The Washington times., 1908-05-13
Dangerous Waste of Utili-
ties Should Be Stop
ped at Once.
CONCERTED ACTION
NEED OF COUNTRY
Impending Disaster May Be Check
ed If States Will Unite
IN Movement.

to protect ourselves and our chill
dren against the Wasteful develop
ment of our natural resources,
whether that waste is caused by
the actual destruction of such re-
sources or by making them impOs-
sibie Of Development hereafter.
Should Leave Inheritance.
Any right thinking father earnestly
desires and strives TO leave his son
both an untaraished name and a reason
able equipment for the struggle Of lie.
81 this Nation as a whole should ear
nestiy desire and strive to leave to
the next generation the national honor
unstained and .he national resources
unexhausted. There are signs thar both
the Nation and the States are waking
10 a realization Of this great truth. On
March 10. 1915. ths supreme court Of
Maine rendered an exceedingly import
ant judicial decision. This opinion was
rendered IN response 10 questions as to
the right of the legislature 10 restrict
the cutting OF trees on private land for
the prevention OF droughts and floods.
the preservation OF the natural water
supply and the prevention OF the ero-
sion OF such lands. and the consequent
niiss up OF rivers. ponds. and lakes.
The forests and water power Of Maine
constitute the larger part Of her wealth
and form the basis Of her industrial
life, and the question submitted By the
Maine senate to the supreme court and
the ansW yer OF the supreme court alike
bear testimony 10 the wisdom OF the
people Of Maine. and clearly define a
policy OF conservation OF natural re-
sources. the adoption Of which is OF
vital Importance not merely 10 Maine
but 10 the whole country.
such policy viii preserve soil, for
ests. water power as q heritage for the
children and the Chllcreu's children Of
the men and women OF this generation
for any enactment that provides for
the wise utilization Of the forests,
whether IN public or private ownership,
and for the conservation Of the water
resources Of the country must Leces-
EaTtly be legislation that VIII promote
both private and public welfare FOR
food prevention, water power develop
ment preservation Of the soil. and lu-
pr0vemeut of uayigable rivers are all
promoted by such policy Of forest
conservation.
The opinion Of the Maine supreme
bench sets forth UneQuivOcally the priu-
diViiual are subordinate 20 the rights
Of the community, and especially that
the waste OF Wild timber land derived
originally from the STATE. involving as
IL would the lmpuyeTishment OF the
state and It's people and thereby defeat
ing one great purpose OF government
may properly be prevented by state re
strictions-
The court SAYS that there are two rea-
sons why the right Of the public TO con
troll and limit the use OF private property
IS peculiarly applicable TO property Ia
land. First, such property Is not the
result of productive labor. but is de-
rived solely from the State itself. the
original owner second, the amount OF
land being incapable Of increase, II the
owners Of large tracts can waste them
at Will without State restriction, the
State and its people may be helplessly
Impoverished and one Ereat purpose OF
government defeated We do not
think the proposed legislation would
operate TO take private property with
in the Inhibition OF the Constitution
wild and uucultivated lands IN his use
Of them. might delay his taking some
of the product, might delay his antici-
pated profits and even thereby might
cause him some loss of profit, III would
nevertheless leave him his lands. their
product and increase. untouched, and
without dimiuuttOu OF title. estate. or
measure OF control and large opportun-
fly 70 realize values He might suffer
delay but not deprivation. The
proposed LEGISLATION would be
within the legislative power and would
not operate as a taking of private prop
eTty for which comp ensatiOn must be
made"