Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-12-09
ROOSEVELT
(Continued from page ~

definite way within the last few
months. :eE ....'.>.. ~'".
Last May the Governors of the
States and Territories met in the
White House to confer with each 9TH
er and with the president upon the
material basis Of our national well
fare. They united in memorable
declaration which should hang on the
wall in every school. One outcome
of the conference at which the declar-
alton was adopted was the appoint
ment of the National Conservation
Commission, whose chief duty it was
to prepare an inventory of the nat
ural resources of our country-those
resources which are, in the langu-
age of the governors, the foundation
of our prosperity. It's report is to
be used by the president in transmit
ting to congress information as to
the state of the union so far as nat
ural resources are concerned. ~
The commission consists of sena-
tors and Representatives, members Of
the executive departments, and pub
lie, spirited citizens familiar with par
ticular resources 1t is wholly with
| out funds and it has therefore de-
pended altogether on the public spir-
1t of its members and the co-opera-
tion of the executive departments at
Washington and in tine several states
especially the scientific and statisti.
cal bureaus. Its work has brought
these bureaus into closer and more
effective, cooperation than ever be.
fore, and for this reason it's results
will rank as by far the most useful
statement of the national resources
tever prepared in any country. Each
bureau, without relaxing it's regular
work, has collected and summarized
the results of it's past work, and has
contributed them to the commission.
desire to make special acknowledge
ment to the men who have so cheer
fully and successfully accepted and
| carried out this additional task.
They have rendered real service to
the whole nation at the cost of great
personal sacrifice of time and effort
to themselves. And the best of it
all was the admirable spirit of COOP
Grafton which characterized the
whole work. 81 . 4i
am especially glad to welcome
1.-The cooperation of the states through
their Conservation Commission and
otherwise. Such cooperation gives
earnest of mutual assistance between
states and nation, and mutual bene-
fits to follow. Without it the great
task of perpetuating the national well
fare would succeed with difficulty. II
states and nation work for it togeth-
er, all in their several fields, and all
Joining heartily where the field is
common, We are certain Of success
In advance. sss
The national organizations concern
ed with natural resources, such as
the great engineering societies, the
National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress which Is now holding its fifth
convention, the Southern Commercial
Congress, also in session. which has
made SO excellent a beginning all
these and many others have Joined
In the work In a way to gladden. the
heart Of every patriotic American. A
special word is due the National Riv-
ers and Harbors Congress. 1t is the
one organization that is advocating
IL waterway policy, and not a water
way project, and is national In its
scope, for il represents practically all
the friends OF waterway improvement
In these United States. The question
of river and harbor improvements
and the benefit that such will bring