The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-05-15

CONTINUED From Page One.)
erosion by the Missouri river and it's
tributaries. Investigation by the ex-
perts of the department of agriculture
shows that thousands of acres of rich
land along the Missouri has been car
ried away to the gulf.
Means of Systematic Irrigation.
Means of systematic irrigation and
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 devel-
opment of arid lands by the economi-
cal use of the streams will be urged.
One of the most important addresses
of the conference will be that of presi-
dent James j. Hill of the Great Nor
thern railway, who received a special
invitation from President Roosevelt.
His subject will be "The Relation Be-
tween Rail and Water Transportation. "
Mr.. Hills discussion inevitably will
lead him to consideration of the COM
petitive relations between the railroads
and the canals of the country, and he
is expected to touch upon the signifi-
can't revelations which recently have
been made through government inves-
LEGATIONS into that subject. The inter
nal waterways of the country always
have been an important check on rail
way freight rates. Now that the
freight business of America has grown
beyond the railroads, it is necessary
that the internal waterways should be
taken into important consideration.
Bryan Will Speak.
Other notable addresses will be made
by William Jennings Bryan, Andrew
Carnegie and John Mitchell, former
president of the United Mine Workers
of America. All of the visiting gov
errors will take part in the general
discussion, following the presentation
of reports by numerous experts on the
various subjects under consideration.
Governor Hughes of New York is in
attendance, and is accompanied by
President Nicholas Murray Butler of
Columbia University and President ia
cob Gould Schurman of Cornell Uni
versity, two of the best known educa-
tors of the country.
In regard to the purposes of the
Doneoua1f SaiH.
Purpose of Conference.
"The natural resources of the terri
tory of the United States were, at the
time of the settlement richer, more
varied and more available than those
of any other equal area on the surface
of the earth. The development of these
resources has given us, for more than
century rate of increase in popu-
lation and wealth undreamed of by the
men who founded our Government, and
without parallel in history. 1t is OBJ
vious that the prosperity which we
now enjoy rests directly upon these re-
sources. 1t is equally obvious that the
vigor and success which we desire and
foresee for this National in the future
must have this as the ultimate ma
terial basis.
"In view of these evident facts it
seems to be time for the country to
take account of it's natural resources
and to inquire how long they are like
ly to last. We are prosperous now;
we should not forget that it will be
just as important to our descendants to
be prosperous in their time as it is to
us to be prosperous in our time.
Resources Becoming Depleted.
at is evident that the abundant nat
ural resources on which the welfare
of this Nation rests are becoming de-
pleted, and in not few cases are al
ready exhausted. This is true of all
portions of the United States; it is es-
pecially true of the longer settled COM
munities of the East. The gravity OF
the situation must, | believe, appeal
with special force to the governors of
the states because of their close rela-
tions to the people and their response
bility for the welfare of their CON-
munities.
Facts which | cannot gainsay force
me to believe that the conservation of
our natural resources is the most
weighty question now before the people
of the United States. If this is so the
conference, which is the first of its
kind will be among the most important
gatherings in our history in its effect
upon the welfare of all our people,