The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-16
Canadian and Mexico to Join With
United States in the Movement
to Protect Natural
Resources.
CONFERENCE ON FEB. 1s
Some System of Cooperation to Stop
the Border Forest Fires One
Expected Practical
Results.

WASHINGTON, Feb 15.-Keen in
terest is manifest as to what will be
the program of subjects of the North
American Conservation conference be-
tween representatives of Canada Mex
leo and the United States IN this city
February is. In his letter to Presi-
dent Diaz of Mexico and Lord Grev of
Canada President Roosevelt outlined
as the purpose of the conference the
consideration of mutual interests in
volved in the conservation of natural
resources" and the preparation of "a
general plan adapted to promote the
welfare of the nations concerned"
There is pretty well-defined feeling
however, that definite topics will have
to be discussed. That the Canadians
take this view is indicated by the fact
that they have sent TO the National
Conservation commission compilations
of specific regulations governing the
disposal of heir natural resources.
Cooperation to Stop Forest Fires.
Last summers forest fires on both
sides of the line between the United
States and Canada are SO recent in the
minds of both countries that undoubt-
eddy the possibility of some compare
tive scheme of fire protection is likely
to be touched on There are other i'm
portant International questions con-
corning natural resources which can
I hardly fail of consideration.
The Canadian and Mexican dele
gates are coming prepared to contrib
ute suggestions as we'll as to receive
them. Their representatives will be
prominent specialists on the various
phases of the subjects to be discussed
/ Conservation has not been limited to
the United States. Early last year, fol
instance, every acre of public timber
lands in British Columbia except wha
has been leased was placed in fores
reserves. This action was taken tc
check waste by bringing the cutting
off of timber resources more effectual
ly under government control. The &C
ton affected 150,O00,0O0 acres-as
much land as was put into Ell ma
tional forests of this country up to
1907. In the Yukon all water-powel
rights are granted for only twenty
years, and at the expiration of thai
time their control reverts to the pub
lie The water-power question is one
of the most important and far-reachine
before the United States today.
Diaz Interested in Movement.
President Diaz of Mexico has com
prehensive knowledge of forestry and
understands fully the benefits to be
gained by it's application. He is also
deeply interested in the Improvement
in agricultural methods and the farm
ers of the country are rapidly adopting
scientific methods. Mexico has few
large waterways, but the National con
gress has provided for the expenditure
of several million dollars for the i'm
provement of internal navigation
Recent discussion in the Canadian
parliament of President Roosevelt.
proposal for cooperation for the con
servation of the natural resources Of
the whole continent indicates that the
support of the conservation movement
in the dominion will be as thoroughly
nonpartisan as it is in the United
States. B. l.. Borden. leader of the OPP
position, was enthusiastic in his sup
port as Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the pre-
mier who expressed his deepest ap
proval of the movement.
I