The Prescott daily news., 1909-01-22
CALLS ON NATION
 10 SAVE ITSELF r
Presidents Message PrOCIaiIns Need Of Conserving COun-
 try'S Resources.
REPORT OF NATIONAL
 CONSERVATION COMMISSION

GUNSEkVAllUk GUMMlSSlUN In Sending 1t to Congress Executive
 Declares Facts Contained In Docu-
 nent Constitute an Imperative Gall to Acknowledgement Welfare of Our People Cannot Exist Save on a
 Firm Foundation of Material We'll
 Being''-He Defends General Course of His Administration.
 Washington, Jan. %. - President Roosevelt sent to congress today a message transmitting the report of the national conservation commission. He prefaceS the report with his own com ment, stating ill vigorous terms his conviction that immediate action is needed if the rightful heritage of pos terity ill natural resources is to be pre- served.
 The message says:
 To the Senate and House of Repre-
 sentatives:
 l 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 peculiar sense representative of the whole nation and all Its parts.
 With the statements and conclusions of this report I heartily concur, and commend it to the thoughtful considera- tiOn both of the congress and of our people generally. It is one of the most Fundamentally important documents ever laid before the American people. natural resources ever made by any nation. In condensed form it presents a statement of our available capital in material resources, which are the 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. It 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 a series which will be indispensable for dealing intel ligently with what we have. It SUD- 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 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 esti- mates can be reached, because before that time many of our resources will be practically gone. It is not neces- sary that this inventory should be ex- act fin every minute detail. It is essen tial that it should correctly describe the general situation and that the present inventory does. AS it stands it 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 k live within our means.
 The first of all considerations is the permanent welfare of our people. end
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