The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-03-18

ganizing an International con-
gress, having broader and more
comprehensive scope and covering
all matters touching the conserva-
ton and use of national resources
of all the countries of the globe
On this subject of conservation OF
national resources, in MESSAGE to
the 18th National Irrigation con-
gress, President Roosevelt said:
"To the Officers and Members Of
the National Irrigation congress,
Sacramento, Cal.-Gentlemen:
send you hearty greetings and my
earnest wishes for the fullest sue
cess OF your convention. | con.
graduate you upon the progress OF
the great movement you represent
There is no movement more EN-.
phatically for the benefit OF the
small farmer and the small ranch.
man. There is no other way TO
assist the actual settler and home.
maker who owns and tills his land
so pow erfully as through this move
OF yours for the wise use and pres.
eryation of the waters and forests
The reclamation service and the
forest service are directly adapted
TO help the small man make and
maintain prosperous home; and
they are doing it. These services
were recently inspected on the
ground by the Secretary OF the In.
terror and the Secretary of Agri'
culture, who have them in charge,
and | congratulate you on the high
standards of integrity and eficien
cy they have attained.
ut is q matter of sincere satifac.
ton to learn that you will not con.
fine yourselves to the questions OF
irrigation and forestry. nor even to
the control, use and conservation
of streams, vastly important as
these are to every citizen OF the
United States. am glad to know
that you will also give attention to
that problem of which forestry and
irrigation and water conservation
form but part, the funda mental
problem OF the conservation of all
natural resources. The work OF
the government along the line oil
this greater problem cannot be
made effective without the approx
al and support of the whole body
of citizens By educating, guiding
and crystalizing in this direction
by bringing the needs of the people
clearly and forcibly to the know.
ledge of the representatives, you
are re ,dering a service of first i'm
portance to the nation rs whole.
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT.'
All of the great organizations
formed for the promotion Of the
public welfare through proper
development of the national re
sources will participate in the con.
gress to be held at Albuquerque
The waterways commission, the
national rivers and harbors con.
gress, the national drainage con.
gress and the national forestry as
ISOLATION will be represented by
delegates. All who are interested
in national prosperity will attend
and the assembly will be the most
noteworthy gathering that will ever
come to New Mexico.
Scientific farming will be one Of
the subjects of discussion at the
congress. This is a subject that
appeals with great vehemence to
the settlers of semi.arid regions Of
the world. Exhibits will be pre-
scented exempliiying the capabili.
ties of soils in semi.arid America
without artificial irrigation and
demonstrating the possibilities Of
establishing of farming communi.
ties which will really make con.
quest of the so-called desert, make
homes on the land In truth and
demonstrate that water, scientifical
ly handled and used, is our syno.
nym for wealth, when every drop
nroperly conserved. bears with il