Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-09-10


commission show that Uncle Sam II
making fine hesdway with his inven.
tory Of natural resources. II is per.
haps bigger job than he at first
suspected but indications are that he
Is going 20 get through Il in good
time. Very likely II has cut short
the vacation plans OF some OF ms
best helpers, but there has been no
complaint. His corps of investigs-
tore. statisticians, experts and scieu-
lists have buckled down closely TO
the work all summer.
Inquiries have been going out
from this and that government ONCE
by the thousand They have gene to
special agents in the field. TO the gov
eminent stations here and there, TO
bureaus OF statistics all over the
country, to county clerks, to town
ship assessors, 10 manufacturer, to
lumber dealers, TO railroad and
steamboat companies, and 20 farm
ers. The chiefs OF the government
bnreaus have been wanting TO know
about lands---farm lands. timber
iands, mineral lands, about crops
and crop production: about swamp
and overflow lands; about irrigation,
about navigstion--how far the use
OF our inland waterways has de
creased and the reason for the de-
crease: the cost OF water trafic as
compared with railroad rates; the
use OF water power and It's possibili-
ties; about all phases Of the forests
and OF timber and lumber: about
how much OF minerals we have left
and the probable duration OF the
mineral supply. and about livestock
AM game and fsh.
rsi' f. ony the most hurried kind
OF general em-np OF the "schedui
OF Inquiries" Of the National Cob
acryatlon commission. Just what 4
really Is can be seen only by study
ing a copy OF this most unusual docu-
ment. the Schedule" on when
Uncle Sam Il basing the flrst lnveh-
tory he ever attempted 20 make OF
his natural wealth. IL can be OBJ
tained by writing a letter TO Thomas
p. shiop. secretary OF the National
Conservation commission, Forest
Service. washlrvton, D. c. The Cor
ser,atlon commission also get out
"Bulletins of progsesi." which show
Just how rapidly the conservation
movement. started az the white
House conference OF governors, Is
going forward. There also may bn
obtained frcm the secretary.
Since the governors and tho great
national organizations have shown
so great an interest In the conserye
tion OF resources the movement has
spread all over the United states
New state con eryatIon commissions
are reported 10 the National Con-
neryatlon commission at the rate OF
three OF four week and large ma
tional organizations are rapidly CONF
ing forward With conservation COM
mlttees OF their own. Tho oonserva-
tion movement hay be said now TO be
nsmiy established. An the govern
mcnt bureaus are rapidly plshins
work on the Inventory OF resources
IN order that preliminary report
may be- made 10 the National Con-
aervatlon commrTlon NJ IT, meeting
IN Washington. Tuesday, December
I. one week later, Tuesday. Decem-
Der :. the governors OF the states
and territories. or their representa-
tives. viii meet IN Warrington vita
the commission. Already. although
has not yet been issued.
the governors of some is or Is states
aud territories have announced their
Intention TO be present az the meet
ing. Among these are Governor
Frear OF Hawaii and Governor Hog
gait Of Alaska.
That the conservation movemenr
Is absolutely nonpartlsan Is shown
IA the vigorous declarations In the
platforms OF both leading poliilcal
parties IN favor OF conservation OF
natural resources, Mr., BryAn, who
spoke al the governors conference.
has declared himself strongly In ia
vor OF conservation. and Mr.. Taft.
In his speech OF acceptance. went on
record aa an advocate Of the move
ment, II Is question on which the
american Federation Of Labor ana
The National Association az Manu-
lecturers agres. Justices OF the su-
,reme coart % the unued States
lave written Presiden, Rooseyeh ex-
press'ng unouallned approval OF the
nosement 10 cave he.nations nat.
lral wealth. and Cardinal Gibbons.