Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-12-08
MEETING OF
GOVERNORS
Notable Gathering Opens In
Washington With Taft
Presiding.

WASHINGTON, Dec. s.--wIth
Presldent-elect TAFT as preaiding or
iicer and President Roosevelt on the
program for the principal address.
the Joint meeting opened today BY
the National Conservation Commis-
sion and the Governors Of states and
their ofiicial representatives prom
ises 70 be one OF the most noteworthy
gatherings OF It's kind in the history
Of the country. Chief executives Of
many OF the most populous states Of
the Union are In attendance and
these. added to the long hat Of prom
inent scientists and others who are
to appear, will make the gathering
nearly as important as the white
House conference. which began the
work. The Conservation Commlas-
ion, appointed BY Mr.. Roosevelt.
serves without pay, and great pres
sure will be brought TO bear on Con-
gress to obtain an appropriation for
the work 70 be done.
The Southern Commercial Com
gress, which opened yesterday, con-
tinued It's deliberations today. The
National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress will meet tomorrow, and on
Thursday Secretary straua viii con-
vene the National Council OF Com
merce Today's session Of the Cow
ernor's and the National Conserve
ton Commission, and the subsequent
Rivers and Harbors Congress, will
mark the taking OF q great stride
forward In the movement for taking
account OF the national resources Of
the United States. The inventory
undertaken by the commission Is
now ready and the report TO the
president 10 In proeess Of completion.
When the conservation movement
was started specific information
about the actual state OF our re-
sources was partly wanting. partly
inaccessible. Certain facts we're
broadly known. 4 was at least nn-
questionable that resources had been
wastefuliy used. and that some Of
them, notably the mines. were sure
In time 10 be exhausted. while others.
for example the forests. could still
be kept perpetualiy useful BY right
management. The FIRST work was
to get the facts, to show exactly
what the situation was and how Il
could be improved BY measures that
would work. Without an inventory
which should show the present con-
dition Of the resources and the way
to develop them to the best adyant-
age. conservation was in danger OF
staying up in the air.
This inventory has nov been TAX
en-. and nothing remains but the I'm
auguratlon OF practical reform meas
ures 10. which such an inventory
points the way. Conservation OF the
waterways OF the nation IL one OF
the most important phases of the
1 NNfA AAANAAAANAs AAa AAAA VIII "
brought TO the front by the conven-
ton to be opened tomorrow BY the
National Rivers and Harborn Con-
gress. Hundreds OF delegates are
already here. representing all Of the
important river Improvement soele-
ties Of the country. and Il IL expect
ed that the total number win reach
2.50O.
Interest in this great movement Is
growing constantly. for this congress
represents no particular section or
project. but 10 the direct representa-
tive Of all sections that have a merl-
torous claim for the Improvement Of
a river or lake, harbor or a canal
This national organiEAtion-with
delegates from every part OF the
Understands for 3 broad. liberal
and comprehensive policy for the Inn
provement by the federal govern
} mept OF ell waterways that have been
examined and favorably reported on
BY the engineer OfleerN Of the army
n