The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-29
THEY WILL BE DISCUSSED AT
CONSERVATION CONGRESS.
Gathering Is to Be Called on the Re-
turn of Governor Eberhart From
New Orleans; Vital Questions Which
Affect the Welfare of Minnesota
to Be Considered; Development OF
Her Latent Resources.

winter and as soon as he returns from
the deep waterways congress in New
Orleans will give the subject his earnest
attention. He has come to realize
the need of systematic and concerted
action for the preservation and de-
velopment of the states resources
and since his ascendancy to the chief
magistracy has become imbued WITH
the idea that one of his duties to
the people is to take the lead in the
movement.
In his Crookston address last week
he dwelt at some length on the agri-
cultural resources of Minnesota, and
while he gave high praise to the re-
suits attained by the farmers of the
state, he did not fail to make it plain
that there is more work for them
While agriculture in his opinion always
will remain the mainstay of the ma
ton, there remains much to be done
in other directions.
One of the Needs.
To supply material for lumber, the
vast stretches of barren cut-over lands
must be reforested. The federal gov
eminent has entered upon the work;
the state has made a beginning, but
must do much more to make the move
ment of material value. The problem
of transportation calls for the devel-
opment of waterways and good roads
as supplementary adjuncts to the rail
roads. To obtain cheap and constant
H. no hor cd
and utilized. While the people are
waiting for the forests to grow, fuel
must be provided, and all that is in
sight as a substitute for wood and
coal are the immense peat boys cover
ing millions of acres.
To reclaim thousand supon thousands
of acres of swamp lands for the bene-
fit of. the husbandman and the state
calls for general system of drainage
on a plan which will embrace the en-
tire state.
In brief. the conservation of farm
lands, reforestation of cut-over lands,
development of waterpower, inaugura-
tion of artificial waterways, scientific
drainage, utilization of peat beds, and
the problems Governor Eberhart would
have referred to congress of the peo-
pie Such body might also consider
the question of protecting fish and
game. which is matter of economic
importance though regarded as merely
conserving sport for the well-to-do. 1t
is possible that other matters will pre-
sent themselves by the time Governor
Eberhart has decided upon the scope
of the proposed convention.
The Vital Question.
"The conservation of our natural re-
sources is the vital question of the
hour for Minnesota" said Governor
Eberhart yesterday, just before setting
out on his journey to meet President
Taft and to participate in the confer
ence of the Lakes to Gulf Deep Wa
terways association at New Orleans.
This will be attended by about forty
governors, delegations from states and
municipalities interested in the devel-
opment of water transportation and
host of technical experts.
MANY of these problems are CO.
related" continued Mr.. Eberhart. "The
plans for ship and barge canals and
for drainage of land should be de-
signed together and carried out as one
problem. Reforestation is not limited
to the idea of obtaining trees for lum
Der, sbut with the purpose also of OBJ
tanning fuel and pulpwood. While we
are waiting for the forests to grow,
we must have power and substitute
for Goa land firewood. At one time it
was believed that the coal fields of the
United States practically were mex
haustible, but even now the scientists
predict the time when there will be no
coal Our forests in Minnesota have
all but disappeared. Where, then, shall
we turn Tor power and for fuel?
Falls to Be Harnessed.
"Our waterfalls and rushing streams
can supply the one and in the vast
peat bogs we may find the other.
"All these are of Importance, but,
after all, the soil is what gives us
sustenance. We have seen how the
farms of New England and the middle
Atlantic states have deprecated in
value and are warned by students that
like fate may oyertake us if we do
not fully awake. The way is plainly
pointed out by the agricultural teach
ers-crop rotation, artificial enrichment
of the soil, plant breeding, more in
tensive and more diversified methods of
farming. They must be brought or
forced into the minds of the people.
st seems that conference or con-
gres ssuch as the one proposed must
prove of great value to the state and
1t will have my most earnest considera-
ton after my return to the state"
To such a conference the agricultural
and allied organizations, the CONNER
cial and industrial bodies and the law
makers would be invited Recognized
experts could be obtained to present
the various phases of the problems and
there then could be discussed by prac-
tical men from a material standpoint
New legislation would be suggested and
Continued On Page seven.