The Washington herald., 1908-05-16
THE RESOLUTIONS.


We. the governors Of the States and Territories
Of the United States q America. il conferences
assembled. do hereby declare the Conviction thst
The great prosPerty a our county rests upon Ire
abandAnt q the lard chosen by our fore
fathers for their homes ard where they laid the
foundation o ths great nation.
We sook apoa these resources as a heritage %
Be made use Of IN establishing and promrting the
comfort prosperity, and happiness of the American
people. but not 10 be wasted. dster0ated. OF
needIessly destroyed.
We agree that cur eounts's future is involved in
this; that the gTeat u8sal resources supply the
material basis upon watch cur civilization must
continue to deTeud. and upon which the psTpetuity
Ct the nation itself rests
We agree, IN the light Of facts brought to our
knowledge and firm information received from
sources which cannot doubt. that this material
basis Is threatened with exhaustion. Even as eaab
succeeding generation from the birth of the nation
has performed its part in promDting the progress
and development q the republio, SO DO zs ii this
generation reeognizs it "a a high duty 10 perform
cur part. and this duty IN large degree. lies in
The adoption q measures Tor the conservation + the
natural wealth Of the oougtry.
Conservation Demands Attention.
We declare our frm conviction that this oonser-
Estion q 0ur natural resources is subject q
transeendent inpozfanee which should engage unFs-
mittingy the aitention Of the nation, the States.
and the people IN earnest co-operati0n These nat
ural resources include the land on which We 1--we
and which yields our food the living waters which
fertili1e the soil supply power and foun great ave
naes q commerce. the forests which yield the mater
| ials for oar homes. prevent erosion q the sol.
and conserve the navigation and other uses Of cur
streams; and the minerals which form the basis Of
our industrial life ard supply Us with heat light,
and power.
| We sgrre that the lands should be 50 used that
erosion and soil wash should csase that there
should be reclamation Of arid and semi-srid regions
by means q irrigation, and q swamp and oTeraoged
regions by means of drainage: that the waters
should be conserved and used as to promote nayi-
gation 70 enable the arid regions 70 be reclaimed
By irgati0n and to develop power IN the interests
Of the people, that the forests which regulate our
rivers support our industries. and promote the fer
uaty and pFoductiTeaeSs q the soil should be pre-
served peTpetuated: that the minerals found 50
abJndantly beneath the surface should be SO used
as 70 pToong their utility; that the beauty health
falness, and Availability q our country should be
preserved and increased that the sources Of national
wealth exist for the benefit Of all the people. and
that the monopoly thereof should not be tolerated.
IndOrse Presidents Act.
| We commend the wise foretIought q the PRES
waste and exhaustion Of the natural resources OF
the country. and signify cur high appreciation Of
his action in calling this conferences 10 consider the
same, and to seek remedies therefor through Co
/ operation Of the nation and the States
| We agree that this cooperation should hnd ex-
precision in suitsbls action by The Congress within
TIE limits Of AM co extension with the national
| jurisdiction on the siAicct. and complimentary
thereto. by the legislatures Of the several States
within the limits Of. and eoextension with. their
jurisdiction.
We declare the eonTiction that IN the use q the
natural resources our independent States are inter
! dependent aud bound together b. ties Of mutual
benefits, responsibilities. and duties.
/ We agree in the wisdom of future eonferenee BE-
tween the President members Of Congress. and the
governors q the States on the conservation Of our
natural resources With the view oi continued CO
| operation and action the lines suggested. And
/ 70 this end We advise that from time to time as
IN his Judgment may seem WISE the President call
the governors Of the States members q Congress
and others into conference.
Want Future Action.
We agree that further action is advisable to as.
certain the present condition q our natural re-
sources. and 70 promote the Conservation oF ihs
same. And to that end We recommend the APPOINT
ment by each State Of a commission on the con
each other and with any similar commissioa on
behalf Of the Federal government
We urge the continuation and extension Of forest
policies adapted to secure the outstanding and
newal Of our diminishing timber supply, the pre-
Eention Of soil erosion. the protection of hezdwatsrs
and the maintenance Of the purity and naFgability
Of ou streams We recognize that the private Own
eFshp of forest lands entails responsibilities in the
interests Of all the people, and fsvor the enact
ment Of laws looking to the protection and replace
msnt OF privately owned forests.
We recognize in our waters 8 most valuable asset
Ct the people Of ths United States and We recon-
mend the enactment Of laws looking to the con.
servatiOn Of water resources f0T irrigation, water
supply power and navigation. 70 the end that nsyi-
gable and source streams my Be brought urdeT can-
Flete control and fun utilized for evsrg puTtpse.
We especially urge on the Federal Cor sress the
immediate adoption Of a wise, active and thorough
waterway policy providing for the prompt improve.
msnt Of streams and conservation Of their water
sheds required for the c commerce and the
protection e the interests of our people.
We recommend the enactment os laws looking 20
the prevention Of waste In the mining and exirsctie
Of coal. OIL gas. and other minerals with view
to their wise conservation Tor the use Of the people
and to the protection of human life In the mines,
Let us conserve the foundations of our prosperity.
Respectfully submitted,