Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-11-17
CONFERENCE ON
The RESOURCES
GOVERNORS OF ALL STATES AND
TERRITORIES ARE TO PRESENT
REPORTS ON MANY SUBJECTS
TO THE PRESIDENT.

w VdSHIuStou, NOV. li.-lne muCu
talked-of inventory Of the nation $
resources is now practically com
pleted. To consider the material 1t
has brought together the national
conservation commission has just an
nounced its first full meeting for
Tuesday. December l., in Washing
ton. At that meeting the first steps
will be taken toward putting into
tangible shape the results Of the six
months hard work on taking stock
Of the countrys waters. forests.
lands and minerals.
One week later. after the commits
sion has gone over the inventory. It
will hold joint meeting In Wash
ington with the governors of the
states and territories, or their repre-
sentatives. At this meeting the in
ventory will be further discussed
and the report which the president
has requested the commission to
make to him by January / will be
formulated.
which to make the inventory, the
four branches into which the COM
mission is divided, aided by the co.
operation OF the government depart
ments. have brought together what
Is probably the most useful collec.
ton OF facts about the material
things on which national industry
and progress are based that has ever
been assembled at one time.
Reports presenting these facts and
pointing out their Significance have
been prepared. These reports. sum.
married. and indexed, will be sub
mitted to the commission at its com.
ing session.
All through the summer general
interest In the work and objects Oi
the conservation commission hal
been growing. The public is now
we'll posted on the subject, Of which
only a few specialists had knowledge
at the time OF the conference OF gov.
ernors and experts at the White
House in May. ae
The governors carried the spirit ol
the conference home with them te
their own people, and have KEEP
things moving ever since by appoint
ing state commissions to study loca
problems, by writing and speaking
upon the subject Of conservation
and by keeping in close and helpful
touch with the national commission
They are ready to take part in thu
approaching Joint meeting. Thu
bare announcement that It had beel
set for December resulted In ,
number Of acceptances before tn
formal invitation OF the commission
had even got into the mails.
When the conservation move
ment was started, specific informa
tion about the actual state OF our re
sources was partly wanting, partl!
inaccessible. Certain facts wer'
broadly known. 1t was at least un
questionable that our resources hat
been wastefully used. and that som
of them, notably the mines, wer
sure to be completely exhausted II
time, while others, for example, tn
forests, could still be kept perpetual
ly useful by right management. Tn
first work was to get the facts. L
show exactly what the situation wa
and how it could be improved b.
measures that would work. With
out an inventory Of the resource
which should show the present con
dition OF the resources and the wa
to develop them to the best advan
tape. conservation was In danger c
staying up in the air.
But the work Is now practicali
done. The facts are there. IN dol
lars and cents, tons Of coal. boar
feet of timber, acre-feet and horse
power of water, acres OF land. An
the possible reform measures haV
been weighed. The final report
the president will be the necessar
supplement to the addresses at tn
White House conference. The mol
, of these addresses was note
warning. The report Is expected
! show that the warning must
heard II the exhaustion OF natur;
resources is not, one day, to impo'
, erish the nation, and 1t will also VI
I doubtedly bring out now the coul
, try's resources can be developed
, as to last the longest posi- lie tin
- .arya tho praatest good OF II