New-York tribune., 1908-12-11
GOVERNORS PLEDGE AID
TO CONSERTE RESOURCES.
Conference at Washington Ends
Reports on Forests and UdtGr.


Washington. Dec. lo-Prophetic Of far reaching
results growing out of the joint conservation con-
ference is report drafted to-day By more than
thirty Governors approving the principle Of CO.
operation among the states and between the states
the federal government, in the conservation OF
the country's natural resources. and emphasizing
the Importance Of such cooperation 20 the end
that the prosperity and perpetuty Of the nation
may be assured
The last days conference between PTesi'ent
Roosevelts national conservation commission. lead
ers in commerce and industry, lawmakers. Gov
ernors. Senator's and Representatives was fraught
with much significance. but in pledging their sup
port 10 every phase OF the conservation problem
the Governors furnished the climax to one OF the
most eventful gatherings ever held in this country
The conference heard addresses from Andrew ar
uegie. Governors Woodruff of Connecticut. Ansel Of
south Carolina Broward Of Florida and De1een
If Illinois Ex-Governor Blanchard OF LOUISIANA ana
other distinguished men.
The Joint conference through = committee on
resolutions. summed UP its deliberations and gave
hearty approval to the work and principles Of the
commission. The necessity for such laws as may
be necessary 10 extend cooperation was strongly
urged ard the policy of separate disposal Of sur
face timber and mineral rights remaining on pub
lie lands was commended. The conference ap-
proved he disposal Of mineral rights by lease only
and the disposal Z timber rights only under con
ditions insurng proper cutting and logging
The policies an which particular emphasis was
laid we're that ell uses Of the waters and all parts
Of each waterway shall be treated as nterrelated;
legislation for the den elopment OF waterways Tor
vzation water supply and other interstate uses
preferably by federal appropriation, otherwise n!
issue OF bonds more scientific research as to the
extent Of the nations resource. and the main
tarance Of = national conservation commission
empowered to cooperate with state commissions
A resolution was adopted providing for the ap-
Toiutmert of a Joint committee Of six members Of
state commissions and three members Of the na-
tionaI commission 10. prepare i plan for united
action hy all organizations concerned with the
conservation Of natural resources
Senator Reed Smoot. of Utah. chairman of the
section Of forests of the conference, submitted the
inventory Of forests this morning. Senator STaoots
report vas : summary Of the great mass Of sta
tistics which the first inventory represents Inc
report represents six months work on the part OF
the forests section and presents the most strlA-s
figures Of the forests INVENTOR IN part u1e
port is follows:
rorosts pGb!icy owned and on less than per cent
Of the Of ffTeFfs fe forg PTlffa5ef fSTesf area
We take yearly, including waste IN @ @loggRfe f alS 20
ia manufacture twentythree billion cubic feet OF
wood from our forests. s-.-oz
oZ rye boS gfG ssfs fse Esof Of 4bsr 1fSgO02 more @
posts poles and fence rs 5s3 IS Goo 0
afs a. bes3iIiss nearly fve hundred million barrel
ho6ps g. 6S6 900 cords OF native puIpwood 16S0oooo
o6G L.nbic feet Of round mine tInbers and 125ooVo
cords Of wood for disthtat!on ..u ir1 vta1d
more than four times as MUCH as now; we ,f can
One-t-5rd with present as "e a 1d,7siryC pre-
can perpetuate the naval stores o 4,+7, re
SyT5aE+ftv Of timber used in the water or In the
1@gnd e Ne Cog cost oy one the yaue Of the
standing timber burned eacn 5eer. not coulLlk s
our leeds until our have had time 20 grow
sftII escape permanent timber scarcity.
The sta tistics which have been gathered during
the last six months the use Of water for az Dur
poses in the United States under the erection OF
Theodore E Burton OF ONO oIlaH
man Of the Inland Waterways Commission, Vhlch
forms the Section OF Of the National Con
servation Commission. show possibilities Of I'M
rpense savings by a more economical utliaahoH
IF the available supply Of water. The report Tlch
was presented this afternoon says In part:
There are in mainland United States 2S2 streams
1aylgatea aoT 4:i I'LL al b. IMPROVEMENT; there
nHch more az ~, csTaIs With a mileage Of 2I89.05
besides numerous abandoned capsls On a7e az al1
ysfj01 of rivers and canals is too small for deh-
lite record. The cost of EateT carriase 'suE @
"a way freigntsge during 1906 reacnlns = ',OUo, &
70. % eco I9nq I0R Of onefth Of our freight BY water
Would have saved more than $25oeoo,Ooo to our
The theorefical power Of the streams Is more
i a = "a 200 horsepovyer The amount available at
cost comparable with that OF steam lnsta.iaL9u
i estimated a 81 600 600 horsepower. ana tue
,noanI Available reasona bic cost at 5ooo o0o TO
% a0G O0o horsepower. The 97.oooooo horsepower
exceeds our entire mechanical power no" lH Use
nd would operate every mill drive every 50 ndle
prone every train and boat ana hght every CITY f.
-ov-n and viTage IN the country
! he broad plan ALREADY framed by statesmen aRd
av-e--g and approved b. the Executive should be
enacted into law. It provides for q system or
va terway Improvement extending to an o. Loe
Ises OF the waters and benefits 70 he derived fToh
5air control Including the Qualification OF the wa
ar and the q batenent Of foods FOR the benefit OF
ayigatiorl the extension OF irrigation, the de'el
1nnlent and application Of power. the prevention
,f .oIT sb the p1rifcation Of streams tor water
.I1npIv and the drainage ana utilization or the va
eTs fox swamp and overflow lanGs