Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-14
Two Central Ideas Developed
in important Meeting at
White House
MUST BE ORGANIZED
Secretary Root Points Out That
Constitution Does Not
Prohibit it.

Washington, May IA. = President
Roosevelt called the second natural
resources" conference to order today,
and invited Governor Johnson of Min
nesota to preside. Addresses were de-
livered by, James J. Hill on "The Nat
ural Wealth of the Land and Its Con-
servation." Professor T. C. Chamber
lain of Chicago on Soil Wastage," r.
A. Long of Kansas City on Forest
Conservation" and by former Governor
Pardee of California and H. A. Jastro
of Bakersfield, Cal. A general discus
sion on the subjects of the addresses
was participated in by number of
the conferees.
Sreaks of Agriculture.
In speaking of agricultural wastage
in this country, Mr.. Hill said: In no
other important country in the world,
with the exception of Russia, is the
industry that must be the foundation
of every state, at SO low an ebb as in
our own. According to the last census
the average annual product per acre
of the farms of the whole United
States was worth $11.3S. 1t is little
more than a respectable rental in COM
munities where the soil is properly
cared for and made to give a reason
able return for cultivation. There are
but two states in the unien whose total
value of farm products was over $50
per acre of improved land. The great
state of Illinois gave but $12.4S, and
Minnesota showed only $S.74. No dis
elimination attaches to these figures,
where all are so much at 'fauif. -
Like Robbing of Forests.
Mature has given to us the most
valuable possession ever committed to
man. 1t can never be duplicated, be
cause there is none like it upon the
face of the earth. And We are rack
ing and impoverishing it e actly as we
are telling the forests an rifling the
mines Our soil, once he envy OF
every other country, the attraction
which draws millions of immigrants
across the seas, gave an average yield
for the whole United States during the
10 years beginning with 1896 of 49,!
bushels of wheat per acre. Austrii
and Hungary each produced over l.
bushels per acre. France 1913, German,
ZIG, and the United Kingdom 80:
bushels per acre.
Want Most for Least.
"When the most fertile land in tn,
world produces so much less than tina
of poorer quality elsewhere, and thi
low yield shows a tendency to stead.
decline, the situation becomes clear
We are robbing the soil, in an effor
each acre of ground in the shortes
possible time and with the least poss
Bic labor"
Governor Deneen of Illinois preside
at the afternoon session.
Two Ideas Developed.
Washington, May 1.-two idea!
destined to mark material progress i
Americas future, resulted from tn
first three days conference at tn
White house, in which Presiden
Roosevelt, the governors of forty-fou
states, cabinet officers, supreme coul
judges, senators, representatives an
experts, are participating in efforts
reach conclusions on the best method
OF conserving the natural resources
the United States.
Permanent Organization Needed.
The first is that a permanent orga
iZation by the state and the nation
necessary and will likely result fro
the present conference to accompli.