Live Oak daily Democrat. (Live Oak, Fla.) 190?-190?, 1907-11-19
ROOSEVELT'S INVITATION
To All the Governors to Meet Him to
Discuss a Large Question.

Washington, Nov. 1I.-PreSident
Roosevelt has invited the Governors
of the states and territories to meet
him at the White House. May 10. 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 Houses of Congress and to
the Inland Waterways Commission
The Importance and manner in which
the subject is to be considered are
indicated in the Presidents letter to
the Governors, which was made pub
lie at the White House today. The
letter follows:
The natural resources of the ter
ritOry OF the United STATES were at
the time of settlement rich, more
varied. and more available than
those of any other equal area on the
surface of the earth.
The development of these re-
sources has given us for more than
a century, rate OF increase in popu-
lation and wealth undreamed of by
tue men who founded our govern
mcnt and without parallel in history
1t is obvious that the prosperity
which we now enjoy rests directly
upon these resources. 1t 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
Time to Take Action.
In view of~these evident facts it
seems to me time for the country to
take account Of its natural resources,
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 des-
pendants to be Pwsperous in their
time as it is to rs to be prosperous
in our time. ~
= Recently, LeXpressed the opinion
that there is no other question now
before the nation of equal gravity
with the question of the conserVa-
ton of our natural resources: and |
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 downNto us, to forecast as
we'll as we may the needs of the flu
ture. and so to handle the great
sources of our prosperity as not 10
destroy in advance all hope of the
prosperit yof our descendants.
1t is evident that the abundant
natural resources on Which the wei
fare OF, this nation res-s are becom-
ing depleted and in not a few cases
are already exhausted. This is true
of all portions of the United States;
1T is especially true of the longer
settled communities of the East. The
gravity OF the situation must. [ be
heve, appeal with special force to the
Governors of the states because OF
their responsibility for the welfare
of their communities. l have. there
fore, decided. in accordance with the
suggestion of the Inland Waterway
Commission. to ask the Governors of
the states and territories to meet a.
the White House on May 10. II and
10 to confer with the President and
with each other upon the conserva-
ton of natural resources.
Wants Citizens Named.
1T gives me great pleasure to IN
vite YOU to take part in this confer
ence. l should be glad To have YOU
select three citizens to accompany Won
and to attend the difference as YOUR
assistants or advisers. shall also
invite the senators and representa-
tives of the SiXtieth Congress to be-
present at the session 50 far as their
duties viii permit
The matters TO be considered at
this conference are not confined 70
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 con
servation of the mineral resources.
the resources of the land aud the re
sources of>the waters in every part
Of our territory
In order to open discussion I shall
invite few recognized authorities 10
present brief 1pScrjDti0p. of actual