needs of the future and so to handle
the great sources Of our prosperity as
not u destroy In advance alr hope o.
the prosperity Of our descendants.
SaIt is evident that the abundant nat
ural resources on which the welfare ot
this tnati1n rests are becoming depict
ed and In not "a few cases are already
exhausted. This is true OF all por.
tons 2of the United States; It is espe.
cially true of the longer settled com.
inunit.es of the East The gravity
yofs the situation must, believe, appeal
With special force to the government
ZOE the States because Of their close
relations to the people and their re.
sponsibility for the welfare OF their
communities: have therefore decId.
ed IL, accordance with the suggestion
of the inland waterways commission
\ to- ask the governors Of the States
and Territories to meet at the White
Hoilse on May 10, IA and is, to con.
fsrSwith the President and with each
other upon; the conservation OF natural
resources.
4 sslts gives me great pleasure to IN
wife You to take part in this confer
sence: 4 should be glad to have you
select three citizens to accompany
YOU and to attend the conference as
your advisors. shall also invite the
senators and representative Of the
Goth congress to be present at the ses.
sions 80 far as theirduties will per.
init The matters to be considered at
this conference are not confined 10 the
region Of any group Of States but are
Sof5ISyital concern to the nation as
whole and to allthe people. These
subjects include the use and conserva.
stton resources OF the land and the re.
sources q i the water in every part Of
Solrsterritory. af
I'm order 70 open discussion shall
write g ffew1recognized authorities TO
present q brief description Of actual
facts and m conditions without argu.
Sipent leaving the conference to deal
with each b topic as It may elect. The
members lof.the inland waterways com.
mission Will be present in order to
share M II me the benefit of mutual
8 y y, tlonSand suggestions and II dc.
sired set 81 forth their provisions, plans
md conclusions.
ctstEhich i cannot gainsay force
me ttolhe; lieye that. the sconservatlon OF
orr natural resources Is the most
seighty question now before the peo.
Sples of the United States AZ this Is SO.
Ma. al ~ 4, an !, ~ ~, ~,