Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-05-22
Natural Resources Conference.

the natural resources oil THIS country, anu
after occupying several days In the discus
sion of the subject issued the following pa
per:
1--WE the governors of the States and ter
ritories of the United States of America, in
conference assembled, do hereby declare the
conviction that the great prosperity OF our
country rests upon the alb undant resources
Of the land chosen by our forefathers for
their homes, and where they laid the found.
alton of this great nation.
ave look upon these resources as heri-
tage to be made use of in establishing and
promoting the comfort, prosperity and hap
piness Of the American people, but not to
be wasted, deteriorated nor needlessly des'
troyed.
ave agree that our countrY's future Is in
volved in this; that the great natural re-
sources supply the material basis upon
which our civilization must continue to de-
pend, and upon which the perpetulty of th Q
nation itself rests.
ave agree, In the light of facts brought
to our knowledge and from information re-
ceived from sources which We cannot doubt,
that this material basis is threatened with
exhaustion. Even as each succeeding gen.
Grafton from the birth of the nation has
performed Its part in promoting the pro-
gress and development of the republic, so do
We in this generation recognize il as high
duty TO perform our part, and this duty in
large degree in the adoption of measures for
the conservation OF the natural wealth OF
the country.
1--WE declare our firm conviction that
this conservation Of our natural resources
is subject of transcendent Importance,
which should engage unremittingly the at
tention of the nation, the States and the
people in earnest cooperation. These nat
ural resources include the land on which
we live and which yields our food; the liv.
ing waters which fertilIze the soil, supply
power and form great avenues of commerce;
the forests which yield the materials for
our homes, prevent erosion of the soil and
conserve tho navigation and other uses OF
our streams, and the minerals which form
the basis OF our Industrial life and supply us
with heat, light and power.
ave agree that the land should be 30 used
that erosion and soil wash should cease;
that there should be reclamation of arid and
semi arid regions by means of irrigation and
of swamp and overflow regions by means
of drainage; that the waters should be 80
conserved and used as to promote naviga-
ton, to enable the arid regions to be re-
claimed by irrigation, and to develop power
in the interests of the people; that the for
ests, which regulate our rivers, support
our industries and promote the fertility
| and productiveness OF the soil, should be
preserved and perpetuated that the min
erals found so abundantly beneath the
surface should be 30 used as to pro.
long their utility; that the beauty, health
fulness and Availability Of our country
| should be preserved and increased that the
sources OF national wealth exist for the
benefit of all the people, and that the mo.
| nopoly thereof should not DO tolerated.
1--WE commend the wise forethought Of
the President in sounding the note of warn.
| ing as TO the waste and exhaustion Of the
natural resources of the country, and signify
our high appreciation of his action in call
| ing this conference to consider the same and
to seek remedies therefor through co opera.
| ton OF the nation and the States.
1--WE agree that this co operation should
find expression in suitable action by the
Congress within the limits of, and co,exten-
sive with. the national Jurisdiction OF the
subject, and complimentary thereto, by the
legislatures Of the several States within the
limits OF, and co extensive with, their juris.
| diction.
"We declare the conviction that in the
use of the natural resources our independent
States are interdependent and bound to.
gether by ties OF mutual benefits, response.
bilities and duties.
| 1--WE agree in the wisdom of future con
ferences between the President, members OF
Congress and the Governors of the States
regarding the conservation of our natural
resources, with the view of continued co.
operation and action on the lines suggested.
And TO this end we advise that from time TO
time, as In his judgment may seem wise, the
President call the governors of the States,
members OF Congress and others into con-
ference.
ave agree that further action Is advisable
TO ascertain the present condition of our
natural resources and to promote the con.
servation OF the same. And to that end we
recommend the appointment by each State
of commission oA the conservation OF
natural resources, to CO operate with each
| other and with any similar commission on
behalf of the federal government.
1--WE urge the continuation and extension
of forest policies adapted to secure the hus.
banding and renewal of our diminishing
timber supply, the prevention Of soil erosion,
| the protection OF head waters and the main.
tenance Of the purity and navigability Of our
| streams. We recognize that the private
ownership OF forest lands entails RESPONSE
bilities in the interests OF all the people, and
we favor the enactment Of laws looking 10
the protection and replacement Of privately
owned forests.
ave recognize in our waters most vau
ouiO ooSOb VI Iuo PCOPiO VI shO ChitOu DbobOot
and we recommend the enactment of laws
looking to the conservation OF water re-
sources for irrigation, water supply, power
and navigation, to the end that navigable
and source streams may be brought under
complete control and fully utilized for every
purpose. We especially urge on the federal
Congress the immediate adoption of wise
active and thorough waterway policy, pre-
viding for the prompt improvement OF our
streams and conservation Of their watersheds
required for the uses of commerce and the
protection of the interests Of our people.
"We recommend the enactment of laws