Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-05-13

| since the days when the constitu-
tion was adopted, steam and cleo
tricity have revolutionized the in
dnstrial world. Nowhere has the
revolution been so great as in our
1 own country. The discovery and uti-
lization of mineral fuels and alloys
have given us the lead over all other
nations in the production of steel.
The discovery and utilization of coal
and iron have given us or railways,
and have' led to such Industrial de-
Ivelopment as has never before been
seen. The vast wealth Of lumber In
our forests, the riches of our soils
and mines, tho discovery of gold'and
mineral oils, combined with the ef-
| ficency OF our transportation. have
made the conditions of our life un-
paralleled in comfort and conven-
ience.
The steadily increasing drain on
these natural resources has promot-
ed to an extraordinary degree the
complexity of our industrial and so
cial life. Moreover, this unexampled
development has had a determining
effect upon the character and opin-
ions of our people. The demand for
efficiency In the great task has given
us vigor, effectiveness. decision. and
power, and a capacity for achieve
ment which in Its own lines has
never yet been matched. So great
and 30 rapid has been our material
growth that there has been ten
jency TO lag behind in spiritual and
moral growth; but that is not the
subject upon which | speak to you
today.
Prosperity Depends on Resources.
Disregarding for the moment the
question OF moral purpose, It is safe
to say that the prosperity of our
people depends directly on the en-
ergy and intelligence with which our
natural resources are used. II is
equally clear that these resources
are the final basis OF national pow
er and perpetuity. Finally. It ia
ominously evident that these re-
sources are In the course OF rapid
exhaustion.
Limit In Sight.
This nation began with the belief
that Its landed possessions were liz
LINIITABI.E and capable OF support
Ing all the people who might care
to make our country their home;
but already the LIMIT OF UNSET
tiled LAND Is IN SIGHT. and In
deed but little land fitted for agri-
cultnre now remains unoccupied
save what can be reclaimed by irri-
| CATION and drainage. We began with
an unapproached heritage OF forests;
more than half OF the timber IL gone.
We began with coal fields moro ex-
tensive than those OF any other na-
tion and with iron ores regarded as
inexhaustible, and many experts
now declare that the end OF both
Consumption Increased.
The mere increase in our con-
sumption OF coal during 1907 over
1906 exceeded the total consumption
In 1876. the centennial year. The,
enormous stores OF mineral oil and
gas are largely gone. Our natural
waterways are not gone, but they
have been so Injured by neglect. and
by the division OF responsibility and
utter lack OF system In dealing with
them. that there is less navigation
on them now than there was so
years ago. Finally. We began with
soils of unexampled fertility and we
/ have so impoverished them by in
judicious nse and by failing to check
erosion that their crop producing
power is diminishing instead OF in
creaslng. In a word, we have
thoughtlessly. and to a large degree
unnecessarily, diminished the re-
sources upon which not only our
prosperity hut the prosperity OF our
children must always depend.
Resources Used Up, Then
We have become great because of
the lavish use OF our resources and
We have Just reason to be proud of
our growth. But the time has come
to inquire seriously what will hap
pen when our forests are gone. when
the coal, the iron, the oil. and the
gas are exhausted. when the soils
shall have been still further impov-
erished and washed into the streams,
polluting the rivers, denuding the
fields. and obstructing navigation.
These questions do not relate only to
the next century or to the next gen.