Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-11
CONFERENCE At END
National Conservation Com.
mission Adjourns.
GOVERNORS DRAFT REPORT
Approve Principle of Cooperation
Among the States.
HOPE TO ASSURE PROSPERITY
Provision for Joint Committee to
Prepare Plan for United Action.
Inland Waterways. !
GOVERNORS DRAFT REPORT
HOPE TO ASSURE PROSPERITY

Prophetic of far-reaching results grow
ing out of the Joint conservation confer
ence f. a report drafted yesterday by
more than thirty governors approving
the principle of cooperation among the
states and between the states and the
federal government in the conservation
OF the country's natural resources, and
mphaszine the Importance OF such CO.
operation to the end that the prosperity
and perpetuity Of the nation may be as
sured.
The final day Of conference OF the ma
tional conservation commission was
fraugit with much significance. but in
pledging their support to 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
by Andrew Carnegie, Cows. Woodruff OF
Connecticut, Ahsel OF South Carolina,
Broward OF Florida, Deneen OF Illinois,
former Gov. Blanchard Of Louisiana and
other distinguished men.
Approval of the Work.
The joint conference. through a COM
mittee on resolutions, summed up its
deliberations and gave hearty approval 10
the work and principles Of the commits
sion. The necessity for such laws as may
be necessary to extend cooperation was
strongly urged. and the policy Of separate
disposal Of surface, timber and mineral
rights remaining in public lands was COM
| mended. The conference approved the
disposal Of mineral rights by lease only.
and the disposal of timber rights only
under conditions insurfng proper cutting
and logging.
The policies on which particular en-
nj a al W. la pnr al n
the waters and all portions OF each water
way shall be treated as interrelated; legis-
lation for the development of waterways
for navigation. water supply and other
interstate uses. preferably by federal APP
preparation. otherwise by issue OF bonds:
more scientific research as to the extent
Of the nations resources: the maintenance
of national conservation commission
empowered to cooperate with state COM
missions.
Provision for Joint Committee.
A resolution was adopted providing for
the appointment Of a joint committee OF
six members Of state commissions and
three members of the national commits
sion. to prepare a plan for united action
by all organizations concerned with the
conservation Of natural resources.
| The report Of the inland waterways COM
mission. which was to have been delivered
/
chairman. was given in substance by the
secretary, W. j. MCGEE. as Mr.. Burton
was unable to be present.
Representative Burton's Report.
Various indirect benefits would arise
through the interrelations among the nat
ural resources" the report set forth. THE
development OF water traffic In lieu of
rail carriages would reduce the constantly
increasing consumption OF ties and mine
timbers, now a heavy drain on our for
| ests: it would reduce the consumption OF
| iron, since water vehicles reQut1e nut a
quarter to third of the metal required
/ by rail vehicles of like capacity: and 1t
would correspondingly reduce the con-
sumption of coal for both propulsion and
smelling.
RECKONING the total cost Of domestic
traffic by rail and water and wagon. WITH
| freightage on imports. it is probable that
| the average American family pays for
transportation of food and clothing more
than % per cent OF their actual cost-that
is, our consumers pay too much ana our
| of life. This condition would be relieved
by the development of water transporta-
ton on an adequate scale
Engage in Discussion.
| In the discussion which Followed Gov.
| ,Hoesatt of Alaska said that the con-
servation problem has not yet assumed
| importance in his territory, the chief
problem now being to keep the vast TIM
Der supply from going to waste.
Gov.-elect Stubs Kansas said that
the Constitution gave the federal govern
ment control of the waterways. For 100
years Congress has neglected its duty to
the waterways of the country, he said.
He insisted that fourteen-foot channel
extending 100 miles up the Mississippi
and its tributaries would reduce the cost
of traffic IS per cent. This. he said, is
the greatest economic problem now be-
| fore the congress.