The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-22

washington, JUL. g. He fIeol
dent today submitted his report of th,
National Conservation commission tc
the Senate and House of Representa-
tlyes. II reads, In part, as follows.
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
septatives | transmit herewith a re
port of the National Conservation Com
mission, together with the accompany
ing papers. This report. which Is the
outgrowth Of the conference of govern
ors last May, was unanimously approx
ed by the recent Joint conference hclc
in this city between the National Con
servation Commission and governors
NJ states, state conservation commits
sions. and conservation committees oi
great organizations of citizens. II is
therefore In a peculiar sense repre-
sentative of the whole nation and all
It's parts.
with the statements and conclu-
sions Of this report ] heartily concur
and I commend 1t TO the thoughtful
consideration both of the congress and
OF our people generally. 1t is one OF
the most fundamentally important
documents ever laid before the Amer
lean people. 1t contains the first in
yentory of It's 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 condi-
tions upon which the perpetuity, safe
ty. 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 ac-
ton. The situation they disclose de-
mands that we, neglecting for time,
II need be, smaller and less vital
questions. shall concentrate an ef-
fective part of our attention upon the
great material foundations Of national
existence, progress and prosperity.
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 In
telligently with what We have. 1t sup
plies as close an approximation TO the
actual facts as it was possible to pre-
pare with the knowledge and time
available. TIE progress of our knowl'
edge Of this country Will continually
lead 10 more accurate Information and
better use Of the sources Of national
strength But We can not defer action
until complete accuracy in the esti-
mates can be reached. because before
that time many Of our resources Will
be practically gone. II is not neces-
sary that this inventory should be
exact in every minute detail. II is
essential that Ii should correctly de-
scribe the general situation; and that
the present inventory does. AS Ii
stands 1t Is an irrefutable proof that
the conservation Of our resources is
the fundamental 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. can not permanently exist
save on a firm and lasting foundation
OF material well-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 its
full weight. the facts still give reason
Tor grave concern. II would be TN.
worthy Of our history and our intelh-
gence. and disastrous TO our future. 10
shut our eyes 10 these facts or ATTEMPT
TO laugh them out OF court. The peo-
pie should and will rightly demand
mat the great fundamental questions
shall be given attention by their rem
resentatiyes. | do not advise hastv or
ill-constdered 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,
snail be allowed TO stand In the way
of the publiRgood-
The greatsbasic facts are a,readv
well known. We know that our popr.
lation is now adding about one.fiftb 10
lts numbers In ton years, and that by
the middle OF the present century per-
maps one hundred and fifty million
Americans, and by its end very MANY
millions more, must be fed and clothed
from the products of our Soil With
tne steady growth In population and
tne still more rapid Increase I'm con.
sumption our people will hereafter
make greater and not less demands
per capita upon all the natural re.
sources for their livelihood. comfort
and convenience. 1t Is high time to
realize that our responsibility To the
coming millions is like that of par.
ents 70 their children. and that in vast.
ing our resources We are wronging our
descendants.
we know now that our rivers can
and should be made to serve our peo
pie effectively In transportation. but
that the vast expenditures for our
waterways have not resulted in main
tanning, much less In promoting. in
land navigation. Therefore. let us
take Immediate steps 10 ascertain the
reasons and to prepare and adopt :
comprehensive plan for inland. water
way navigation that Will result I'm Civ
ing the people the benefits for which
tney have paid but which thev have mo-
yet received. We knew now that on
forests are fast disappearing. that les,
than one-flfth of them are being con
served, and that no good purpose car
oc met by failing TO provide the rcla