The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-23
PRESIDENT PLEADS
FOR CONSERVATION
Sends Special Message to Con-
greSs Approving Plan.
TELLS VALUE oF RESOURCES
Declares Forest Minerals and Lands
should BE Handled in Manner TO
Assure Future Generations OF
Abundant Supplies that VIII BE
Necessary for Large Population

The President sent 10 both houses Of
Congress yesterday a special message.
transmitting a report OF the National Con-
serva;ion Commission appointed by him
last summer
He Indorses the report OF the cemmis-
sion from beginning 20 end. laying much
stress on the views set forth. He recon-
nends that provision - made for the
protection and the more rapid develop
ment Of the national forests and he
urges that Congress provide for making
the Conservation Commission a permanent
body.
The President asks that an appropria-
ton Of s5o.oos be made for this purpose
The message is as follows:
TO the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatves;
7 transmit herewith a 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 Conservation Commission
and governors OF States. state conseTva-
tion commissions. and conservation COM
mittees Of great organizations OF citi-
zens- 1t is. therefore, in a peculiar sense
representative OF the whole nation and
all its parts.
with the statements and conclusions
Of this report I heartily concur. and 7
commend it to the thoughtful considera-
ton botn OF the Congress and OF our peo-
pie generally. Il IS one OF the most
fundamentally important documents ever
laid before the American people.
First Inventory.
1T contains the first inventory Of our
natural resources ever made by any ma
ton In condensed form it presents a
statement OF our available capital in ma
teriaI resources. which are the means
Of progress. and calls attention 10 tie
essential conditions upon which the per
petufty. safety. and welfare Of this ma
ton now rest and must always continue
10 rest 1t deserves. and should have,
the widest possible distribution among
the people.
The facts set forth in this report con-
stitUte an imperative call to action The
situation they disclose demands that We.
neglecting for a time. II need be. smaller
and less vital questions. shall concentrate
an effective part Of our attention upon
the great material foundations OF na-
tional existence. progress. and prosperity
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 intelligently
with what We have.
The progress Of our knowledge OF this
country will continually lead 10 more
accurate Information and better use 81
the sources Of national strength. But We
cannot defer action until complete ac-
curacy in the estimates can be reached.
because before that time many Of our
resources viii be practically gone. II Is
not necessary that this inventory should
be exact in every minute detail II is
essential that II should correctly describe
the general situation; and that the pres
ent inventory does. AS II stands IL is an
irrefutabIe proof that the conservation
Of our resources is the fundamental ques-
tion before this nation. and that our frsC
and greatest task Is to set our house in
order and begin TO i've within our mea7s-
Permanent Welfare Of People.
The first 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 lasting foundation Of ma
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