The Colorado statesman., 1908-05-16
C0NFERENC E OF
The GOVERNORS
ADDRESSES BY ANDREW CARNE
GLE, JOHN MITCHELL AND
SECRETARY ROOT.
WASTE OF RESOURCES
TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT OF COAL
IN DEVELOPED MINES is
LOST.

Washington.-At the afternoon ses
sion of The conference of governor,
Wednesday Andrew Carnegie. in intro
ducing his remarks, declared that mos
presidents follow precedents, but Presl
dent Roosevelt initiates them
Mr.. Carnegie said: Il urge on the
executives here assembled as our great
est need today the need for better ant
more practical knowledge. 1t was nev
er more true than now, that 'knowl
edge is power The states have done
much, the federal government has
done much, individual men have done
much for research; in the history o.
this country, knowledge has advanced
as never before, and thereby the mater
ials and forces of nature have beer
brought under control as no mar
dreamed when the nation was founded
In conclusion, Mr.. President and
governors of our states, it seems to me
our duty is:
First, conservation of forests, fol
no forests, no long navigable rivers; nc
rivers, no cheap transportation.
Second, TO systematic our water
transportation, putting the whole work
in the hands of the reclamation ser
vice, which has already proved itself
highly capable by its admirable work
Cheap water transportation for heavy
freights brings many advantages and
means great saving of our ore supplies
+ Railroads require much steel, water
does not
Third, conservation of soil. More
than thousand millions of tons of our
richest soil are swept into the sea
every year, clogging the rivers on its
way and filling our harbors. Less soil
less crops; less crops, less commerce;
less wealth.
John Mitchell, former president OF
the United Mine Workers of America,
spoke next
Mining experts predict" said he,
that at present methods of produc-
tion the coal deposits of the United
States will be entirely exhausted with
in two hundred years. 1t is contended
by many competent Investigators that
sixty per cent. of our coal supply is de-
stroyed or wasted because it is imprac-
ticable or Improbable to mine it un.
der present commercial conditions.
with observation and experience
am constrained to believe that this
estimate is too high. | am convinced,
however, that by the present methods
cent of the coal in mines that have
been developed is lost beyond hope
or possibility of recovery
The great waste in the production
of coal does not at all approximate,
however, the waste and extravaganza
in its consumption. 1t is interesting
to note that under the present process
of burning only from five to ten per
cent. of the heat units in bituminous
coal are utilized, the remaining ninety
Or ninety-five per cent, being wasted.
Our extravagant wastefulness in
the use of our fuel supply, both in pro-
duction and consumption, is equalled
only by our criminal disregard Of the
personal safety of the men who toll in
the mines.
1T is a sad commentary upon our
vaunted civilization that more men are
killed or crippled in mining in the
United States than in any other nation
ON earth.''
The climax of the afternoon ses.
sion was the speech of Secretary Root,
who was received with great enthusi.
asm. He setd
"The constitution of the United
States prohibits the states from max.
ing any agreement with each other
WllHOul lne COuScuJ Ol SOuSTeSS, Dul
you can make any number of agree.
ments with the consent of Congress.
Why should not the powers that are
reserved to the state sovereignty be
exercised by those sovereignties with
wise regard for the common inter
ests?
1T is hign time that the sovereign
states of the union should begin to
perform their duties with reference
not only to their own individual local
interests, but with reference to the
common good l regard this meeting
as marking new departure-the be.
ginning of an era in which the states
of the union will exercise their re-
served powers upon higher plane of
patriotism and love of country than
has ever existed before"
Two ideas destined to mark mater
ial progress in Americas future, re-
suited from the first days conference.
The first is that a permanent or
ganization by the states and the nation
the present conference, to accomplish
the end sought The second-sug-
gested by Secretary Roots that
there is no limitation by the consti-
sutton to the agreements which may
be made between the states, subject
to the approval of Congress. The two
ideas, fully developed, it is predicted
would result in the conservation of the
energies and resources of the nation
through uniform and unconflicting
laws, both national and state.