The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-16

II cannot express my joy at COM
ing" retorted Governor Noel, who was
applauded vociferously. and the Incl
dent was greatly amusing TO the presi-
dent.
At this point, Governor Glenn, act
ing as. he said. upon the suggestion of
the governor OF Kentucky, whom he
had found to be a very wise man,
wanted to withdraw his motion
amending the declaration. He added:
Probably we will never have a lit
tie man for president" This created
delight among the governors.
President Roosevelt, before putting
the declaration to A vote. said he
thought that any president needed
only the information that a conference
of governors would be agreeable to
the governors as an inspiration to call
one. The report was then adopted. no
dissenting voices being heard.
Declaration of Principles.
The full text Of this declaration of
principles is as follows:
I'VE, the governors of the states and
territories of the United States of
America, in conference assembled. do
hereby declare the conviction that the
great prosperity of our country rests
upon the abundant resources of the
land chosen by our forefathers for
their homes, and where they laid the
foundation of this great nation.
we look upon these resources as a
heritage 10 be made use of in promOt-
ing the comfort, prosperity and happi-
ness of the American people. but not
TO be wasted. deteriOrated or needless
ly destroyed.
Country's Future Involved.
I'VE agree that our country's future
is involved in this; that the great nat
ural resources supply the material ba-
sis upon which our civilization must
continue to depend and upon which the
perpetuity of the nation itself rests.
We agree, in the light of facts
brought to our knowledge and from
knowledge brought from sources which
we cannot doubt. that this material
basis is threatened with exhaustion
Even as each succeeding generation in
the birth of the nation has performed
its part in promoting the progress and
development of the republic, so do ,ge
in this generation recognize it as d
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.
Importance of Conservation.
we declare our firm conviction that
this conservation of our natural re-
sources is a subject of transcendent
Importance which should engage unre-
mittingly the attention of the nation,
the states and the people in earnest
cooperation. These natural resources
include the land on which we live and
which yields our food; the living wa
ters which fertilize the soil, supply
power, and form great avenues of COM
merce; the forests which yield the ma
terials for our homes, prevent erosion
Of the soil, and conserve the 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.
Land Reclamation.
We agree that the land should be
so used that erosion and soil wash
should cease, that there should be rec
lamatiOn of arid and semi-arid re-
gions by means Of irrigation. and of
swamp and oyerflOwed regions by
means of drainage; that the waters
should be conserved and used as TO
promote navigation. TO enable the arid
regions TO be reclaimed by irrigation
and to develop power in the interests
of the people; that the forests, which
regulate our rivers, support our indus
tries and promote the productiveness
Of the soil should be preserved and
perpetuated; that the minerals found
SO abundantly beneath the surface
should be used as 10 prolong their
utility; that the beauty, healthfulness
and Availability Of our country should
be preserved and increased; that the
sources of national wealth exists for
the benefit of all the people and that
the monopoly thereof should not be toll
Grated.
Necessity Of the Conference.
I'VE recommend the wise fore
thought of the president in sounding
the NOTE of warning as 10 the waste
an, exhaustion of the natural re-
sources OF the country and signify our
appreciation of his action of calling
this conference to consider the same
and to seek remedies therefor through
cooperation OF the nation and the
states.
I'VE agree that this cooperation
should find expression in suitable ac-
ton by the congress within the limits
of, and co-extensive with, the national
jurisdiction of the subject and COM
plimentary thereto, by the legislatures
Of the several states within the limits
OF. ana co-extensive with. their juris-
GictiOn.
I'VE declare the conviction that in
the use of the natural resources our
independent states are interdependent
and bound together by ties of mutual
benefits, responsibilities and duties.
Future Conferences.
I'VE agree in the wisdom of future
conferences between the president
members of congress and the COVER
nors of the states regarding the con-
serVatiOn of our natural resources
with the view of continued 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 conference.
I'VE agree that further action is ad-
visable to ascertain the present condi-
ton of our natural resources and to