The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1908-05-15
Country Faces Grave Danger From
Useless Waste OF Her Resources
Prominent Speakers at Conference Of Governors
at White House Depict Fate That Awaits
America Unless Halt IS Called...J. j. Hill
Delivers Impressive SpeechB Business
Session to Be Held Today.

Washington, D. c., May Is.
Startling was the warning sounded
yesterday at the conference Of gov
ernors at the White House OF the
danger the nation confronts In coil
waste and forest depletion. The
governors listened and talked and
applauded but took no action. This
is left for today, the last day Of
the conference, and plan Is afoot to
have the prepared speeches for that
day printed In the record without
reading, in order that the time may
be devoted wholly to results. The
resolutions committee was in session
all day yesterday and will report this
morning. A supplementary meeting
Of a number Of governors followed
the days session and committee
consisting of the governors Of Ken
lucky, Missouri and Nebraska was
appointed to bring In q suggestion
for a permanent organization OF gov
ernors, independent, perhaps OF any
other organization that may be form
ed by the conference. The president
opened the morning and afternoon
sessions, which were thereafter pres
ided over by Governor John "A. John
son Of Minnesota and Governor De-
neen OF Illinois, respectively.
James J. Hill OF the Great North
ern railroad who led the long Hist OF
speakers treated the depletion Of the
nations resources in q very serious
and impressive way. He presented
conditions respecting the mines, the
soil and the forest shov svantpn
waste in each instance and drew q
picture Of the political chaos when all
were gone, wherein the people would
tear down the very pillars OF gov
ernment. Mr.. ELL believed such re-
suits could and should be averted by
prompt action. R
Soil waste and forest conservation
received expert treatment by Prof.
T. G. Chamberlain OF Chicago, and
R. A. Long OF Kansas City, after
which was evidenced the desire OF
the convention to engage in gem
eral discussion. A demand to be
heard was insistent and the same
|eagerness was manifested at the close
OF the afternoon program, which in
cluded an address on irrigation by
Former Governor Pardee Of Califor-
MIA; a paper on grazing and stock
raising, read for H. A. Jastro OF Cali
fornia, who was taken Ill during the
day, and general observations on
land conditions in the west by For
mer Senator Carey Of Wyoming.
Secretary Wilson met hearty res
ponse to a practical talk on mistakes
In farming and remedies. The same
crop each year on the same land, as
he showed, was ruinous. Diversity
of crops and the keeping proper
quantity OF organic matter In the
soil. was secret Of larger porduc-
tion and benefit to land.
What New York state has and
is doing for her forests was set
forth with spirit by ]. s. WhippIe,
the forest, fish ana game commits
sioner Of the Empire State. In TWEEN
ty-two years, he predicted, not a
single saving stick OF timber would
be standing in that state, unless d
halt were called on the cutting.
This, Notwithstanding that state
was planting more trees than all
other states and nation combined.
Forty per cent Of New Jersey is
woodland, asserted Governor Fort, al
he began an entertaining talk which
ended with the declaration that the
ambition Of the state was to be the
playground OF the nation, and to Its
seashores and woods he invited the
governors to come next year. Yale
University is graduating practical
foresters at the rate OF thirty to
forty a year and all OF these are OBJ
taining positions, he said.
Professor ChamberIain's talk was
very impressive. He said in part:
From a study Of soils, It becomes
clear that the key to the problem lies
In the control Of the water which