The San Francisco call., 1908-05-15
Sharp Note Of Warning to Nation Sounded
at Governors White House Conference
National Organization May Be Formed to Combat
Amazing Waste Of Americas Natural Resources

other states have BEEN 10 sacrifice her forests in
order 10 gain land for farming purposes. The
destruction OF her forests has resulted only from
Ssale'ess ana prodigal commercial operations upon
tueHi' togerher with fires resulting from these
operations or carelessly set for other purposes.
IN oregon Washington and California the na-
tons future store of timber is situated. Both
ID quantity and quality the Pacific coast states
are possessed of the most valuable arboreal asset
OF the United States. Here then is offered the
best field for interposition. between extermina-
ton and preservation. Of the benevolence of the
,4tafe. beneficial of the people of the whole
GOVERNMENTS OPPORTUNITY
Here also is the governments best opportunity
10 set itself between the rapacity of private mo
nopoy in these natural resources and the people
As the ceai and petroleum production both de-
crease the abso ute need Of the preservation.
seryation and preservation from monopoly of the
water power in tie country Will become and is
becoming more and more apparent.
The conference was greatly shocked
when the members learned of the seri-
Gus illness of H. A. Jastro of California,
president Of the American national
livestock association, who was TO have
been the second speaker of the after
noon session on Grazing and Stock
Raising" He was taken suddenly Ill
at the White House from the extreme
heat and had to be removed to hotel.
His address was read by w. c. Barnes
-of New Mexico. In part he said:
No one question is more closely connected with
the future prosperity OF the west than is ihe
proper conservation Of the wqTer and Of the
grass ana forage of the western plains and noun
tains.
While recognizing the fact that prevailing
methods II persisted IN viii eventually destroy
tie grazing interest IN Caiifornta. Arizona and
New Mexico. many Of rne stoeknea arr rot
ready 10 accept such radical departure as the
plan Of government control involves.
II is NOT the remedy TINT is objected 10. but
the means Of carrying out tha- remedy. The
stockEan realizes that doctor is badly needed,
but Is unable TO satisfy himself just which dee
tor be should call They are all anxious 10 be
cured. but fear the means TO be taken 10 effect
the cure viii be found worse than the disease.
In such an emergency some controlling agency,
and make the decision which the stoeknen seem
unable 10 make for themselves with any degree
OF unanimity.
JASTRO'S SUGGESTION
1t is hard to understand how this fear as TO
the manner OF the management Of the grazing
lands can be accepted lasts for oppcsi-
tion 10 any plan OF government control when we
have in the national forests. in that portion Of
the west with which l am thoroughly acquainted
such a splendid example of successful and prac-
deal management OF TIE same and under
OF water supply, forest protection and those vital
matters connected With tie forests than we
would have upon our open grazing lands where
the forests were not involved II all
With the coming Of the national forest, with
its force Of rangers TO see that each one keeps
Nis own range; that no one man. no matter how
great or rieh or Influential be WAS, trespassed
upon his neighbor, be ne ever so small cad
this secure 10 each portion of 4 range upon
which he quite as secure in his tenancy as
II he owned it in fee simple. peace reigns now
whore NOT many wears ago sheep camps were
almost nightly shot up and stock of sn kinds
killed 10 wanInn and cr-minsl disregard OF law
and decency.
Professor Thomas c. Chamberlain of
the department Of geology of Chicago
university delivered a telling address
on Soil Wastage," dwelling particu-
larly upon the methods by which moist
ure in the soil can be preserved
Other speakers We're President Had
ley Of Yale, Governor Glenn of North
Carolina Secretary of Agriculture Will
son. R. A. Long Of Kansas City, J. S.
WhippIe of New York and Governor
Fort Of New Jersey.
The conference viii end today.