The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-13
CONSERVATION OF ORES.
Address of Andrew Carnegie Before
Conference Of Governors.


Washington, May 1s.-The confer
ence OF governors this afternoon was
addressed by andrew Carnegie on the
subject of 1.-THE Conservation of Ores
and Related Minerals"
He spoke in part as follows:
Mr.. President and Governors:
You have begun to make history
today, for never before has the ma
tional governor called all the state
governors into conference. The presi-
dent has acted upon the axiom that
while it is we'll to follow good prece-
dents, it is better to make them.
Washington in 1885 invited the COM
missioners OF Maryland and Virginia
to Mount Vernon when they confer
re dat Alexandria upon the joint regu-
lation of the Potomac. This was the
first slight revelation of the important
Interstate problems which lie imbed-
ded in our federal system. 1t is no
new question with which you have to
deal. My province today is to ask
your attention to the situation as at
fected by our mineral supplies, chiefly
iron and coal.
OF all the worlds metals. iron is
| in our day the most useful. The
beginning Of real Industrial develop
ment. The mining of copper and tin
and the making of bronze implements
closed the Stone Age in Europe and
Asia, but 1t was not until the smelt-
ing of iron started in Africa and
spread to Europe that Industrial pro-
gress began; in all countries the high
est civilization has followed the use
| of iron in the arts az crafts. Today
the position Of nations may almost be
| measured by it's production and use.
| Iron and coal are the foundation
of our industrial prosperity. The value
| Of each depends upon the amount and
| nearness of the other. In modern times
| the manufacturing and transportation
| industries rest upon them, and, giver
| sufficient land area and fertile soil
these determine the progress of any
l people.
| How Prices Increase.
| To each generation the ultimate
| disappearance of coal is of less con.
| Germ than current prices. With thu
| working out of seams and fields, plant.
| and transportation facilities are re-
moved or abandoned, and other losse.
| are incurred; and the cost Of these il
| the end increases prices. Already thi.
is felt; 1t is estimated that by reason
| OF the progressive exhaustion o.
American fields, coal consumers are
| today paying on an average 10 per CEN
| or Is per cent more than would be nee
| essary if the supply were unlimited
| and the advance must continue will
| each decade as the supply lessons.
Still more wasteful than our pro
4
| consuming coal. OF all the coal burn
| ed in the power plants of the country
| not more than from per cent to II
per cent Of the potential energy Is actu
| ally used; the remaining 80 per cent tt
| So per cent is absorbed IN rendering the
| smaller fraction available in actua
| work.
| The same spirit of recklessness thai
| leads to waste in mining and in the
consumption Of coal leads to unneces.
leo ri cly nf hI1v1o n hY1ri NO
year 1907 in the United States the kill.
ed and wounded in coal mining opera.
lions exceeded 5000. The danger to life
and limb in the mines is increasing fa1
more rapidly than production, because
gas becomes more abundant and the
work of rescue more difficult as the
mines extend deeper or farther from
the entrance. -
We are nationally in the position O.
a large family receiving a rich patri