The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-13
InUentory of Natural
 Resources of Country

possession, and maintain in efficient
 condition; those areas which are less
 making than for conserving unique natural beauty and wonders. the water supply. and the timbers.
 I supply, and the timber.
 The resources still belonging direct- | ly to the nation, which must necessa- rlly be diminished and finally de-
 snd used n way sp0q to returS % the speSt. est benefit in the long run to the greatest number, the essential caution
 prohib,tine es or hlndsring anS sconomicSi w1ncsI l development, prevent such monopoly
 as might artificialiy increase the cost
 of the resources 10 the people beyond
 full reasonable profit and no more. When the land itself Independent
 of the minerals under its surface. is
 than for permanent dedication to pub lie use. it should be given in such areas as will furnish a reasonable liv-
 ing 10 an average faimly. to those and to no others.
 Losses to~Llve stock and Crops. An important factor in reducing the crop yield Is the losses due to inju- rious animals and Insects. especially the latter. It Is estimated that the losses to live stock, grain, etc, due to ! annually. most of which Is caused by wolves, rats and mice. The damage by birds Is comparatively slight. and
 is far ontweighed by their beneficient
 nhoiogy that such insects inflict dam
 ages h the average year amounting growing crops. orchards, grain in stor-
 age. etc. Most of these losses are There Is a tendency towards A mon ! opolization of farm lands. taken as a | whole. which in certain sections is
 marked, notably in the States west of | the Mississippi river.
 l particularly the iron lands, there is a
 marked tendency towards increases in | holdings for economic reasons. while | wards monopoly iB decided. largely for The PubIle Range.
 states Ie essim%ase6 % to % be % soe. .oco. sseee COG l acres in area. Upon this range 1t is
 estimated that there are bo.Ooo,0 900 cat
 in ana Tsry SsS oondscn seseR Tes | that part occupied by sheep. owing to
 overgrazing and trampglingI These
 bad conditions can be. renedied by an
 by It's owners. the United States, and ! the portionIhg out of 1t to stock
 ranges individuaiiy, This asset of the
 almost as criininally as the forests. Swamp Lamds.
 There is In this country some 75,- | 900. 900 or S0.0oO,00 acres of swamp and overfiowed land. nearly all of | which can and should be drained and i protected, and thus added to our culti- | vable area It is estimated that the | profit from such operations will be | from 100 to 200 per cent over the pres | ent value of the lands plus the cost | of drainage and protective works. The first figures of the inventory of the forests of the United States which | the National Conservation Commission
 has made were presented to the con- | ference by Senator Reed Shoot of | Utah. chairman of the Section of For ests of the Commission Senator Shoots report Is a summary of the | great mass of statistics which tn e ! first inventory represents. The re- port represents six months work on l the part of the Forests Section and pre-
 sents the most striking figures of the Forests inventory Tn part the report is as follows: What Forests Do
 Next to our need of food and water comse our need of timber. Our 5indus-
 tries subsisting wholly or mainly upon wood, pay the wages of more than 1,500. 900 men and women.
 Forests not only grow timber but they hold the soil, and they conserve
 streams for all useful purposes. How far forests increase the rain is noG yet known. It is well-known that they check, wind. and work. against 1 excessive heat or cold. That they make for the fibre. health, and happf- ness of each citizen and of the nation, has been known since history began. ,