New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-14

of the resources of the country, exercised wise
forethought in reference thereto. Washington
clearly that the perpetuity of the states
could only be secured by union and that the
only feasible basis of union was an economic
one; in other words, that 1t must be based on
the development and use of their natural re-
sources Accordingly. he helped TO outline
scheme of commercial development, and by his
influence an interstate waterways commission
appointed by Virginia and Maryland.
II met near where now meeting, In
Alexandria, adjourned to Mount Vernon, and
took up the consideration of interstate COM
merce by the only means then available that OF
water. Further conferences were arranged,
first at Annapolis and then at Philadelphia. 1t
was in Philadelphia that the representatives or
all the states met for wha. was in Its original
conception merely waterways conference; but
when they had closed their deliberations the
outcome the Constitution which made the
states into nation.
The Constitution of the United States thus
grew in large part of the necessity for united
action in the wise use of one of our natural
resources The wise of all of our natural
resources, which are our national resources as
well, Is the great material question of to-day.
/ have asked you to come together now because
the enormous consumption of these resources,
and the threat of imminent exhaustion of some
of them, due to reckless and wasteful, use, once
more call for common effort common action.
Since the days when the Constitution was
adopted, steam and electricity have revolution
lied the Industrial world. Nowhere has the rev.
olution been great in our own country
The discovery and utilization of mineral fuels
and alloys have given the lead all other
nations in the production of steel The discov-
cry and utilization of coal and iron have given
us our railways. and have led to such industrial
development has never before been seen The
vast wealth of lumber in forests. the riches
of our soils and mines the discovery of gold and
mineral oils. combined with the efficiency of our
transportation, have made the conditions of our
life unparalleled in comfort and convenience.
The steadily increasing drain these natural
resources has promoted to an extraordinary de-
gree the completely of our industrial and social
life. Moreover, this unexampled development
has had determining effect upon the character
cheney in the great task has given us vigor, eff
feCtiveness, decision and power, and a capacity
for achievement which in fits own lines has never
yet been matched. SO great and rapid has
been our material growth that there has been
tendency to lag behind in spiritual and moral
growth; but that is not the subject upon which [
speak to you to-day
RESOURCES BASIS OF POWER.
Disregarding for the moment the question of
moral purpose, it Is safe to say that the pros
perlty of our people depends directly on the
ergy and intelligence with which our natural
resources are used 1t is equally clear that these
resources are the final basis of national power
and perpetuity. Finally. it IS ominOusy evident
that these resources are in the course of rapid
exhaustion
This nation began with the belief that it's
landed possessions were illimitabe and capable
of supporting all the people who might care to
make our country their home; but already the
limit of unsettled land is in sight and indeed but
little land fitted for agriculture now remains n
occupied save what can be reclaimed by irriga-
preached heritage of forests: more than half Of
the timber is gone. We began with coal fields
more extensive than those OF any other nation
and with iron regarded as nexhaustible,
and many experts now declare that the end Of
both iron and coal is in sight
The mere increase in our consumption OF coal
during 1907 1906 exceeded the total con-
sumption in 1876, the centennial year. The
enormous stores Of mineral oil and gas are large
y gone. Our natural waterways are not gone
but they -Iave been injured by neglect and
by the division OF responsibility and utter lack
of system in dealing with them that there is less
navigation on them now than there was fifty
years ago. Finally, began with soils of un-
examped fertility and We have Impoverished
them by injudicious use and by failing to check
erosion that their crop producing power IS di-
have thoughtlessly and to a large degree un-
diminished the resources upon which
not only our prosperity but the prosperity of our
children must always depend.
We have become great because of the lavish
use Of our resources, and have just reason
TO be proud of our growth. But the time has
come to inquire seriously what will happen when
our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron the
oil and the gas exhausted, when the soils
shall have been still further impoverished and
washed into the streams polluting the rivers, de-
nuding the fields and obstructing navigation.
These questions do not relate only to the next
century or to the next generation 1t is time for
us now as a nation to exercise the same rea-