The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-22
The Presidents Message Pro.
claims Need Of Conserv-
ing Country's Resources.
CALL to- ACTION
Permanent Welfare of Peo-
pie Can Not Exist Save on
a Firm Foundation.

|
Washington, Jan. %. President
] Roosevelt sent to congress today q
message transmitting the report of the
national conservation commission. he
prefaces the report with his own com
ment. stating in vigorous terms his
conviction that Immediate action Is
needed II the rlghtful heritage of pos
terity in natural resources is to be pre-.
served.
The message says:
To the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatiyes:
transmit herewith a report Of the
national conservation commission, ITO.
gether with the accompanying papers.
This report which is the outgrowth
of the conference of governors last
May, was unanimously approved by
the recent joint conference held in this
city between the national conserva.
tion commission aud governors of
states, state conservation commissions
and conservation committees Of great
organizations of citizens. It Is there.
fore in peculiar sense representa- tive
of the whole nation and all its parts.
With the statements and conclusions
of this report l heartily concur, and |
commend II to the thoughtful considera..
tion both OF the congress and of our
people generally. It's one Of the most
fundamentally inpertant documents
ever laid before the American. people.
1t contains the first inventory of Its
natural resources ever made by any
nation. In condensed form it presents
statement of our available capital in
material resources, which are the
means of progress. and calls attention
TO the essential conditions upon which
the perpctuity, safety and welfare Of
this nation now rest and must always
continue tore 1t deservesand should
have the widest possible distribution
among the people.
The facts set forth In this report
constitute an imperative call to action.
The situation they disclose demands
that we. neglecting for time, IL need
be, smaller and less vital questions,
shall concentrate an effective part of
our attention upon the great material
foundations of national existence, prog.
ress and prosperity.
immediate Action Needed.
This first inventory Of natural re.
sources prepared by the national con.
servation commission is undoubtedly
but the beginning of a series which
will be Indispensable for dealing intel.
ligently with what we have. 1t sup
plies as close an approximation to the
actual facts as 1t was possible to pre-.
pare with the knowledge and time
available. The progress of our kpowl.
edge Of this country win continually
lead to n6re accurate information and
better use Of the sources Of national
strength. But We cannot defer action
until complete accuracy in the esti.
mates can be reached, because before
that time many Of our resources will
be practically gone. 1t is not neces.
sary that this inventory should be ex.
act in every minute detail. 1t is essen.
tial that It should correctly describe
the general situation and that the
present inventory does. AS it stands
1t is an irrcfutablc proof that the con.
servation Of. our resources is the fun.
damental question before this nation
and that our first and greatest task Is
to set our house in order and begin to
live within our means.
The first of all considerations is the
permanent welfare Of our people, and
true moral welfare, the highest form
of welfare, cannot permanently exist
save on a firm and lasting foundation
Of material well being. In this re.
speet our situation is far from salts.
factory. After every possible allow.
ance has been made and when every
hopeful Indication has been given its
full weight the facts stul give reason
for grave concern. It would be un.
worthy Of our history and our inteIIl.
gence and disastrous to our future to
shut our eyes to these facts or attempt
to laugh them out Of court. The peo-
pie should and win rightly demand
that the great fundamental questions
shall be given attention by their repre-.
sentatites / do not advise ha7ty OF
I'll considered action on dis outed
points, but / do urge. where the facts
are known, where the public interest
is clear, that neither Indifference and
inertia nor adverse private interests
shan be. allowed to stand in the way
Of the public good I.