The Monte Vista journal., 1908-05-16
ALL BUT FIVE STATE EXECUTIVES
IN CONFERENCE WITH THE
PRESIDENT.
HOUSE OF GOVERNORS
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TALKS
ON CONSERVATISM AS A
NATIONAL DUTY"


are in Washington in attendance upon
the new branch of government which
President Roosedent Roosevelt has in
vented as the browning achievement
Of his administration-the House of
Governors.
new branch of government which Pres
ident Roosevelt has inveted as the
browning achievement of his admins
tration-the House of Governors.
For three days the governors of all,
but five states of the union will be in
conference with the President and with
men who Are recognized as experts in
the business and scientific worlds. The
subject of the conference is the conser
walton of natural resources. Other
subjects, however, will be taken up by
the distinguished council that met at
the White House Tuesday morning.
The five governors who are absent
are those of California, Oregon, Geor
gia, Massachusetts and Texas.
When the President and his guests
assembled in the White House 1t was
perhaps one of the most notable gath
erings that have ever met to consider
a great public question in that historic
mansion.
Representing the government was
the President of the United States, the
vice president. the cabinet, justices of
the Supreme Court and members OF
both houses of congress. The states
were represented by their chief eXecu-
tives End the Conferees appointed by
them. The Industries were represented
by Andrew Carnegie. the ironmaster;
James j. Hill. the genius of railway
expansion: John Mitchell, the labor
leader and Dr.. |. c. White, state ge5lo-
gist OF West Virginia. and perhaps the
leading expert on coal in the United
States.
The conference was opened by the
President with an address on "Conser.
walton as National Duty"
The President said, in part:
This conference on the conservation
Of natural resources Is In effect n
meeting of the representatives of all
the people OF the United States called
TO consider the weightiest problem now
before the nation: and the occasion OF
the meeting lies in the fact that the
natural resources of our country are In
danger Of exhaustion II we permit the
old wasteful methods OF exploiting
them longer TO continue.
This nation began with the belief
that It's landed possessions were illlm'-
table and capable OF supporting all the
people who might care to make our
country their home: but already the
lmi, OF unsettled land Is In sight. and
indeed but little land fitted for agricul.
turc now remains unoccupied save
what can be reclaimed by irrigation
and drainage. We began with an I'M
approached heritage Of forests. more
than half OF the timber Is gone. We
began with coal fields more extensive
than those OF any other nation and
with iron ores regarded rs incxhausti'
Bile, and many experts now declare tina;
the end Of beth iron and coal Is In
sight.
"The enormous stores OF mineral oil
and gas are largely gone. Our natural
waterways are not gone, but they have
been so injured by neglect. and by the
division Of responsibility and utter
lack OF system In dealing with them.
TINT there IL less navigation on them
now than there was fifty years ago.
Finally. We began with soils Of uncx'
amplcd fertility. and we have so I'M
poycrlshcd them by injudlcious use
and By falling to cheek erosion that
their crop producing power IL dimin'
ishing instead Of increasing.
1--WE have become great because Of
the lavish use Of our resources and VIC
have Just rcnson TO be proud OF our
growth. But the time has come 10 In
quirc seriously what will happen when
our forests nrc gone, when the coal. the
Iron, the of and the gas are exhausted.
when the soils shall have been stili
further impoverished and washed Into
the streams. polluting. the rivers. de-
nuding the fields and obs'ructin: nnvl'
cation. Those questions do not relate
only To the mex, century or 10 the next
generation. II IL time for us now AZ .
nation IN exercise the same reasonable
forcstgis In deaiin. with our great nat.
urni resources that would bc shown by
any prudent man In conserving md
widely using tho property which con
tn!ns the assurance of wcll.bclnR FOR
himself and HIS children.
"Thc natural resources ! have cnun.
Grated can be- divided into two sharply
DISTINGUISHED classes accordingly ~
they arc or arc not capable Of renewal.
Mines n used must necessarily IN cx
hnusted. The minerals do not md can.
mot renew themselves. Therefore In
dealing with the coal. the oil. tho Kas.
the iron. the metals generally. all that
W. can do n 10 try n see that they are
wisely used. The exhaustion 10 certain
10 come In time.