The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-01-23

conservation commission. He pre-
faces the report with his own COM
ment, stating in vigorous terms his
conviction that immediate action is
needed if the rightful heritage of
posterity in natural recources is to
be preserved. The message is as
follows:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
I transmit herewith report Of the
national conservation commission, to-
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-
ton commission and governors of
states, state conservation commissions
and conservation committees Of great
organizations Of citizens. It Is there
fore in a peculiar sense representative
Of the whole nation and all its parts.
With the statements and conclusions
Of this report I heartily concur, and I
commend it to the thoughtful considera-
ton both Of the congress and Of our
people generally. It is one Of the most
fundamentally important documents
ever laid before the American people.
It contains the first inventory Of Its
natural resources ever made by any
nation. In condensed form it presents
statement Of our available capital in
means Of progress, and calls attention
to the essential conditions upon which
the perpetuity, safety and welfare of
this nation now rest and must always
continue to rest. 1t deserves and 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 a time, If 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. series which
will be Indispensable for dealing intel
Hgently with what we have. It sup
plies as close an approximation to the
actual facts as it was possible to pre-
pare with the knowledge and time
available. The progress Of our knowl.
edge Of this country will continually
lead to more accurate information and
better use Of the sources Of national
strength. But we cannot defer action
until complete accuracy in the est1-
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. It Is essen
tial that it should correctly describe
the general situation and that the
present inventory does. AS it stands
1t is an irrefutable 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 firm and lasting foundation
Of material we'll being. In this re-
spect our situation Is far from salts
factory. After every possible allow
ance has been made and when every
hopeful indication has been given it's
full weight the facts still give reason
for grave concern. It would be un-
worthy Of our history and our intelli-
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 will rightly demand
that the great fundamental questions
shall be given attention by their repre-
sentatives. I do not advise hasty or
i'll considered action on disputed
points, but do urge, where the facts
are known, where the public interest
is clear, that neither Indifference and
inertia nor adverse private interests
shall be allowed to stand in the way
pf the public good.
! Our Responsibility For the Future.
The great basic facts are already
well known. We know that our popu-
lation Is now adding about one-f1fth to
Its numbers in ten years and that by
the middle Of the present century per-
haps 16O,O00,OO0 Americans and by its
end very many millions more must be
fed and clothed from the products Of
our soil. With So steady growth IN
population and the still more rapid in
crease in consumption our people will
hereafter make greater and not less
demands per capita upon all the natu-
raj resources for. their livelihood, COM
fort and convenience. 1t is high time
to realize that our responsibility to the
coming millions is like that Of parents
to their children and that in wasting
our resources we are wronging our de-
scendants.
We know now that our rivers can
md should be made to serve our peo-