The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-10

Aiabamm tOmmeFctnt 193 AnuustFhah ation.
 which Is expected to formulate a work Ing plan for the conserving as far as possible all natural resources. while still using them as required by the trade and natural development of tho United States. have laid upon them q great responsibility. which, if well ex. ecuted. may be safely expected to senc their names down through the future history of the United States as states. men of the most farseelng vision. They are ITO forecast the needs of the flu ture and so handle the great sources oi our prosperity as not to destroy in ad vance all hope of prosperity of our de scendants.'
 Governors and Advisers.
 The personnel of the convention is to be made up of the Governor of each State, together with three others selected from his State because of their knowledge of conditions and their broad, statesmanlike view of needs Upon the selections made by each Gov ernor. therefore, will depend in a large measure the success of the effort; for with supporters on his right hand who are familiar with the geological. hydro graphical and agricultural conditions of a State, the convention may well DcCOAHc u COuNenIlOn OI experts eA- changing views on vitally important subject and thus formulate a purpose and a plan that will make this con- vention an influence along all the de- cade of our future life as a nation.
 The stake of Alabama in this conven- tion Is as tremendous as that of any other States that can be named. In fact, without speaking in a derogatory manner regarding any other State and the gifts of nature to that State. it is within the bounds of permitted boast ing to claim that while other State s may be as important as Alabama, there is not a single State more important to itself or to the Union.
 Alabamn's Possessions.
 Glance for moment at our natural resources. First and foremost and eternally, we have unclaimed water courses of 1000, 900 or more horse pow CT (out of 8 total power of 2,Soo,0o0 in all the Southern States), placing us second to New York State in water power opportunity, New York standing supreme simply because of the won derful reserve force of Niagara Falls. When, however, we realize that Ni- agara Falls can never be all chained, then it becomes apparent tnat Alabama stands supreme in this one great nat uraI resource.
 Then if we turn our eyes to the iron ore whose use Is the test of a countr's civilization and a country's en- durance we see this state has been given by the fiat of Almighty God a storehouse of a world need, greater than any other known body of ore in the United States, and that the same allwise Providence has placed in close touch with this gift of ore an equally marvellous area of coal, and, If by di- rect wish to enable the easy produc- tion of pig iron. has also placed near to the coal and iron, the necessary fluxing element, limestone. We may now begin to get some idea of the importance of Alabama, our grand State, in it's possible participation ir the convention on natural resources.
 Some of Its Resources.
 Then, when we realize that because of the disappearing timber supply, human ingenuity is being turned tC other sources of building material and that we have in one unbroke en bed 1T the State of Alabama cement materia from ten to thirty miles wide. l5' miles long and in places 1000 fec | deep, we can again realize how vas | are the natural resources of Alabama | in contrast with less favored regions
 If, in addition to the little that ha been said, regarding the stake we haV in the problem that Is laid before ou statesmen this week, We add the clay | of all grades, the marble bed owe fifty miles long, the mica depoAts, th U