The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-15
Times-Dfspatch Bureau,
Munsey Building.

+
! The work OF finding out how rich
Uncle Sam Is in natural resources has
begun. and will be pushed throughout
the summer. under the direction OF the
National Conservation Commission APP
pointed by President Roosevelt as a
result Of the conference OF Governors
at the White House last May.
The President requested the COM
mission to report by the first day Of
1909, and every effort will be made to
act in this respect as he desires. The
commission was actually appointed
only about a month ago. but some
work has already been done in the
OF material for the report. Much OF
this is already available in the various
executive departments, particularly
those of the Interior Agriculture and
Labor and Commerce, but much will
have to be secured through special
channels.
Among these will be the State con-
servation commissions, which the Gov
ernors are appointing, and some OF
the great national organizations which
were represented at the White House
conference, and which have entered
with spirit into the general movement
In other words, the machinery ssS
making the first inventory ever at
tempted of the resources OF the ma
Ition has been set In motion, and Is
running smoothly.
Clifford Pinchot. chairman OF the
commission. has changed his plans, and
will return to Washington to conttnue
personal supervision of the work. BY
early fall the commission expects to
have in hand sufficient material to
begin the study OF the stock Of the
oountry's resources, and by the middle
Of October 1t hopes to have the greater
part of this matter in hand. This Will
be necessary In order that the full
commission. which holds its first meet-
ing on Tuesday, December LIST, IN
Washington, may at once take up the
study OF the facts which the summers
work has brought together.
One week later the commission VIII
hold a Joint meeting IN washington
with the Governors Of the States. or
their representatives, with q view to
securing further and closer CO. op era ara
ton with the State commissions.
The commission has advised q new
and interesting method BY which TO
collect it's material. a schedule OF In
'quiries covering the whole subject OF
Observation-Disclosures, forests, lands
and mnerals-has been arranged and
sent to each bureau chief with re-
quest for suggestions and criticisms,
This has resulted in obtaining the ex-
pert advice Of the men at the head OF
the different bureaus. who will have
Immediate charge Of the collection OF
material. President Roosevelt. who Is
keeping In very close touch with the
commission has approved this method
and has written to each chief Of bu-
Ircau letter commencing the enthu-
siastic cooperation shown by the bu-
lreau chiefs and emphasizing his be-
! lief In the great Importance Of the
work the National Conservation COM
mission has In hand
Among the government bureaus
which VIII furnish a large part OF tn
| important information the commission
Is seeking are the Bureau OF Corpora
! tons Of the Department OF Commerct
and Labor. under Commissioners Her
Census, under Director North; TIN
Forest Service. under the direct super'
vision OF the chairman OF the com,
misslon. and Oyerton w. Price. secre.
I tary OF the forest section ofAthe COM
mission; the Reclamation Service, un,
asr plreS,or NfT;sll the Ge,oiogiGa
corps OF engineers OF the army, under
Its new chief. General William'L Mar,
shall. and almost every. bureau under
lths Department OF Agriculture, /. IS
Go-operati9n among all the agencie'
now engaged In this inventory taklnl
y g. eanSsp y feature Taxing w
sllon and the several memberships lo
the State. commissions togetiier, thu
4 number OK perkOns engaged and tar,
'ss1eq ~ the work ls YeTy Iargs q, g il hi