The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-18
ROOSEVELT HAS
BRAND new IDEA
Calls Conference of Governors
and Others to Discuss Con-
Servati0n of Resources.
ALL ELSE IN BACKGROUND
ONLY QUESTION NOW BEFORE
THE PEOPLE.
ALL ELSE IN BACKGROUND

Washington. Nov 17.-President
Roosevelt has invited the governors of
the states and territories TO meet him
at the White House May Is, IA and Is
next, to discuss the question of means
to conserve the natural resources of
the country. Invitations are to be ex-
tended 10 the members of both houses
Of congress, and to the inland water
way commission. The importance and
manner in which the subject is TO be
considered are indicated in the presi-
dents letter to the governors. which
was made public at the White House
today. The letter follows:
Text of Invitation.
The natural resources of the terri
tory of the United States were, at the
time OF settlement, richer, more varied
and more available than those Of any
other area on the surface of the earth
The development Of these resources has
given us for more than a century a
rate Of increase of population and
wealth undreamed of by the men who
founded our government 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.
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 descendants to be
prosperous in their time as it is to us
to be prosperous in our time.
inventory Should Be Taken.
Recently I expressed the opinion
that there is no other question now be
fore the nation of equal gravity with
the question of the conservation Of our
natural resources. and / added that &c
is the plain duty of those of us who
for tho moment are responsible 10
make inventory OF the natural re-
sources which have been handed down
TO US, to forecast as well as We may
the needs of the future and to handle
the great resources Of our prosperity
as not to destroy in advance all hope
of the prosperity Of our descendants.
1T is evident that the abundant ma
tuFal resources on which the welfare OF
this nation rests are becoming depict
ed, and in not few cases are already
exhausted. This is true of all portions
of he United States; it is especially
true of the longer settled cOmmmuni-
ties of the east. The gravity of the
situation must, 1 believe, appeal with
special force to the governors of the
states, because of their close relations
to ehe people and their responsibilities
for the welfare Of their communities.
I have, therefore, decided, in accord
ance with the suggestion of the inland
waterways commission, to ask the gov
errors of the states and territories to
meet at the White House on May 13,
IA and 10 to confer with the president
and with each other upon the conser-
walton of natural resources.
Whole Nation Concerned.
1T gives me great pleasure to invite
you to take part in this conference. L
should be glad to have you select three
citizens to accompany you and to at
tend the conference as your assistants
or advisers. l shall also invite the
senators and representatives of the
Sixtieth congress taSbe present at the
sessions so far as their duties will per.
nit The matters TO be considered at
this conference are not confined to any
region or group of states, but are vital
concern to the nation as a whole and
to. al the people. Those subjects in
clude the use and conservation Of the
mineral resources, the resources of the
land and the resources of the waters in
every part of our territory.
In order to open discussion, I shall
invite a Rew recognized authorities to
present Brief descriptions af actual
facts and conditions, without argument,
leaving the conference to deal with
each topic as it may elect. The men,
bers of the inland waterways commits
sion viii be present in order to share
with me the benefit of information and
suggestions, and if desired to set
forth their provisional plans and con-
illusions.
Facts which I cannot gainSay force
me to believe that the conservation OF
our natural resources is the most
weighty question now before the peO-
pie Of the United States. If this is so,
the proposed conference, which is the
first Of its kind will be among the
most important gatherings I'm our his
tory in its effect upon the welfare Of
the people.
7 earnestly hope, my dear governor.
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