The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-05-28
SAVING NATURAL WEALTH.
Remarkable Conference Over the
Country'S Resources.

. precedent IN history and that in
volved matters of profound impor-
lance to the nation as whole was
held in Washington last week,
on the call of President Roosevelt.
Its purpose was to consider the
measures necessary to accomplish
FIVE great objects-the stoppsge of
the reckless and unscientifc de-
struction of forests, checking the
appalling waste in the mining
methods, the reclamation of swamp
lands and arid tracts in the inter
est of agriculture and the improve
ment of the inland waterways of
the United States. Inasmuch as
these subjects had an interast for
many of the states, all Of the Gov
ernors were invited to attend, and
each was requested to bring three
scientific or official counsellors
with him. Mr.. Roosevelt also
asked the judges of the United
States Supreme Court and several
such experts in the federal service
as the head Of the bureau of fores-
try. The advice and cooperation
of William J. Bryan were also
sought. With remarkable unani-
nifty the invitation was accepted,
regardless of section or politics.
In his address of welcome to the
large company which assembled
in the White House Mr.. Roose
welt declared that the questions
which he presented for considera-
tiOn-the saving Of the nation
! resources for future generations
constituted the gravest problems
with which the country is con-
tronted to-day After three days
of deliberation, in which many
men of national reputation-col-
lege presidents and railroad presi-
dents among them--the conference
adopted the following declaration
or resolution.
owe the Governors of the states
and territories of the United States
of America, in conference assem-
bled, do hereby declare the conyiC-
ton that the great prosperity of
our country rests upon the album
dant resources of the land chosen
by our forefathers for their homes,
and where they laid the founda-
ton of this great nation. We look
upon these resources as a heritage
to be made use of in establishing
and promoting the comfort, pros
/ perity and happiness Of the Amer
lean people, but not to be wasted,
deteriorated or needlessly Destroy
ed.
I'VE agree that our country's
future is involved in this; that the
great natural resources supply the
material basis upon which our civil
lizatlon must continue to depend,
and upon which the perpetuity of
the nation itself rests.
Owe agree, in the light of facts
brought to our knowledge and
from information received from
sources which we cannot doubt,
that this material basis is threat
ened with exhaustion. Even as
each succeeding generation from
the birth of the nation has per-
formed its part in promoting the
progress and develo pment of the
republic, so do we in this genera
ton recognize it 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 capacity.
1--WE declare our firm conviction
that this conservation ofour natur-
al resources in subject of trans
cendent Importance, which should
engage unrcmitting the attention
of the nation, the states and the
peoples IN earnest cooperation.
These natural resources include
the land on which we live, and
which yields our food; the living
waters which fertilize the soil,
supply power and form great
avenues of commerce; the forests
. L. II, II