The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-05-13
MOST NOTABLE GATHERING OF
ITS KIND EVER ASSEMBLED.
THE COUNTRY'S RtCOURCES
Is the Subject Which viii Be Dis
eussed for the Next Three Days.
Called Together by the Presi-
dent-From Every Walk.

Governors Of many states, senators,
representatives, cabinet members.
heads of great commercial and IN.
dustrial bodies, labor leaders, curpo-
ration presidents and men distin-
guished in other walks Of life assem-.
white house as the guests of Pres.
ident Roosevelt and inaugurated
conference which is likely to 20 down
in history as the most notable of its
kind ever held in the United States
The conservation of the natural re-.
sources of the country, its forests and
waterways. is the subject which will
occupy the attention of the famous
delegates during the three days of
presided at the opening of the con.
ference, declaring that the subject
under discussion is the most weigh.
ty question now before the people of
the United States" Two sessions
will be held each day of the confer
ence.
President Roosevelt's first an
nouncement of the present conference
was made during the course OF his
address at Memphis on October 3
last while he was making his famous
trip down the Mississippi. The meet
ing was at first scheduled for Janu-
airy, but for various reasons it Was
postponed.
1t is believed that permanent or
ganzation, wider in scope and more
influential than any similar body, viii
be organized as a result OF the con
ference opened today.
OF the subjects outlined by the
president for consideration, that OF
| Improvement of the nations inland
waterways is looked upon as the most
| important.
The conversion OF the Mississippi
river into a deep waterway will be
/ taken up.
Coupled with this are the saving
| of the forests, the control of floods.
/ the prevention of soil erosion and
the conservation of the supply OF
coal. iron and other mineral re-
sources
Special attention will be given
to soil erosion by the Missouri river
and its tributaries. Investigation by
the experts of the department OF
, agriculture shows that thousands OF
acres of rich land along the Nilsson
ri has been carried away to the gulf
Means of systematic irrigation ana
drainage in the Far West without ex.
hausting the streams will be sought
Uniform laws among the states OF
the west and southwest for the de
velOpment OF arid lands by the eco
nomical use of the streams will be
urged.
One of the most important ad
dresses of the conference will be
that of President James j. Hill of the
Great Northern railway. who receiv
ed a special invitation from President
welt, Ills subject Will be The Re
lation Between Rail and Water Trans
portation."
MIR. Hills discussion inevitably will
lead him to consideration of the
competitive relations between the
railroads and the canals of the coun
try, and he is expected to touch
upon the significant revelation,
which recently have been made
through government investigations in
to that subject. The internal water
ways of the country always have
been an important check on railwa,
freight rates. Now that the freigh
business of America has grown he
yond the railroads, It is necessar!
that thei Internal waterways should b,
taken into important consideration.
Other notable addresses will b,
made by William Jennings Bryan, An
drew Carnegie and John Mitchell
former president Of the United Min
Workers Of America. All the vlsitin
governors will take part in the gen
eral discussion, following the preser
tation of reports by numerous expert
on the various subjects nule' cor
sideration. Governor Hughes OF Ney
York is in attendance, and is accom-
panied by President Nicholas Murra
Butler Of the Columbia Universit
and President Jacob Gould Schurma
OF Cornell University two OF tn