The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-01-02
NATIONS TO
CONFER
PRESIDENT INVITES NEIGH.
BORIS TO CONFER ON
RESOURCES.
Canadians are Interested and Do
minion Governments Represen-
tatives Express Willingness to
Take Part in Work of Conserv-
ing Natural Wealth.

Washington, Dec. 29.-It has been
announced from the White House that
a conference looking toward the con.
servatiOn of the natural resources Of
North America would be held at the
White House on February 10 next.
Letters suggesting the plan have
been addressed by the president to the
governor general and to the premier
of Canada and to President Diaz, of
Mexico. They will be delivered to the
officials in person by Clifford Pinchot.
chairman of the national conservation
commission and chief forester of the
United States.
Mr.. Pinchot will first visit Canada.
leaving today. He will then carry the
invitation to President Diaz at Mexico
City.
The proposed conference is the out.
growth of the two conservation confer.
ences in which the governors of the
states and territories were the princi-
pal conferees. At the second confer.
ence representatives of the Canadian
SON ClhIIlClAU ~ OSOOu luUtI0SU Ill
the movement Out of this grew the
idea of North American conference
''to consider mutual interests involved
in the conservation of natural resour-
ces and to deliberate upon the practi.
cability of procuring a plan adapted to
promote the welfare of the nations
concerned
Letter to Canada
The presidents letter to the governor
general of Canada is as follows:
'In May of the present year the gov
errors of the several states and terri
tories of this Union met in the White
House to confer with the president and
with each other concerning the amount
and condition of the natural resources
of this country, and to consider the
most effective means of preserving
them. This conference was followed
by the appointment of a conservation
commission on the part of the nation
and of a majority of the states.
GA second conference has recently
been held in this city. 1t was called
to consider an inventory of our natural
resources prepared by the national con-
servation commission. It's most i'm
portant result will doubtless appear in
cooperation on the part of the nation,
the states and the great associations
of citizens for action upon this great
question upon which the progress of
the people of the United States OBJ
viously depends.
1t is evident that the natural re-
sources are not limited by boundary
lines, which separate nations, and that
the need for conserving them upon this
continent is as wide as the area upon
which they exist. In view, therefore,
of these considerations and of the close
bonds of friendship and mutual aims
which exist between Canada and the
United States, I take especial pleasure
in inviting you to designate representa-
tives of the Government of Canada to
meet and consult with representatives
of this government and the national
conservation commission in the c ity OF
Washington on February IS, 1909.
Purpose Oh VlScllHS
''The purpose of the conference
have therefore to propose is to consider
mutual interests involved in the con-
servation of natural resources, and in
this great field to deliberate upon the
practicability of preparing general
plan adapted to promote the welfare OF
the nations concerned. I have this
day addressed a similar invitation to
the Republic of Mexico, expressing my
hope that representatives of that gov
eminent also will be present and par
ticipate in the proposed conference fol
the preservation of the natural re-
sources of North America.
''The conclusions of such a confer
ence, while wholly advisory in char
acter, should hardly fail to yield I'M
portant results beneficial both in bet
ter knowledge of the natural resources
of each nation on the part of the others
and in suggestions for concurrent &C
ton for the protection of mutual inter
ests related to conservation.
GAS my representative to CONVEX to
you this letter and invitation and al
your desire to consult with you con
corning the proposed conference,
have selected an officer of this govern
ment, chief of the United States forest
service and chairman Of the national
conservation commission, whom com
mend to your kind offices.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT. :
Protest Against Increase in Rates
Cbicapo Dec. 28-The Illinois Man.