The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-22

In submitting to congress today a
| special message transmitting the
report of the national conservation
commission President Roosevelt
said:
This report, which is the out
| growth of the conference of gov
errors last May, was unanimously
approved by the recent joint con-
ference held in this city between
the national conservation commits
sion and governors of states, state
conservation commissions and con-
| servation committees of great or
CARNATIONS of citizens. It Ii there
fore in a peculiar sense representa-
tive of the whole nation and all its
parts.
1T is one of the most fundament-
ally important documents ever laid
before the American people. 1t
contains the first inventory of it's
natural resources ever made by
any nation. In condensed form it
presents a statement of our avail
able capital in material resources,
which are the means of progress,
and calls attention to the essential
conditions upon which the perpet-
| uity, safety and welfare of this ma
ton now rest and must always con-
tinue to rest
THE facts set forth in this report
constitute an imperative call to &C
ton. The situation they disclose
demands that we, neglecting for a
time, if need be, smaller and less
vital questions, shall concentrate
an effective part of our attention
upon the great material founda-
tions of national existence, prog
| ress and prosperity.
THE great basic facts are al
| ready well known. We know that
our population is now adding about
one-fifth to its numbers in 10 years
and that by the middle of the pres
ent century perhaps 150,000,OO0
Americans, and by its end very
many millions more, must be fed
and clothed from the products of
our soil. With the steady growth
in population and the still more
rapid Increase in consumption our
people will hereafter make greater
and not less demands per capita
upon all the natural resources for
their livelihood, comfort and con
| venience. 1t is high time to realize
that our responsibility to the COM
ing millions is like that of parents
other children, and that in vast
ing our resources we are wronging
our descendants"
The president urges an appropri-
alton of $4,000 to carry on the con
servation work outlined through CO.
operation of state and federal com
missions. Immediate action is
urged in the formation of these
commissions. The report presents
mass of astonishing statistics. 1t
| StOWS mat tilC al pa
Of the United States for 1907 ex-
ceeded $4,000, 100000, and contrib
uted 65 per cent of the total freight
| traffic of the country. The waste
in the extraction and treatment OF
mineral products during the same
year was equivalent to more than
| $500 100000. The available and
easily accessible supplies of coal In
the United States aggregate APP
proximately 100000, 100000 tons.
At the present increasing rate of
production this supply will be so
depleted as to approach exhaustion
before the middle of the next cen
| fury.
The known supply q high grade
iron ores in the United States APP
proximates 3.S40,000,000 tons,
which at the present increasing
rate of consumption can not be ex-
pected to last beyond the middle of
the present century.
The known supply of petroleum
is estimated at $1,000. 100000 to
20, 900, 100000 barrels. The produc.
ton is rapidly increasing. while the
wastes and the loss through misuse
are enormous. The supply can not
be expected to last beyond the mid
die of the present century.
The known natural gas fields ag-
gregate an area of 5000 square
miles. TIL edaily waste of natural
gas-the most perfect known fuel
is over 1000, 100000 cubic feet, or
enough to supply every city I'm the
United States of over 100000 popu.
lation.
There is urgent need for greater
safety to the miner, The loss OF
life through mine accidents is APP
palling. and preventive measures
can not be taken too soon.
The total land area of continental
United States is 100000. 600 acres
or this but little more than two
flfths is in farms, and less than
one-half Of the farm area is im