The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-01-28
CALLS ON NATION
TO SAVE ITSELF
Presidents Message procIaims
Need Of Conserving Coun-
tD's Resources.
REPORT OF NATIONAL
CONSERVATION COMMISSION

4, Sending II TO Congress esseutiss
Declares Faets Contained In peeo'
r,ent Constitute sn imperative Call
20 Aetion--@psrmsnsn Welfare Of
Our People Cannot Exist Save on >
Firm Foundation ef Material Well
Beino"--Hs psfsnds General Course
of His Administration.
Washington. Jan. %. - President
Roosevelt sent 10 congress today
message transmitting the report OF the
national conservation commission. He
prrfaces the report with bis own com
ment stating In vigorous terms his
conviction that immediate action ~
needed II the rightful heritage OF pos
terlty ia natural resources is 10 be pre-
served.
The message says:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentailves:
| transmit herewith report OF the
national conservation commission, to-
gether with the accompanying papers.
This report, which Ii 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 u peculiar sense representative
1 OF the whole nation and all Its parts.
with the statements and conclusions
Of this report heartily concur, and
commend II to the thoughtful consldera.
| tion both of the congress and OF our
people generally. II Is one Of the most
\ fundamentally important documents
ever laid before the American people.
II contains the first inventory OF Its
natural resources evey 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 or
this nation now rest and must always
continue to rest II deserves and should
have the widest possible distribution
among the people.
The facts set forth I'm this report
constitute an imperative call to action.
| The situation they disclose demands
that we. neglectlng for time. II 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
VIII be Indispensable for dealing intel
llgently with what we have. II sup
plies as close an approximation to the
actual facts as IL 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 esi-
mates can be reached, because before
that time many Of our resources VIII
be practically gone. II Is not neces-
sary that this inventory should be ex-
act IN every minute detail. II is essen
tial that II should correctly describe
the general situation and that the
present inventory does. As 1t stands
IL IL 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 IL
10 set our house In order and begin to
live within our means.
The FIST Of all considerations Is the
permanent welfare Of our people, and
true moral welfare. the highest form
OF welfare, cannot 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 lts
full weight the facts still give reason
for grave concern. II would be un-
worthy Of our history and our inteili-
renee and disastrous TO our future to
fhut our eyes 10 these facts or attempt
10 laugh them out OF court The peo-
ple should and will rightly demand
that the great funda damental questions
shall be given attention by their repre-
sentatives do not advise hnsty or
m considered action on disputed
points. but do urge. where the facts
are known. where the public interest
IL clear. that neither indifference and
inertia nor adverse private interests
shall be allowed TO stand IN the way
VI the public good.
Our Responsibility Fer the Future.
The great basic facts are already
well known. We know that our popu.
Iation IL now adding sbout one-hfth to
Its numbers In ten years and that by
the middle OF the present century wi
haps 100000 Americans and by its
end very many millions more must BE-
fed and clothed from the products OF
our SCH. With the steady growth In
population and The stil more rapid In
crease In consumption our people viii
hereafter make greater and not less
demands per capita upon all the nntu.
rAi resources for their livelihood. com.
for, and convenience 1, h high time
20 realize that our responsibility 10 the
coming millions Is Ike that Of parents
10 their children and that 10 wasting
our resources we are wrongiDs cur de
sccndanis.
We know now that our rivers can
and should he made 90 serve our reo-
pie effectively IN transportation, bat
that the vast Expenditures for our wa.
ierways have not resulted in maintain.
ing. much less IN promoting, inland
navigation. Therefore let us take i'm.