Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-23

fuels and ores of the important metals
has discouraged economy, so that the
problem Immediately before us is that
of waste prevention. Nowhere ares
the present conditions more critical
than in the case of coal. At every
stage in the mining and utilization of
coal there is waste,lto an extent al
most beyond 'beHer, and much of the
technologic investigation on the part
of the Survey is directed toward less
ening the waste in the production Of
coal and increasing the efficiency In It's
consumption.
Water is unquestionably our greatest
mineral resource. All great industries.
agriculture, manufactures. transporta-
ton and mining, depend upon 1t. and it
IS fortunate indeed that our President
has called the nations attention TO the
value of it's water resources. The pos
sibilities of our rivers and streams well
deserve the investigation l mentioned
earlier as being carried on by the Sur
vey. Flood prevention would save to
the nation over 800. 0OO. 900 annually and
it is believed that flood control could
he secured by an expenditure cquiva-
lent to the present losses from the
floods of few years. Inland water
navigation is demanded to solve the
present day problems of interstate
commerce Reclamation by irrigation
and drainage means the winning to the
use of man of vast tracts of fertile land
and thus increasing the national
wealth. Even more opportune today is
the discussion of the utilization of our
water power. While America is the
greatest consumer Of coal. NOR. than
one half of the present consumption ill
the United States has for it's object the
generation of power. In the presence
Of enormous undeveloped water powers.
this drain upon the coal resources
seems in a large part unwarranted.
Utilize this water power and there will
result not only the financial saving Of
today but also the conservation of the
coal. Nor should we think that pos
terity alone is concerned in this con-
servation of our resources. Every step
toward the exhaustion of our easily
mined coal. for instance, will be marked
by rise in price.
1t is, then, only by systematic study
of the natural resources of the coun-
try that progress can be made toward
national conservation. The practical
value of the Surveys scientific work
has been recognized in this connection
and the usefulness of it's results appre
ciated by the general public. With
reliable information before us regard
ing our stores of natural wealth, our
present wasteful practices. and our
possibilities of improvement in meth
DDS of utilization, there should indeed
be sufficient incentive to Join in the
movement for national betterment.
has in this national conservation. In
all that relates to natural resources,
political boundaries play little part.
| Most Of the important rivers of the
! country are interstate streams The
distribution of the forests and de-
posits of valuable minerals antedated
by centuries and ages the definition of
State boundaries. Thus the paper
| manufactured from timber from the
Maine forest by power derived from
| one of our rivers may go to a South
| err city or again the steel used by one
Of our. Maine mills may be the product
| of q Pennsylvania furnace using Min
| nesota ore. West Virginia coke. and
, New Jersey limestone. 1t is this in
terdepcndence. this community of in
| terest that makes anything that af-
| fects any part of the country mat
| ter of real concern to the citizens OF
| Maine. Yet there are certain phases
of this broad subject that touch us
more intimately than others.
The farms. forests and water
powers of Maine comprise her chief
natural wealth and constitute the real
| basis for her industrial life. OF these
| l will mention only two. the forests
1 and the water resources which indeed
| cannot easily be discussed separately.
| The rivers of Maine now contributes
| to the industries of the State total of
somewhat more than 10000 horse
| power. 1t is estimated that fully de-
veloped. Names water powers might
| yield with proper storage 1.2O0.0Oo
| horse power. This conservative esti-
] mate gives our state the equivalent. as
regards power generation. of the coal
| production of several of the fairly i'm
| portant coal states.
| The development Of these water
| powers is the line for Names future
| Industrial progress. The preservation
| of this source of cheap yoWer Is n
| trust which we of today must &C
| Knowledge and waste of this natural
resource is criminal, inasmuch as with
| proper care water power can be utii-
| lied to the fullest extent and at the
| for use by posterity The discussion
of the conservation of our water re-
sources leads directly to the considera-
| ton of our forests.
Full appreciation Of Names de-
pandence upon her forests and exact
knowledge of the extent and present
| condition of this resource are essential
| if we are to seek to inspire the people
| to adopt n policy of economy. There
| must he an educated and aroused puo-
lie opinion if waste is to be discour-
aged. First of all, we must not be-
led by sentiment but rather he urged
| onward by practical knowledge
Waste may or may not find some ex- :
cuse for existence. There Is
theoretical waste which 1t is not
| practicable to avoid under present con-
ditions, but there is also waste against
which both theory and practice warn
us. There are the tops and limbs that
cannot be taken from the forest be-
/ o.,sc their utilization would cost more