Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-16

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shall have become exhausted, as is
reasonable to assume will occur some,
where down the ages.
Control Coal Output
Were there an effort made to cur.
order that the time at which it shall
have become exhausted may be push,
ed ahead by some years ii
would necessarily have to be
done, to some degree AT
least at the expense of present bust
ness enterprise and activity, unless
present activities shall be turned tt
other channels. But taere is a line Of
thought and action which we may pur.
sue that is not only in accord with
present business enterprise, but which
would greatly add to the productive
resources of the state if properly oh.
served, that is, the building up and
outstanding of the soil. So long as
present prices Of lands obtain the nee.
/ esssity for building up or even main,
tanning the productiveness of the soil
does not seem SO important, but the
time Is approaching when the neces.
slty Will be more apparent. While
our people are to be highly commend
ed for the great growth and progress
which has been made in the way Of
better farming it is my Judgment that
the time will come when our farms
VIII be made to produce, per acre, far
in excess Of what they now produce.
however, the waste of the soil itself
Is scarcely more subject to criticism
than is the waste of the products of
the soil. Frugahty and the abseno e
OF 1t clearly mark the difference be-
tween the successful and the unsuc-
cessful man. Especially is this true
or those who reside upon the farms.
The farmer who ploughs the corners,
cultivates the fence rows, houses the
machinery, shelters the live stock and
leaves no foliage or grain to waste ia
the fields Is the man who usually has
bank account. Our people will have
learned great lesson, taken a great
!step in advance when they shall have
reached the conclusion that it is more
profitable to farm. fewer acres and
do it better. Landlordism is no par,
tlcular advantage to our country.
While there can be no objection to d
man who does not reside upon a farm
owning a reasonable number of acres,
the owning of the farm by the man
VINO tllls it should be encouraged. The
marked Improvement, however. IN
farming and all kinds of agricultural
pursuits in recent years is very graft
flying and furnishes ample proof Of the
fact that there are still greater things
in store for the future.
Conserve Natural Resources.
It has been suggested that commits
sion be created for the purpose of
studying the natural resources of the
state and recommending to the PEG
pie such means as may be employed to
conserve those which are in danger of
being exhausted and to develop those
whose power and usefulness have re.
NAMED latent, but which by proper
effort might be brought into use Els.
pecially is it desirable that careful
consideration be given to the possibil-
lty OF utilizing some of the larger
streams of the state as means of
transportation and for furnishing DOW
er for the generating Of electricity AMI
the running of machinery thereby
serving the double purpose of not only
furnishing power and convenience in
transportation, but also, Indirectly pro
tecting the coal fields and other nat
ural resources of the state. Those;
who have suggested the creation IF
such commission believe that it could
be maintained without expense to the
state, that is, that persons could he
found who would gladly meet their
own expense in connection with their
services as members OF such comnis-
sion. Personally. I am of the opinion
that such an arrangement would per
haps fail TO accomplish the best 70.
suits.
Cities Could Help.
DO believe. however, that the com
mercial organizations of the various
cities of the state which have ALREADY.
taken up the study Of the conservation
and development of our natural re-
sources. would be glad to concentrate
their efforts and contribute of their
funds toward the maintenance of such
a. commission if the state will lend it's
mora influence and support to the
proposition. 1t has. therefore, occur
red to me that it might be profitable to
'tiiSlocl LIS Iitcthlcll VI Il COMMISSION
ON conservation and development Of
natural resources, which should con-
sis. of at least five members, each of
the five largest commercial clubs or
busiess l11ens associate IF the var
ious cities of the state naming one
member. the expense of the members
and the commission to be borne by the
association represented. or it might be
advisable to permit each club of the
state desiring membership in such
commission to name one member. if
the club is willing to bear its share Of
the expenses as above provided. ]
would not, however, deem it wise that
the membership Of the commission
exceed ten or fifteen at most The
state should issue a commission to
each Of the persons named in accord
ance with the above suggestions and
it should be known as The Iowa Con-
servation Commission. thereby giving
the states support and influence to
the work contemplated.
Put Circle on Ballot
After referring to the history of the
Australian ballot in Iowa and the ac-
ton of the legislature in removing the
circle to encourage more Independent
voting, the governor says;
We have now voted two or more
times under each of the three methods