The Washington herald., 1908-05-14
CO.. -. b - -EvIng.l }

Louis Exposition with It's temperature OF
5000 degrees F.. in which a cube Of iron
evaporated Ike a SNOWFALL in a Bessemer
converter. The sun helps to raise the tides,
which some day viii be harnessed; and
stiIl more practically il raises yapor from
the sea TO fan as rain and supply our
mill-streams and rivers, which il is esti-
mated may some day yield over 10000. 900
horsepewer-oF more than all now pro-
duced from fuel by all our engines COM
blned, Dr. Pritchett is responsible for the
statement that on a clear day, when well
above the horizon, the sun delivers upon
each square acre OF the earth's surface
exposed TO It's rays the equivalent OF 1900
horsepower, working continuously. Thus
there Is abundance Of power lying around
Us, II we only knew how 10 harness il. Il
Is only within the past decade that cleo
trical transmission has made water power
generally available for driving machinery,
for smelling, and for moving trains. and
has al the same time created q new mar
ket for copper yet IL Is a safe forecast
that this method OF using solar energy
for such water IS as the product OF sun
heap will soon affect the constantly in
ereasing drain on our coal. And iust as
the woods and the ores and the mineral
fuels have become sources OF wealth and
power within our memory, so will become
the running waters within a few years
Mineral Supplies Fade Away.
NO practical man can study our min
eral supplies without seeing that they
are melting away under our national
growth az a geometrically increasing rate.
and without realizing that unless the loss
is checked his descendants must suffer.
nor can he consider ways OF preserving
the supply without realizing the need Of
wider and deeper knowledge than We new
possess. Il was not resources alone thar
gave this country its prosperity: but in
ventive skill and industrial ENTERPRISE
applied TO its resources. Individually we
have been both forehanded and fore
minded; nationally we have been fore
handed chiefly through the accident Of
discovery by John Smith and Walter
Raleigh. but nationally We are not vet
foreminded. So far as our mineral wealth
Is concerned. the need OF the day is pr7,-
dent foresight coupled with ceassless re-
search IN order that new minerals may be
discovered, new alloys produced. new
compounds OF common substances made
available new power -producing devices
developed. The most careful inventory
oi the family patrimony should be made
l plead for economy that the next gen
GRAFTON and the next may be saved from
want-but especially 7 urge research into
ana mastery over nature. in order that
Two blades may be made TO grow where
one grew before. that the golden grain
may be made TO replace woody grass
that crude rocks may be made to Yield
fine metals
urge on the executives here assem-
bled as our greatest need to-day the need
Tor better and more practical knowledge
IL was never more true than now that
knowledge is power The States have
done much, the Federal Government has
done much individual men have done
much FOR research: In the history OF this
country knowledge has advanced as. never
before, and thereby the materials and
forces OF nature have been brought uudAr
control as no man dreamed wher the
nation was founded Yet If our career Of
prosperity is TO continue, it must be on
the basis Of compieter control Of national
sources Of material and power than We
nave thus far exercised. a control 10 be
gained only by research.
In conclusion. Mr.. President and GOV
ernors Of our States. it seems TO me our
duty Is:
First, conservation OF forests, for no
forests. no long navigable rivers; no
rivers. no cheap transportation.
Second, to systematic our water
transportation. putting the whole work in
the hands OF the reclamation service
which has already Y,rox,a6 ftse1f h;-L,
capable by its admirable work. Chesr
water transportation for heavy freights
brings many advantages, and means
great saving to our ore supplies Rail-
roads require much steel, water does not.
Third, conservation Of soil, More than
thousand millions OF tons of our rich
est soil are swept into the sea every
year, clogging the rivers on its way and
nliing our harbors. Less soil, less crops:
less crops. less commerce, less wealth.
The way is not new: washington and
MS compatriots pushed into the unknown
Ia projecting nation on new principles.
FRANKLIN grasped a hardly known princi-
patty through the Geneva treaty, and
JEFFERSON seized an unexplored half con-
tinent despite protests OF those whose
knowledge was even less than his own:
Fulton, Morse, Henry. Edison. and Bell
came TO stand as kings among men by
pushing into the unknown. To-day the
time is ripe for a further advance; our
President, with far-sighted patriotism, has
arisen 70 lead effort and action. He de-
serves, and l am sure will receive. your
earnest support and that of all citizens
who understand the Importance of the
problems involved"