The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-09
The Conservation Conference
By Frederic ,. Haskin.

try. the rate at which the forests are being cut down, and the much slower rate at which reforestration is being accom- plished. It will show the tre- mendous annual loss from forest fires It will point out that from one-third to one-haK of the timber cut is wasted by careless and reckless handling in struction of the forests and the bane- ful results in drying up streams. in making fertile valleys sterile, and in decreasing the rainfall.
 Facts in minute detail will be given concerning the situation regarding the public land and the mineral de- posits of the country. It will be shown that the reckless prodigality of the government must be stopped. It will be shown how the laws designed 10 furnish the first tangible basis for plan of future procedure. Until this time the conservation propaganda has been largely a matter of sentiment. The forest service and other agencies nave done excellent and effective work within their enforced limitations. but on the whole. the matter has not been treated seriously. Conventions met, prominent citizens made speeches everybody agreed that something must be done, and that was all.
 The conference now in session in Washington marks the end of the sem -imental epoch in conservation. Hav- .ng facts as a basis, dshintte legis- lative program will be blocked out. Congress will be asked for a very lit tie at the first, perhaps. The repeal or amendment of the timber and stone act the passage of the Appalachian forest reserve bill. a primary enact n1ent reserving waterpower rights to the government--such will be the re- commentators of the Governors in conference, of the report of the Fed eral commission to the President, and, probably, of the President to Congress.
 The Federal commission did not touch upon purely local problems in any way. that work being left to the several State commissions. The State commissions have not done much work, on account of the entire absence of the necessary. machinery. The Fed eral commission. however, made an effort to avoid leaving any question in c condition that 1t might fall into the limbo of tho twilight zone" be- tween Federal and State authority. This was in obedience to the will of the Governors meeting in May when 1t was resolved that in dealing with the question of conservation there must be no twilight zone Of refuge for the powers opposed to eonserva- tion.
 The recommendation of . definite legislative program by a body com posed largely of Governors of States and of representatives of State conn missions will put the question of con- servation before Congress in a man ner wholly unprecedented. There is certain to be strong opposition in Congress to any program submitted by the conservationists--and strange ly enough the opposition will come themselves Conservatives" It would be useless to submit a complete pro- gram. If Congress Is to be expected to do anything 1t must not be asked to do more than one thing at a time.
 The general result of this confer ence will be to get the conservation propaganda on practical working basis. The full campaign for the cause Is work Of generations. This is only the beginning, and as the task is so enormous in scope and so per- vasive in character. 1t will be well to make haste slowly The more ob- vious and immediately imperative rec forms will be selected and pushed for consideration at this time.
 The work of creating public interest by a campaign of education and re- search has been completed Now will begin the campaign for tangible rem edial legislation. With that will con- tinue the work of research and edu- cation. The Presidents message to Congress which will embody this re. port will be one of the most illumi- mating public documents of the gen. eratlon.
 It Is passing strange. however. that when nearly all the Governors and 1 nearly all the newspapers. and nearly all the associations of business men and technical men. and nearly all the people are on the side of conservation that the Congress of the United States should be regarded as hostile. Yet such is the condition of affairs at the beginning of the last session of the Sixtieth Congress.
 Copyright, 1908. by Frederic J. Has
 kin.)
 TOmOrrOw-T'he Rivers and HarbOrs Congress.